▪ I. ˈfly-dung, n.
[f. fly n.1 + dung n.]
The excrement of the fly, usually of the house-fly.
| 1855 Clarke Dict., Fly-dirt, flydung. |
▪ II. ˈfly-dung, v. Dyeing.
[f. fly n.1 + dung v.]
trans. In the process of dyeing with madder: To subject for the first time to the process of ‘dunging’: see dung v. Also Comb. as fly-dung bath, fly-dung cistern. Hence ˈfly-dunging vbl. n.
The name is said to be due to the fact that the object of the first dunging is to get rid of the ‘flies’ or irregularities in the dyeing.
| 1860 Higgin in Ure Dict. Arts (ed. 5) I. 531 The first [dunging process] is called fly-dunging. Ibid., The fly-dung cistern. 1876 Paton in Encycl. Brit. IV. 687/2 Immediately after the fly-dunging the goods are washed and submitted to a second dunging. 1883 Bleaching, Dyeing & Calico-Print. iii. 73 The fly-dung bath. |