[f. as prec. + -ING1.]
1. Skirmishing, a skirmish.
1297. R. Glouc., 540. Ther was ofte bituene hom gret bikering.
1494. Fabyan, VII. 373. Atwene theym were had many bykeringes and skyrmysshes.
1530. Palsgr., 197. Beckeryng, scrimysshe.
1622. Heylin, Cosmogr., II. (1682), 198. The first bickering between the Soldiers of Cæsar and Pompey.
1670. Milton, Hist. Eng., II. Wks. (1851), 55. Then was the Warr shiverd … into small frayes and bickerings.
a. 1763. Byrom, 3 Black Crows, 19. Disputes of ev’ry size … from bick’ring, up to battle.
1867. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1876), I. iv. 229. Smaller wars and bickerings still went on.
2. Wordy sparring, wrangling, altercation.
1573. G. Harvey, Letter-bk. (1884), 5. Ful oft hath he bene at gud whot bickerings with sum others.
1593. Shaks., 2 Hen. VI., I. i. 144. If I longer stay, We shall begin our ancient bickerings.
1742. Richardson, Pamela, IV. 54. The Tears a poor Wife might shed in matrimonial Bickerings.
1821. Syd. Smith, Wks. (1867), I. 349. The parchment bickerings of Doe and Roe.
1882. E. Gosse, Gray, iv. 81. The … bickering which went on in the combination-room.
