[f. TANGLE v.1 + -ING1.] The action of TANGLE v.1; complicated or confused intertwining; complication; † contention.
[c. 1340: see TAGLE v.]
1535. St. Papers Hen. VIII., II. 272. Which had bene wele forwardes by this tyme, yf this wilful tangeling with OConour had not bene.
1538. in Lett. Suppress. Monasteries (Camden), 169. Many leasses grauntede oute by the olde prior,… with muche tangullyng and besines.
a. 1633. Austin, Medit. (1635), 282. When wee thus let slip these heavenly Thred Lines … wee fall to tangling, tying, and knitting.
1868. Reg. U.S. Commissioner Agric. (1869), 289. The silk skeins are tied to prevent tangling.
b. concr. pl. Things that tangle or entangle.
1575. Turberv., Venerie, 138. Me thinkes I see the Toyle, the tanglings and the stall Which are prepared and set full sure, to compasse me withall.
1591. Percival, Sp. Dict., Cazcarias, tanglings about chickins feete.
1904. Daily News, 26 Nov., 6/8. Clinging tanglings of the thorny briar.
Tangling, vbl. sb.2: see TANGLE v.2
