[f. LOP v.1 + -ING1.]
1. The action of LOP v.1
This was the cant term used by the Rye House conspirators for the killing of the King and the Duke of York: see Tryals of Walcot, Hone, etc. for High-treason (1683), 12.
c. 1511. in Swayne, Churchw. Acc. Sarum (1896), 63. For ffellynge of an Elme & for the loppynge therof byfore vjd.
1641. Milton, Animadv., Wks. 1851, III. 243. A punishment for the lopping, and stigmatizing of so many free borne Christians.
a. 1715. Burnet, Own Time (1724), I. 543. Walcot liked the project of a rising, but declared he would not meddle in their lopping.
1793. T. Jefferson, Writ. (1830), IV. 479. No lopping-off of territory could be made without a lopping-off of citizens.
1848. Lytton, Harold, XII. i. The trees were dwarfed in height by repeated loppings.
2. (Chiefly pl.) Branches and shoots lopped from a tree. Also, material for lopping.
1589. J. Rider, Bibl. Scholast., 884. The loppings of trees, concædes.
1600. Surflet, Country Farme, I. x. 49. He shall gather vp the loppings to make fewell of.
1665. Manley, Grotius Low C. Warres, 956. Filling them with earth and small loppings of Trees.
1766. Museum Rusticum, VI. 80. It is also the best kind to plant, in large sets, by the sides of rills, &c. where they will produce larger lopping.
1818. Southey, in Q. Rev., XIX. 49. The loppings and leaves of the elm dried in the sun, prove a great relief to cattle when fodder is dear.
3. attrib.
1659. Howell, Voc., xv. A lopping hook, vn falcinello.
1787. Minor, 160. The idea of foreign surgeons using their lopping knives.
1875. Knight, Dict. Mech., Lopping-shears, a pair of heavy shears for trimming bushes, hedges, etc.