vbl. sb. [f. TAW v.1 + -ING1.]
1. The action or process of preparing white leather: see TAW v.1 2.
1408. Litt. Red Bk. Bristol (1900), II. 99. Qe nulle homme … ne vse ascun manere tawing de ascuns pealx en lez ditz schopes.
1480. Wardr. Acc. Edw. IV. (1830), 121. And to Joh’n Massy tawyer for tawing of a tymbre of hole sables liij s.
1517–8. in Swayne, Sarum Churchw. Acc. (1896), 59. For Tawynge of Buckys skynnys to couer ij Mase Bokys, xij d.
1711. Lond. Gaz., No. 4862/4. Their Places of tanning, tawing, or dressing of such Hides.
1884. Knight, Dict. Mech., Tawing, tanning a lamb-skin with the wool on it.
attrib. 1588. L. M., trans. Bk. Dyeing, 49. Take your tawing stocke, and taw it [black leather] well therewith.
1882. Paton, in Encycl. Brit., XIV. 389/2. They receive … a second treatment with the tawing mixture.
b. (pl.) contr. (See quot.)
1611. Cotgr., Megis, tawings; the offals, or peeces cut from skinnes in tawing.
† 2. The action of flogging or punishing. Obs.
1620. Shelton, Quix. (1746), IV. vii. 54. Fearing least the Whipping-task and Tawing might light upon him.
1622. Mabbe, trans. Aleman’s Guzman d’Alf., I. 240. He would willingly haue the tawing of mee.
1642. Rogers, Naaman, 30. The Lords own tawing of him [Job] … to wring this speech from him.
