cancelling, vbl. n.
(ˈkænsəlɪŋ)
[f. cancel v.]
1. The action of crossing or blotting out, annulling, rescinding, etc. (see the verb); cancellation.
| c 1440 Promp. Parv. 60/1 Cancellynge or strekynge owte a false word, obelus. 1552 Huloet, Cancellynge, or defacynge of wrytynge. 1631 Star Chamb. Cases (1886) 81 The supposed cancelling of the deed. 1870 Gladstone Glean. IV. xxv. 216 The King became a party to the cancelling of the whole arrangement. 1887 Athenæum 13 Aug. 211/2 Shelley cut it up freely with cancellings and alterations. |
2. Comb., as cancelling-press, cancelling-stamp (contrivances for defacing printed stamps, to prevent their re-use).