[-ING1.] The action of the verb STARE; gazing fixedly with eyes wide open, standing up (of hair), etc.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 472/2. Starynge, brode lokynge, patentacio oculorum.
c. 1515. Cocke Lorell’s B., 13. They songe and daunsed full merely, With swerynge, and starynge heuen hye.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VIII., 50 b. We found the body of the sayde Hun … wt his eyen & mouth fayre closed, withoute any staryng, gapyng or frownyng.
1549. Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. 1 Thess. ii. 1–8. We came not vnto you, with bragging and staring.
1563. Sackville, Induct. Mirr. Mag., xxxiv. His cap borne vp with staring of his heare.
1598. Shaks., Merry W., V. v. 168. [One that is given] to drinkings and swearings, and starings.
1682. Norris, Hierocles, Pref. 32. A resolution of all our faculties into sweetnesses, affections and starings upon the Divine beauty.
1766. Complete Farmer, s.v. Roup, Roup, the name of a filthy disease in poultry … known by the staring, or turning back of the feathers.
1817. Byron, Beppo, lxxxi. Could staring win a woman, this had won her.
1897. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., II. 689. In cattle these [symptoms] are slight dulness, shivering,… ‘staring of the coat,’ and stiffness in movement.
