vbl. sb. arch. [f. BIRD v.]
1. The action or sport of bird-catching or fowling.
1569. J. Sanford, trans. Agrippa’s Van. Artes, 122. An other exercise of Hunting, which is termed Fouling, or Birding.
1605. Verstegan, Dec. Intell., iii. (1628), 63. The great pleasure hee tooke in his youth in birding.
1729. M. Browne, Pisc. Eclog., VIII. (1773), 110. Two Swains who are exercised in Birding.
[1852. Thackeray, Esmond, I. iv. Lord Castlewood would take the lad … a-hunting or a-birding.]
b. fig. and transf.
c. 1460. Towneley Myst., 79. I have … of hir byrdyng hir upbrade, And she not gylty is.]
1624. Fletcher, Rule a Wife, V. i. (1776), 55. Do you go a birding for all sorts of people?
1656. in Burton, Diary (1828), I. 178. They … go a birding for sheriffs every year.
1708. Mrs. Centlivre, Busie Body, I. i. A birding thus early!
† 2. A taking aim, as at a bird. Obs.
a. 1678. Marvell, Loyal Scot. [He] entertains … his time,… With birding at the Dutch.
3. attrib.
1588. Lanc. & Chesh. Wills, III. 12. To Robt. Leftwiche my birdinge piece with a little horne flaske.
1598. Shaks., Merry W., IV. ii. 59. There they alwaies vse to discharge their Birding-peeces.
1613. J. [Dennys], Angling, in Arb., Garner, I. 153. Like to the pellet of a birding bow.
1669. J. Rose, Eng. Vineyard (1675), 28. When the fruit is of the size of birding-shot.
1673. Lond. Gaz., No. 751/4. A plain Birding Gun, in a Red Leather Case.
1816. Scott, Antiq., xxxv. To crack off his birding-piece at a poor covey of partridges.
