[f. LOOSE v. + -ING1.] The action of the vb. LOOSE.
† 1. Letting go; setting free, release. Obs. or arch.
1415. Sir T. Grey, in 43 Deputy Keeper’s Rep., 587. Ye mon shulde cum agayn on Tiseday to tel ye way of yair lawsyng.
1504. Plumpton Corr. (Camden), 186. The letter that come from William Elison, the which I had mynd in for loyssing of Edmund Ward, for I have gotten him forth by the wayes of William Ellyson.
1591. Percivall, Sp. Dict., Soltura, loosing, deliuering, solutio, dimissio.
† 2. The making or rendering loose in a socket or the like; the untying (of a knot). Obs.
1482. Monk of Evesham (Arb.), 38. Some were also rasyd with fyry naylys vnto the bonys and to the lowsing of her ioyntys.
1576. Fleming, Panopl. Epist., 249. Rather then I wil tarrie the loosing of them [sc. knottes], I wil cutt them in sunder.
1599. Life Sir T. More, in Wordsw., Eccl. Biog. (1853), II. 99. The old man’s purse was made fast to his girdle, which the thief spying gave it the looseing.
3. A setting free, absolving or discharging (from guilt, sentence or obligation); remission of a sin or penance.
c. 1357. Lay Folks Catech. (MS. T.), 345. At thair bother assent for to lyve samen Withouten ony lousyng to thair life lastes.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 226. This power of byndyng & losynge of synne, is deriuyed from ye apostles to ye mynysters of Christes chirche.
1659. Pearson, Creed (1839), 505. What is the remission [of sins] itself, or the loosing of that obligation?
1686. J. Scott, Chr. Life (1747), III. 462. The Pardon or Remission of Sins … consists in the loosing of sinful Men from that Obligation to eternal Punishment.
1871. Sprott, Sc. Liturgies Jas. VI. (1901), Notes 151. This has always been regarded as a notable example of binding and loosing by the minister.
† 4. The action of weighing anchor or setting free the moorings of a ship; getting under weigh.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., II. 54. Vpon the second day after our loosing from Clissa, we arriued at Ragusa.
† 5. The action of letting-go the drawn string of a bow. Obs.
c. 1400. Laud Troy-Bk., 7797. [He] drow an Arwe vp to the vale; And as he was in his losyng, Diomedes … to him rode, Ar euere arwe fro him glode.
1545. Ascham, Toxoph. (Arb.), 107. What handlyng is proper to the Instrumentes? Standynge, nockyng, drawyng, holdyng, lowsing, wherby commeth fayre shotynge.
1612. Selden, in Drayton’s Poly-ob., xvii. Notes 268. His death by an infortunate loosing at a deer out of one Walter Tirrel’s hand.
6. A sum of money paid on the completion of a contract or obligation.
1889. W. Marcroft, Ups & Downs, 10. On my coming to be 21 years of age there must be a loosing paid of one guinea.
7. Sc. Law. A release.
1495. Rolls of Parlt., VI. 481/2. If ther shall fortune a resonable consideracion or consideracions to be upon the making of the said Leasses, for lossyng of the same.
1564–[65]. Reg. Privy Council Scot., I. 317. Providing alwayis that the lowsing of the said arreistment … sall na wyise be hurtful.
1798. Monthly Mag., VI. 176. (Scots Law Phrases) A Loosing of Arrestment, a Writ to discharge such attachment, which issues of course on the debtor giving security for payment of the debt.
8. Comb.: loosing-place Sc. [cf. LOSSING], a place for unloading vessels (? obs.); loosing-time, the time of release from work (dial.).
1805. Forsyth, Beauties Scotl., III. 35. The bottom or tail … of this bank … as a loosing place, experienced mariners prefer to any other harbour in the frith.
1824. Scott, St. Ronan’s, xv. Looking at their watches … lest they should work for their master half an instant after loosing-time.
