Also 5–6 erron. stynkyng(g)e. [f. STING v.1 + -ING1.] The action of wounding with a sting; an instance of this.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XIII. xxvi. (1495), 461. The juys of euery fysshe helpyth agaynst venemouse styngynges.
c. 1450. M. E. Med. Bk. (Heinrich), 184. Ageyns bytynnge or stynkyngge of scorpyons or of serpentes.
1538. Elyot, Dict., s.v. Psylli, They also do cure the styngynge and poysonynge of serpentes by soukynge the place whyche is venymed.
1658. Rowland, trans. Moufet’s Theat. Ins., 926. Physicians have found out many remedies against the stingings of Wasps.
1823. J. Badcock, Dom. Amusem., 98. A good remedy for stinging of nettles.
1832. S. Warren, Diary Late Physic., II. ii. 77. Comparing the pain to that which might follow the incessant stinging of a wasp at the spinal marrow.
b. transf. and fig.
a. 1300. E. E. Psalter lix. 3. Þou dranke vs with wine of stinginge [vino compunctionis].
c. 1400. Apol. Loll. (Camden), 29. Bi for þat bats were made in religioun bi stinging of þe fend [Diaboli instinctu].
1506. Kal. Sheph. (Sommer), 163. Swete wordis with a venemous stynkynge of the tayle.
1579. J. Fielde, Calvin’s 4 Serm., i. 8 b. The prickes & stingings they haue in their consciences.
a. 1631. Donne, Poems, ‘Goe, and catch a falling starre,’ 6. Teach me to heare Mermaides singing, Or to keep off envies stinging.
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, Sept. 1646. This night I felt such a stinging all about me that I could not sleepe.
1855. Singleton, Virgil, II. 440. Drances, whom the fame Of Turnus spurred with crooked jealousy, And bitter stingings.
c. stinging-cell Zool., a nematocyst.
1885. Pennington, Brit. Zoophytes, 138. The stinging or urticating cells, or nematocysts, contain the stinging threads.
1892. J. A. Thomson, Outl. Zool., x. 127. On the tentacles [of Hydra] especially, one can see … numerous clumps of clear stinging-cells.
