[f. BATHE v. + -ING1.]
1. The exposing of oneself or others to the free action of water, etc., by immersion or suffusion.
1541. Copland, Galyen’s Terap., 2 A iv. Moderate it with bathynge, and wetynge in temperate water.
1778. Miss Burney, Evelina, in Casquet Lit., V. 311/2. I always hated bathing.
1788. G. Sandeman, in Med. Comm., 11. 277. She used sea bathing.
1809. Ld. Malmesbury, in G. Rose, Diaries (1860), II. 355. Remaining a week for the purpose of bathing.
2. attrib. or in comb., as bathing-box, -dress, -gown, -machine, -place, -room, -tub, -woman, etc.
1583. Plat, Diuerse New Exper. (1594), 94. The room would be close wherein you place your bathing-tub.
1625. Bacon, Gardens, Ess. (Arb.), 561. The other Kinde of Fountaine, which we may call a Bathing Poole.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., 309. The Balnearies or bathing places … hee exposeth unto the Summer setting.
1771. Smollett, Humph. Cl. (1815), 214. Bathing machines are ranged along the beach.
1810. in Risdon’s Surv. Devon, 431. The town is frequented … as a bathing place.
a. 1845. Hood, Storm at Hastings, xxvi. No bathing woman waded—none would dare.
1859. All Y. Round, No. 19. 447. Coloured bathing-dresses, towels, and other apparatus.
1883. Harper’s Mag., Feb., 336/2. ‘Bathing-boxes’ (as the sea-side cottages are called) perched about on the … hill-sides.
