ˈsouling, vbl. n. Now dial.
[See soul v.]
† 1. The giving up of the soul; dying, death, decease. Obs. rare.
| c 900 in Cockayne Shrine 106 Cwæþ sum haliᵹ biscop ða he wæs on sawlenga [etc.]. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 466/1 Sowlynge, or dyynge, obitus, vel exalacio. |
2. dial. The action of going round soliciting doles on or about All Souls' Day. Also attrib., as souling-children, souling-song.
| 1851 N. & Q. 1st Ser. IV. 506/1 The custom of ‘souling’..is carried on with great zeal..in this neighbourhood [i.e. Cheshire]. 1878 Ibid. 5th Ser. X. 426, I am reminded of her just now by the children who are singing their ‘Souling Song’ under my window. 1883 C. S. Burne Shrops. Folk-Lore 382 Soul-cakes..to give away to the souling⁓children. |