[f. TICKLE v. + -ING1.] The action or condition denoted by the verb TICKLE.
1. An uneasy sensation as of the teasing of some sensitive part of the skin or mucous membrane; slight nervous irritation akin to itching.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., V. xxviii. (Bodl. MS.), lf. 16/1. Þe whiche wormes litel & litel wroteþ and eteþ þe skyn & makeþ tikeling and icching.
c. 1425. trans. Arderne’s Treat. Fistula, 61. When-someuer þe pacient feleþ tyklyng or ychyng or prykkyng in þe lure.
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 766. All tickling is a light motion of the spirits, which the thinness of the skin, and suddenness and rareness of the touch do further.
1843. R. J. Graves, Syst. Clin. Med., xx. 242. A sensation of tickling in the mucous membrane of the trachea.
1898. J. Hutchinson, in Arch. Surg., IX. No. 36. 341. He had some tickling in his throat.
2. fig. A tingling or ‘itching’ to do something; uneasy desire, craving, hankering.
1553. Short Catech., in Liturgies, etc. (Parker Soc.), 521. Our will is commonly by tickling of affections and stirring of lusts, drawn to do those things that God is displeased with.
1558. Knox, First Blast (Arb.), 24. Women haue in them selues a tickling and studie of vaine glorie.
1683. Burnet, trans. More’s Utopia (1685), 101. These Things may create some Tickling in the Senses.
1874. Geo. Eliot, Coll. Breakf. P., 628. Whose brain … Has feeble ticklings of a vanity.
3. A repeated light touching, stroking, or poking, such as to cause laughter; a state of being tickled; fig. pleasing excitation, gratification; also, excitement of the risible faculty, amusement.
1423. James I., Kingis Q., xxi. With the tiklyng of his hete and light, The tender flouris opnyt thame and sprad.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 493/2. Tykyllynge, titillacio.
1548. Udall, Erasm. Par., Pref. 3. The pleasaunt ticleyng or clawyng of adulacion.
1603. Holland, Plutarch’s Mor., 311. They who naturally are enclined and disposed to laughter, are to avoid and decline the ticklings and soft handling in those parts of the body that are most smooth, sleicke and tender.
1662. Playford, Skill Mus., I. xi. (1674), 39. A certain tickling of the ears of those who do not well understand what it is to sing Passionately.
1728. Young, Love Fame, II. (1757), 94. Tickling is unsafe, If still ’tis painful while it makes us laugh.
1872. Darwin, Emotions, viii. 201. This so-called tickling of the mind is curiously analogous with that of the body.
† b. Used as a term of endearment. Obs. rare.
1605. B. Jonson, Volpone, III. v. Thou art mine honor, Mosca, and my pride, My ioy, my tickling, my delight!
c. spec. The taking of trout and other fish by the method described in quot. 1884.
a. 1616. Beaum. & Fl., Scornf. Lady, III. ii. Leave off your tickling of young heirs like trouts.
1826. Scott, Woodst., vii. Every fisher loves best the trouts that are of his own tickling.
1884. Jefferies, Red Deer, ix. 174. Groping for trout (or tickling)—is tracing it to the stone it lies under, then rubbing it gently beneath, which causes the fish to gradually move backwards into the hand, till the fingers suddenly close in the gills.
4. attrib., as tickling-house, (satirical slang) a place of preaching: cf. tickle-text (TICKLE v. 12).
1681. T. Flatman, Heraclitus Ridens, No. 29 (1713), I. 192. A Boy that has but … carried his Mistress’s Bible to the Tickling-house.
