▪ I. slaying, vbl. n.1
(ˈsleɪɪŋ)
Forms: α. 4 sleing, 5 sle(i)yng, 5–6 sleynge; 4–5 sleaynge, 6 sleaing. β. 4 slaing. γ. 6– slaying.
[f. slay v.1 + -ing1.]
1. The action of the vb. slay; killing, slaughter.
| α, β c 1375 Cursor M. 6784 (Fairf.), Qua þat honoures goddis new, of his slaing [Gött. sleing] sal na mon rew. c 1400 Apol. Loll. 65 Sampson slow himsilf in sleyng of þe Philisteis. 1450 in Catal. Publ. Rec. Office IV. 327 That he wase never gelty of sleyng of the do [= doe]. a 1533 Ld. Berners Huon cxxxiv. 495 Then he commaundyd to sece the sleynge. |
| fig. c 1450 Godstow Reg. 9 The balance of vertues I haue mysweyed, With sleyng of tonge, or with wilfulnesse. |
| γ 1528 Tindale Obed. Chr. Man Wks. 129 The slaying & murtheryng of Christen men. 1601 Shakes. Jul. C. v. v. 4 Clitus. He is or tane, or slaine. Brutus. Slaying is the word, It is a deed in fashion. 1647 Hexham i. s.v., A slaying of parents. 1819 Scott Ivanhoe xxxv, As a man zealous to slaying for every point of the Nazarene law. 1865 A. Smith Summer in Skye I. 219 Their forefathers had a grand slaying of their enemies. |
† 2. Path. Mortification. Obs.
| a 1425 tr. Arderne's Treat. Fistula, etc. 37 After þe sleyng of flessh putred. Ibid. 91 It is best remedi to þam þat haþe..þe fistule or oþer sleiyng. |
▪ II. slaying, vbl. n.2
(ˈsleɪɪŋ)
Also sleying.
[f. slay n.2 + -ing1.]
(See quot. 1879.)
| 1613 J. May Decl. Est. Clothing v. 25 In slaying of their warps they will cast the yarne to proue fine about a foot broad by the listes. 1759 Barbour Constr. Sleying Tables, The disposing of the warp threads in the loom is termed sleying. 1839 Ure Dict. Arts, etc. 1056 The names of examining, setting, or sleying,..are used indiscriminately, and mean exactly the same thing. 1879 T. R. Ashenhurst Weaving & Designing Text. Fabr. (1893) 304 The slaying or setting of warps are terms used to denote the proportioning of the counts of warp to the different sets of slay, so as to preserve a uniformity of fabric in similar species of cloth. |
| attrib. 1759 R. Barbour (title), Essay on the Construction of Sleying Tables. 1793 Trans. Soc. Arts V. 235 Mathematical Sleaing Tables, or the..Mystery of weaving Linen Cloth, explained. |
▪ III. ˈslaying, ppl. a.
Also 5 sleeng(e, sleing(e, 6 sleayng, slayeng.
[f. slay v.1 + -ing2.]
That slays or kills. Also transf. and in fig. context.
| 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. v. xxi. (Bodl. MS.), Some beestes haue tunges medicinable,..and some haue sleing tunges and venemous. Ibid. xviii. x, Þis sleinge addre [Aspis]. 1561 T. Norton Calvin's Inst. i. 19 Certain giddy brained men, which..do scorn their simplicitie which still follow the dead and slayeng letter. 1581 J. Derricke Image Irel. C iv b, When as by Ioue eche sleayng beast abstracted thence shalbe. 1858 Gladstone Studies Homer III. 11 Achilles seems to refer with stinging, nay rather with slaying irony to this claim. |