[f. THUMP v. + -ING1.] The action of the verb THUMP in various senses; an instance of this.
1577. Northbrooke, Dicing (1843), 171. They daunce with … monstrous thumping of the feete.
1657. Thornley, trans. Longus’ Daphnis & Chloe, 84. Leaping Dolphins, with the thumping of their tails, loosened the planks.
1722. in Boulton, Amusem. Old London (1901), I. 29. She may expect a good thumping.
1862. B. Taylor, Poet’s Jrnl., II. Autumnal Dreams. The drowsy air is startled With the thumping of the flail.
1892. Symonds, M. Angelo (1899), I. V. ii. 187. He was cast forth … with good round kicks and thumpings.
b. attrib., as thumping-board, a loaded board placed across the keys of an organ just behind the part used by the fingers, to prevent an undue rising of the key when released by the finger.
1879. Organ Voicing, i. 6. The thumping-board or damper, assists to keep the keys level.
1881. W. E. Dickson, Organ-Build., viii. 114. A heavy damper or ‘thumping-board’ should be laid across the key-board.
