Hence subbing vbl. sb. [Short for various verbal compounds of SUB-; or f. SUB sb.]
† 1. sub-plough vb. (see SUB- 3 c). Obs.
1778. [W. Marshall], Minutes Agric., 16 Aug. 1775. Nothing can equal sub-plowing, for clearing the surface from running weeds;… the second subbing was eight or nine inches deep. Ibid., 20 Oct. It was subbed by two oxen.
2. To work as a printer’s substitute.
1879. University Mag., Nov., 589. At Cincinnati where he [Edison] … ‘subbed’ for the night men whenever he could obtain the privilege.
3. To pay or receive (‘sub’); occas. to pay (a workman) ‘sub.’ Also absol. (See quots.)
1886. H. Cunliffe, Gloss. Rochdale-with-Rossendale, Sub, to pay a portion of wages before all are due.
1891. Pall Mall Gaz., 19 Nov., 612. During the month there has been a more than usual amount of ‘subbing.’
1892. Labour Comm., Gloss. No. 9. Some pieces of cloth cannot be finished in one week, therefore a weaver must either do without wages or sub.
1900. N. & Q., Ser. IX. VI. 354/1. ‘I want you to go at once to London,’… ‘All right; but I shall want to be subbed.’ Ibid. (1901), VII. 356/2. It was my daily duty to keep time and to ‘sub’ for some hundreds of men engaged on extensive railway … works in England.
4. = SUB-EDIT.
1892. A. Murdoch, Yoshiwara Episode, 84. When Wilson, in ‘subbing’ his copy, cut out all the ‘u’s’ from ‘favour,’ ‘honour,’ and so forth, there was a debating society of two.
1909. Fabian News, XX. 76/1. A certain amount of margin and space between the lines for any ‘subbing’ that may be required.
