▪ I. popping, vbl. n.1
(ˈpɒpɪŋ)
[f. pop v.1 + -ing1.]
The action of pop v.1 in various senses.
| 1652 H. L.'Estrange Amer. no Jewes 53 Wee finde no mention of any sound made of the kissing of the hand..or..any such popping or smacking. 1710 C. Shadwell Fair Quaker of Deal ii. ii. 23 Upon the first popping of the Question. 1844 Thackeray Wand. Fat Contrib. v, The popping of the soda-water corks. 1887 Fenn Dick o' the Fens (1888) 124 A peculiar popping and crackling began to be heard, as the flames attacked the abundant ivy. 1929 J. Masefield Hawbucks 80 ‘What do you think about popping?’ ‘You mean proposing?’ ‘Yes, popping.’ 1957 C. MacInnes City of Spades i. ix. 65 ‘Charging is different from popping...’ ‘Popping?’ ‘With needles. White stuff—man, that's danger!’ 1965 ‘E. McBain’ Doll (1966) xii. 155 She has..been hopelessly hooked since she first began skin-popping. 1978 Amat. Photographer 29 Nov. 71/1 The fibre-optic Light Pipe gives efficient light mix and transmission at a low operating temperature, reducing the possibility of negative popping, and absorbing ultraviolet. |
▪ II. popping, vbl. n.2
see after pop v.2
▪ III. popping, ppl. a.
(ˈpɒpɪŋ)
[f. pop v.1 + -ing2.]
That pops, in various senses.
† 1. Whose speech is mere popping; chattering.
| a 1518 Skelton Magnyf. 232 What, Syr, wolde ye make me a poppynge fole? a 1529 ― Replyc. 39 Lyke pratynge poppyng dawes. 1540 Palsgr. Acolastus M iv, For a suretie this [fellow] is a very popyng foole. |
2. Of firing: Desultory, occasional, dropping.
| 1761 Chron. in Ann. Reg. 139/1 The enemy annoyed us with some popping musquetry from behind trees. 1779 Gentl. Mag. XLIX. 469 Many popping shots were fired at him by the rebel crew from the woods. 1836 F. Sykes Scraps fr. Jrnl. 149 The frequent popping noise of the sharpshooters. |
† 3. Of the sea: ? Tumbling, choppy. (Cf. popple v. 1, n.3 2, popply.) Obs.
| 1628 Digby Voy. Medit. (1868) 35 Being a high popping sea some of my shippes had like to haue bin foule of one another. |
4. Of the eyes: Protuberant. (Cf. pop-eyed in pop-.)
| a 1696 Aubrey Brief Lives (1898) I. 411 His eie full and popping, and not quick; a grey eie. |