[f. TALK v. + -ING1.] The action of the verb TALK; speaking, discoursing. Talking to (colloq.), a reprimand, an admonition.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 14760. It es bot foli al þi talking. Ibid. (13[?]), 27792. O suernes [F. slauþe] cums … vnnait talckhing.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Can. Yeom. Prol., 131. Whil this yeman was thus in his talkyng This Chanon drough hym neer.
c. 1450. trans. De Imitatione, III. lvii. 134. Þi consolacions are not as mannes talkinges or confabulacions.
1503. Hawes, Examp. Virt., viii. 155. Of whome I oft haue herd grete talkynge.
1667. Jer. Taylor, Dissuas. Popery, II. II. vi. 144. The superstitious talkings and actings, of their Priests.
1781. Cowper, Conversat., 8. Words learn’d by rote a parrot may rehearse, But talking is not always to converse.
1884. Clark Russell, Jack’s Courtsh., xvii. A person capable of giving a seaman a talking to.
1899. Constance Garnett, trans. Turgenev’s Desperate Character, etc., 301. Well, I’m going to give you a talking to.
1906. Jane D. Mills, Marriage (ed. 2), 40. Talking is cheap reparation for a wrong, as if he thought he might indulge in any injustice if he would be willing, afterward, to say a few smooth words.
b. attrib. and Comb., as † talking-craft (see CRAFT sb. 6 c); talking-house, a house where people meet for conversation; † talking-stock, a subject of talk.
1548. Udall, Erasm. Par. Luke xxiv. 189. A common talkyng stocke to all peoples.
1562. Winȝet, Cert. Tractatis, i. Wks. (S.T.S.), I. 8. Vtheris … makis of the Gospell ane takin craft.
1681. Owen, Apostasy, Wks. 1852, VII. 256. This makes … misspense of time in talking-houses.
