[f. TROOP v. + -ING1.] The action of the verb TROOP.
1809. Howell’s St. Trials, I. 142/2. Not for any assemblings or troopings by them formerly made within the kingdom of England, but [etc.].
1816. [see TROOP v. 6].
1885. Manch. Exam., 8 June, 4/7. The chief event … was the trooping of the colours on the Horse Guards Parade.
1883. Stevenson, Black Arrow, 167. The great trooping of black clouds, and the cold squalls that followed one another.
1893. L. Killeen, Soldiers at Sea, 32. When the trooping is over for the year, the troopships lie idle in Portsmouth Harbour.
1907. Westm. Gaz., 2 Dec., 12/1. The completion of a dream of ‘trooping,’ by means of which the South-Western moves our sailors and soldiers to and from the coast in any part of England without detraining for other lines.
b. attrib.
1647. Caldwell Pap. (Maitl. Cl.), I. 110. Quhat they depursed … for trouping horses furnishit be them, quartering of troupers, and monethlie mantinance.
1696. Lond. Gaz., No. 3147/4. A Trooping Saddle trimmed with blue.
1882. Pall Mall G., 24 June, 8/1. The preparation of the Serapis and Crocodile for the Indian trooping season can be suspended if found necessary, and they can be employed as supplementary transports.
1894. Scott. Leader, 17 May, 5. The Admiralty has chartered two P. & O. steamers … to begin the trooping service in September.
