[Several distinct formations, from BANK in various senses.]
1. The business of a banker; the keeping or management of a bank.
1735. Berkeley, Querist, § 228 (L.). Banking brings no Treasure into the Kingdom.
1834. Gilbart, Hist. Banking, 9. So early as the year 1349 … banking was carried on by the drapers of Barcelona.
1883. H. Macleod, Banking, vi. § 3. The very essence of ‘Banking’ is to receive money as a Mutuum.
b. attrib.
1779. Arnot, Hist. Edin., IV. iv. (1816), 411. Those abuses which had crept into the banking business.
1809. R. Langford, Introd. Trade, 20. Without regard to banking hours.
1861. Goschen, For. Exch., 33. The primary cause which makes England the great banking centre of the world.
1881. Builder, 8 Oct. (Advt.), Solid Mahogany Banking Counter.
2. The construction of banks or embankments.
1753. Chambers, Cycl. Supp., s.v., With respect to the water which is to be kept out, this is called banking.
1818. Cobbett, Resid. U. S. (1822), 181. Banking, hedging, they know nothing about. They have no idea of the use of a bill-hook.
3. Embankment.
1853. Kane, Grinnell Exp., xxxv. (1856), 321. I observed one spot where the banking remained.
4. Fishing on the Newfoundland (or other) Bank.
1842. Sir J. Park, Mar. Insur., I. ii. 100 § 2. Upon their arrival, ships are … employed in banking.
1848. Arnould, Mar. Insur. (1866), I. I. v. 273. After their arrival at Newfoundland, engaged for some time in fishing (called banking).
5. In Watchmaking: Limitation of the motion of the balance, by the banking-pins or -screw.
1870. Eng. Mech., 7 Jan., 403/1. It consists in placing the banking pins at the tail of the lever.
1879. Cassell’s Techn. Educ., IV. 386/2. In this escapement it is necessary to limit the motion of the balance to one half turn, measured from its repose, which is technically called ‘banking.’
1884. F. Britten, Watch and Clockm., 29. [The] Banking Screw [is] … an adjustable screw in the chronometer escapement.
6. Banking-ground (in U.S. lumber-trade): a place where logs are brought to a river bank.
1880. Lumberman’s Gaz., 28 Jan. The banking ground is about 125 feet above the bed of the river.
