▪ I. riding, n.
(ˈraɪdɪŋ)
Forms: α. 1 ? þrihing, trehing, 1, 3 treing; 1 treding, 3 trething, trithing, triding. β. 3 redyng, 5 rithyng, -ing, 6 rydding, rydinge, 7 rideing, 6– riding.
[Late OE. type *þriðing or *þriding (recorded only in Latin contexts or forms), ad. ON. þriðjung-r third part, f. þriði third: see -ing3. The initial consonant was subsequently absorbed by the preceding t or th of east, west, north.
a 1066 Laws Edin. Conf. 31 (Lieberman), Erant etiam potestates super wapentagiis quas trehingas uocabant, scilicet super terciam partem prouincie. 1086 Domesday Bk. (1783) 375 Treding dicit quod non habet ibi nisi ix acras et dimid. 1215 Magna Carta §25 Omnes comitatus, hundredi, wapentakii, et trethingii, sint ad antiquas firmas.]
1. One of the three administrative districts into which Yorkshire was formerly divided (the East, West, and North Ridings). (This ceased to be an official designation after Local Government reorganization outside Greater London on 1 Apr. 1974.)
| 1295–6 Rolls of Parlt. I. 227 In Westredyng, In Estredyng, In Northredyng. Ibid. 241/2 In Comitatu Ebor’..& in supradictis tribus Trithing. 13.. in Birch Cartul. Sax. III. 676 Four Threue..Of ilk a plowgh of Estriding. 1474 Rolls of Parlt. VI. 113/1 The Shire of York, in the Estrithyng, Northrithyng, and Westrithyng of the same. 1495 Act 11 Hen. VII, c. 59 §1 Within the Westrithing, the Estrithing or the Northrithing of your seid Countie. 1514 Fitzherb. Justyce of Peace (1538) 96 Inhabitauntes of the shyre, or rydding, within which the sayde brydge shalbe. 1595 Norden Spec. Brit., Cornwall (1728) 29 Euerye Shyre or Countye hath his lesser diuisions, as Kente hath Lathes: Sussex Rapes:..and Yorkshire for the greatnes of the circuit hath Rydinges. 1610 Holland Camden's Brit. (1637) 689 This whole Shire is divided into three parts..The West-Riding, The East-Riding, and The North-Riding. 1678 Phillips Suppl., Ridings of York-shire, the three Divisions of that County, viz. East, West and North. 1704 Lond. Gaz. No. 4066/4 The North Riding of the County of York. 1735 Act 8 Geo. II, c. 6 Preamble, Whereas the Lands in the North Riding of the County of York are generally Freehold [etc.]. a 1845 Hood The Desert-Born 77 If mine had been the luck in Yorkshire to be born, Or any of its ridings. 1872 E. W. Robertson Hist. Ess. 120 These districts..have long faded out of recollection except in the great shire of York with its three Ridings. |
2. a. A similar division of other counties or districts in the United Kingdom or its (former) Colonies.
| 1675 in J. Easton Narr. (1858) 79 That the Indyans of the north and west Ridings of Long Island shall..have their Guns restored to them. 1848 Times 10 Nov. 6/4 State of Tipperary. The journals of both ridings of this ill-fated county [etc.]. 1882 Encycl. Brit. XIV. 655 The primary divisions of Lincolnshire are three trithings or ridings. |
b. spec. An administrative or electoral district in Canada. Also
transf.| 1792 in Rep. Bureau Archives Ontario (1906) IV. 180 The said county of Glengarry, bounded as afore said, shall be divided into two ridings. 1853 Elora (Ontario) Backwoodsman 21 Apr. 2/5 When I do seek the votes of the electors of the north riding, I shall fearlessly submit my qualifications and character to the judgment of all who can cast aside their personal feelings and look only to the public good. 1867 Act 30 & 31 Vict. c. 3 §40 Ontario shall be divided into the Counties, Ridings of Counties, Cities,..and Towns, enumerated in the First Schedule to this act. 1890 Grip (Toronto) 29 Mar. 213/1 In that riding the New Party had only 50 pledged members, but pulled nearly 800 votes. 1921 [see bâtonnier]. 1957 Maclean's Mag. 6 July 36/2 At one time Spadina regularly returned J. B. Salsberg as an LPP member to the Provincial Legislature, a habit that inspired a waggish reporter to tag it the ‘Little Red Riding’. 1970 D. Waterfield Continental Waterboy ii. 10 H. W. Herridge, C.C.F. member for West Kootenay, our M.P., gave a talk at Nakusp, warning of the considerable changes that might be expected in the economics of his riding. 1975 Times Lit. Suppl. 10 Oct. 1189/3 A communist member once sat briefly in parliament for a Montreal riding. 1978 Toronto Star 26 Feb. a4/3 The allegations are directed against Georges Marchais, 58, France's outspoken Communist leader who is standing for re-election by the 80,000 voters in the Kremlin riding of Val-de-Marne. |
▪ II. riding, vbl. n. (
ˈraɪdɪŋ)
[f. ride v. + -ing1.] I. 1. a. The action or fact of sitting or travelling on horseback, etc.; a journey or expedition made in this way;
† a mounted combat.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 14992 Mismay yow noght, Bot mas mi riding bun. c 1330 Arth. & Merl. 3297 (Kölbing), Þai com swiþe to þis rideing, Forto helpen her king. c 1400 Laud Troy-bk. 16928 Sir Pirrus..In his rydynge & In his rayke. With his sword smot he. 1470–85 Malory Arthur vi. xiii, 204 It is syre Launcelot, I knowe it by his rydyng. 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 265 b, There was ryding and pricking and coursing up and down on both partes. 1573 Reg. Privy Council Scot. II. 257 To desist and ceise fra all..proclaming or ryding of fairis. 1607 T. Walkington Opt. Glass 58 The Ephialtes..the vulgar sort tearme the night⁓mare or the riding of the witch. 1631 Massinger Emperor East i. ii, Tennis-courts Are chargeable, and the riding of great horses. 1673 Ray Journ. Low C. 29 We made an Excursion to a village..distant about an hour and halfs riding. 1711 Swift Jrnl. to Stella 13 Aug., I felt my last riding three days after. 1790 Scott in Lockhart (1837) I. vi. 167 Besides riding, fishing, and the other usual sports of the country. a 1817 Jane Austen Watsons (1879) 321 He was fond of riding and had a horse of his own. 1869 Ruskin Q. of Air i. §39 The splendid riding of the Tarentines had made their name proverbial in Magna Græcia. |
† b. collect. (also pl.). Horsemen.
Obs. rare.
| 1382 Wyclif 1 Macc. iv. 7 Thei sawen the tentis of heithen men..and ridingis in cumpas of hem. 1388 ― Exod. xiv. 23 Al the ridyng of Farao, hise charis, and knyȝtis. |
c. A mock-procession in ridicule of a tyrannous husband or wife, or a quarrelsome couple.
| 1667 Pepys Diary 10 June, There being a great riding there to-day for a man, the constable of the town, whose wife beat him. 1697 Protestant Mercury No. 189 A Porter's Wife..Beat her Husband..; for which Crime, the Inhabitants made a Riding. 1724 Swift Quiet Life, The 'prentices procur'd a riding, To act his patience, and her chiding. 1854 N. & Q. 1st Ser. IX. 578/1 At Marchington in Staffordshire, the custom exists of having a ‘Rantipole Riding’ for every man who beats his wife. 1854 A. E. Baker Northampt. Gloss. |
d. Naut. (See
quots.)
| 1840 R. H. Dana Bef. Mast viii, Tarring the stays is more difficult, and is done by an operation which the sailors call ‘riding down’. 1867 Smyth Sailor's Word-bk., Riding⁓down, the act..of the man who comes down the stay, &c., to tar it; or foots the bunt in. |
e. Provoking, teasing, annoying.
U.S. colloq.| 1927 Amer. Speech Dec. 167/2 Riding, being sarcastic. 1930 D. Hammett Maltese Falcon xviii. 220 The boy said: ‘You bastard, get up and shoot it out if you've got the guts. I've taken all the riding from you I'm going to take.’ |
2. a. A way or road specially intended for persons riding;
esp. a green track or lane cut through (or skirting) a wood or covert; a ride.
| c 1200 Ormin 9213 Þurrh þorrness & þurrh breress, Þær shulenn beon ridinngess nu. |
| a 1586 Sidney Arcadia (1622) 52 The Lodge is..built in the forme of a starre, hauing round about a garden..; and beyond the garden ridings cut out, each answering the angles of the Lodge. 1676 Phil. Trans. II. 645 Their Avenues, Walks and Ridings. 1712 J. James tr. Le Blond's Gardening 49 These Woods have no..rolled Walks in them, only Ridings cut for Hunting. 1768 Wesley Wks. (1872) III. 347 We had then wonderful road; some of the ridings (so called) being belly-deep. 1798 Bloomfield Farmer's Boy, Autumn 283 Where every narrow riding..Gives back the echo of his mellow horn. 1806 Lysons Magna Brit., Berks. I. 201 note, This [causeway] was levelled when the ridings were cut across the heath, and is now called the Devil's Riding. 1852 Zoologist X. 3349 Broad grassy ridings, and underwood of the most impenetrable black⁓thorn. 1865 Dickens Mut. Fr. iv. vii, A green lane or riding by the river-side. |
† b. (See
quots., and
cf. ride n.1 1 c.)
| 1755 Johnson, Riding, a district visited by an officer. 1854 A. E. Baker Northampt. Gloss., Riding..also means the divisions of a royal forest. |
3. Naut. The fact of lying at anchor; opportunity for doing so; anchorage.
| 1562 Heywood Prov. & Epigr. (1867) 76 Good ridyng at two ankers men haue tolde. 1628–9 Digby Voy. Medit. (Camden) 13, I sent my shalloppes out with leades to sound the depth and to see if there about were good riding. 1674 Temple Wks. 1720 II. 320 They insisted, to have our Riding in their Rivers and Creeks,..to be with Consent of their Governor. 1725 De Foe New Voy. (1840) 164 A little cove, where there was good riding, but very deep water. 1854 G. B. Richardson Univ. Code v. (ed. 12) 4351 The riding is secure. 1870 Lowell Among my Bks. Ser. i. (1873) 310 Enabling it to find holding-ground and secure riding in any sea. |
4. The fact of overlapping in some way.
| 1768 in 9th Rep. Deputy Kpr. Rec. (1848) App. ii. 254 It is impossible to represent..the different colours.., without spreading and what the printers call riding; which is a disgracefull inequality in those lines. 1879 St. George's Hosp. Rep. IX. 365 Femur fractured transversely about middle; slight forward riding of upper fragment. 1880 Times 31 Dec. 4/1 The riding of the breech, or obturation, as it is termed, is effected by an expanding steel cup on the face of the breech screw. |
II. attrib. 5. a. In sense ‘worn in, or for, riding’, as
riding-bonnet,
riding-boot,
riding-cloak, etc. Also
riding-coat, -habit,
-hood.
| 1935 H. L. Davis Honey in Horn xi. 165 She pulled her *riding-blanket down on her bare shoulders with a temperish jerk. |
| 1507 Accs. High Treas. Scot. IV. 17 Ane *riding bonet. |
| 1638 Heywood Wise Wom. iv. iv, The Gentlemans *riding bootes and spurres. 1662 J. Davies tr. Olearius' Voy. Ambass. 209 Being all in riding-boots, we durst not venture to go in. 1851 Hawthorne House of Seven Gables i. 18 With such a tramp of his ponderous riding-boots as might of itself have been audible in the remotest of the seven gables, he advanced to the door. 1952 E. O'Neill Moon for Misbegotten i. 56 He is dressed in..immaculately polished English riding boots with spurs. 1980 G. M. Fraser Mr American xxvi. 533 A field officer in Sam Browne, red tabs, and gleaming riding boots. |
| 1916 W. Owen Let. 10 Feb. (1967) 380 Brown has *riding-breeks. |
| 1545 Elyot Q ii/1 Galericulum, an vnder bonet, or *rydynge cappe. 1976 Alyn & Deeside Observer 10 Dec. 21/6 (Advt.), Riding macs, riding caps with new collapsible peaks, hunting bowlers. Bargain price. |
| 1625 K. Long tr. Barclay's Argenis v. x. 360 She..plucked his *Riding-cloake from off his shoulder. 1828 Scott F.M. Perth xxv, The horseman was wrapped in his riding-cloak. |
| 1662 Pepys Diary 19 May, Put on my *riding-cloth suit and a camelott coat new. |
| 1752 H. Walpole Lett. (1846) II. 428 In *riding-clothes, with a dog under her arm. |
| 1944 A. Clarke Viscount of Blarney 42 A Gallant in eighteenth-century *riding costume appears at doorway. |
| 1736–7 Mrs. A. Granville in Mrs. Delany Life & Corr. (1861) I. 589 She made me go in just as I was, in my *riding-dress and cap. 1806 T. S. Surr Winter in Lond. III. 99 In a black crop-scratch and a riding-dress. 1851 D. Jerrold St. Giles xxxiii. 340 She smoothed down the folds of the riding-dress. |
| 1666 Pepys Diary 11 June, I find the Ladies of Honour dressed in their *riding garbs, with coats and doublets. |
| 1855 F. Duberly Let. 29 Jan. in E. E. P. Tisdall Mrs. Duberly's Campaigns (1963) iv. 124, 6 pairs of doeskin *riding gauntlets, 7½. |
| 1888 Cent. Mag. May 123 Portraits of country gentlemen with high collars and *riding⁓gloves. |
| 1454 E.E. Wills 133 A *Riding gowne with the hode. 1502 Priv. Purse Exp. Eliz. York (1830) 68 A riding gowne for the Quene. 1697 Lond. Gaz. No. 3317/4 A slender Woman,..in a grey Camblet Riding Gown, with Knots of green Ribbons before. |
| 1508 Accs. High Treas. Scot. IV. 94 All *riding graith tane fra him. 1785 [see graith n. 2 a]. |
| 1507 Accs. High Treas. Scot. IV. 17 For ane *riding hat. 1782 J. Woodforde Diary 24 Apr. (1926) II. 19 For a riding Hat for Nancy..pd. 1. 13. 6. 1811 Jane Austen Let. 18 Apr. (1932) II. 69, I must have a straw hat, of the riding hat shape. 1978 ‘F. Parrish’ Sting of Honeybee iv. 51 The other old lady.. fitted them out with riding hats, and helped them on to small, fat, elderly ponies. |
| 1537 Test. Ebor. (Surtees) VI. 68 To my servaunte, Thomas Turner, my *rydyng jaket. |
| 1594 Nashe Unfort. Trav. Wks. (Grosart) V. 145 Gascoynes which..would make a couple of womens *ryding Kyrtles. |
| 1961 M. Kelly Spoilt Kill ii. 91 She was..wearing an old *riding mac. 1974 L. Deighton Spy Story xvi. 163 A figure in a dirty white riding mac. |
| 1822 Scott Nigel xxxvi, Her *riding-mask of black velvet. |
| a 1578 Lindesay (Pitscottie) Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.) I. 174 Himself was clad in ane *ryding pie of blak wellvet. |
| 1595 Shakes. John i. i. 217 Who comes in such haste in *riding robes? |
| 1824 Scott Redgauntlet ch. xxii, He disencumbered him from the *riding-skirt and the mask. |
| 1611 Shakes. Cymb. iii. ii. 78 Prouide me presently A *Riding Suit. 1826 Scott Woodst. xxxiv, A grey riding-suit, passmented with silver. |
| 1824 ― Redgauntlet ch. xxiii, Miss Redgauntlet had retained her *riding vizard. |
b. In sense ‘used for or in connexion with riding’, ‘carried when riding’, as
riding-cane,
riding-crop,
riding-furniture, etc. Also
riding-rod.
| 1839 M. Howitt Old Friend & New iv. 10 It was cracked by my new friend's *riding-cane! |
| 1891 Hardy Tess li. (1900) 128 He touched the window with his *riding⁓crop. |
| 1633 Massinger Guardian ii. iv, By short boots, And *riding-furniture of several countries. 1705 Stanhope Paraphr. I. 28 They brought these Beasts, and instead of riding Furniture, made use of their own Cloaths. |
| 1535 Coverdale Zech. xiv. 20 At that tyme shal the *rydinge geer of y⊇ horses be holy vnto the Lorde. 1839 Darwin Voy. Nat. iv. (1879) 65 They earn a little by making horse⁓rugs and other articles of riding-gear. |
| 1951 R. Campbell Light on Dark Horse xxiii. 337 The dried penis of a bull which we carry in those parts in place of a *riding-quirt. |
| 1530 Palsgr. 263/1 *Ridyng speare, jaueline. |
| 1860 Geo. Eliot Mill on Fl. i. viii, The farmyard gate, which he attempted to push open with his *riding-stick. |
| 1712 J. James tr. Le Blond's Gardening 148 Its Wood.., of which they make Wands and *Riding-Switches. 1820 Scott Abbot iv, The youth is..somewhat too ready with..the butt of his riding-switch. |
| 1567 Lanc. Wills (Chetham Soc.) II. 86 My *ridynge sword. 1658 Hatton Corr. (Camden) 15, I desire you will bwy mee a lytle wryding sword and belt. |
| 1605 Hist. K. Leir B iv, Enter the king of Cornwall and his man booted and spurd, a *riding wand..in his hand. 1820 Scott Abbot vii, This is the same riding-wand which you have tasted. |
| 1676 Grew Musæum, Anat. Stomach & Guts iv. 17 A perfect Plat, somewhat like to that in a *Riding-Whip. 1829 Marryat F. Mildmay xxv, A cowskin is a large whip, made like a riding whip. |
c. In sense ‘used for riding on, or in’, as
riding animal,
riding beast,
riding carriage,
riding chair, etc.; also of machinery on which the operator rides (
cf. ride-on a.), as
riding mower,
riding plough.
| 1897 Pop. Sci. Monthly Nov. 26 They have neither cattle nor horses..nor..*riding animals. |
| c 1400 Beryn 1687 Every gentill hert..Desirith that his *ryding best be servid..Rathir then hym-selff. |
| 1908 G. Sanger 70 Yrs. Showman xvi. 57 My father was able to add ‘*riding’ or ‘over and over’ boats, as they were called, to his peep-show and roundabouts. |
| 1785 T. Jefferson Notes Virginia viii. 158, 5,126 wheels of *riding carriages. 1792 J. Belknap Hist. New Hampsh. III. 117 It..serves for the frames of..riding carriages. |
| 1785 Lower Norfolk Co. Antiquary I. 136, 1 *riding Chair and Harness. 1971 Country Life 11 Mar. 528/2 It is impossible to judge how many of these chamber horses, also called dandy horses and riding chairs, were made. |
| 1641 Rec. Early Hist. Boston (1877) II. 61 Its ordered that all dry cattle shall be driven of the necke, and not be suffered to abide there, except *Riding horses. 1714 Essex Inst. Hist. Coll. (1883) XX. 179 Voated that the Neck of Land..be granted and reserved for the use of the Town of Salem for a pasture for Milch Cows and Rideing Horses. 1749 West Pindar, Diss. Olympick Games xiv, That Chariots were in Use before riding-horses. 1844 H. Stephens Bk. Farm I. 130 The high rack is always put up in riding-horse stables. 1940 W. Faulkner Hamlet iv. i. 255 The tethered wagons and riding horses and mules. 1977 Horse & Hound 10 June 5/3 Our present efforts to breed riding horses. |
| 1969 Sears Catal. Spring/Summer 5 A compact yet powerful *Riding Mower that's truly easy to start. 1976 Billings (Montana) Gaz. 17 June 6-f/1 (Advt.), Bolens 5 HP riding mower. |
| 1861 All Year Round July 380, I soon discovered that something ailed my *riding mule. |
| 1911 Encycl. Brit. XXI. 851/2 The ‘sulky’ or *riding plough is little known in the United Kingdom. 1960 Davies & Vaughan Beyond Old Bone Trail xi. 74 We bought..a riding plough—the ‘walking’ model was right out of date. |
| 1954 J. R. R. Tolkien Fellowship of Ring i. xi. 190 The two or three *riding-ponies. |
| 1940 W. Faulkner Hamlet i. i. 15 Colonel John Sartoris his self shot Ab for trying to steal his clay⁓bank *riding stallion during the war. |
d. In misc. uses, as
riding-charges,
riding code,
riding-face,
riding instructor,
riding lesson,
riding mistress,
riding-muscle,
riding tournament;
riding ballad, a ballad celebrating a Border raid;
† riding-block = block n. 3 c;
riding days, the days of Border raiding;
riding establishment (see
quot.);
† riding fool (see
quot.);
† riding-money Sc., a payment to cover the expenses of troopers in collecting a fine;
riding rock (see
quot.).
| 1800 W. Scott Let. 18 Oct. (1932) I. 105, I do not mean entirely to limit my collection to the *Riding Ballads, as they are called in our country, those namely which relate to Border feuds and forays. 1837 Lockhart Scott I. vii. 194 With a view..to pick up some of the ancient riding ballads, said to be still preserved among the descendants of the mosstroopers. |
| 1570 Foxe A. & M. (ed. 2) 105/2 Sapores..vsed him..for his *riding⁓blocke. |
| 1552 in Vicary's Anat. 119 With the Bordewages, *Ridinge Chardges, reparacions, and other expences not certeyn. 1679–88 Secr. Serv. Money Chas. & Jas. (Camden) 66 To the clerks of the Trea'ry, for their riding charges this last summer. 1737 Chamberlayne's St. Gt. Brit. ii. 87 An allowance for riding-charges. |
| 1971 Riding for Recreation (Brit. Horse Soc.) ii. 3/1 The British Horse Society in consultation with other organisations has compiled a *Riding Code. |
| 1824 Scott Redgauntlet let. xi, We had lived on the grund..since the *riding days, and lang before. |
| 1876 Voyle Milit. Dict. 343/1 *Riding Establishment, a school at Woolwich, established for the instruction of the men of the artillery in riding. |
| 1599 B. Jonson Ev. Man out of Hum. ii. i, He has a good *riding face, and he can sit a great horse. |
| 1570 Foxe A. & M. (ed. 2) 51/1 Valerianus..was..made a *ridyng foole of Sapores their king, whoe vsed hym for a stoole to leape vpon hys horse. |
| 1946 M. C. Self Horseman's Encycl. 342 The proper choice of a *riding instructor is of utmost importance. 1977 N. Marsh Last Ditch iii. 63 A riding instructor or some such in the army. |
| 1886 F. H. Burnett Little Lord Fauntleroy viii. 159 Fauntleroy took his first *riding lesson. 1975 J. McClure Snake viii. 110 Business so bad..and yet his kid goes to riding lessons. |
| 1895 Funk's Stand. Dict., *Riding mistress. 1926 Galsworthy Silver Spoon iii. vii. 275 A riding mistress was teaching a small boy to trot. |
| 1721 Wodrow Hist. Suff. Ch. Scot. (1830) II. 12 This was called *riding-money; and sometimes the riding-money was as much as the fine itself. |
| 1914 D. H. Lawrence Prussian Officer 2 His orderly, having to rub him down, admired the amazing *riding-muscles of his loins. |
| 1859 Bartlett Dict. Amer. (ed. 2) 365 *Riding rock, a conspicuous rock at a ford, used to show the depth of the water and the safety of crossings. 1872 Schele de Vere Americanisms 532 In the South..most streams..have a so-called riding rock at or near a fording-place. |
| 1934 Sun (Baltimore) 15 Aug. 9/3 The amateur *riding tournament today. 1941 Ibid. 20 Aug. 11/7 The mountain folk..also will have their wood-chopping and sawing contests, riding tournament and rifle shoot. |
6. In sense of
ride v. 3, as
riding-season,
riding-time.
| c 1410 Master of Game (MS. Digby 182) i, Whann she gothe in hire loue, that hunters calle ridyng tyme. 1783 Burns Death of Poor Mailie 47 Warn him ay at ridin time To stay content wi' yowes at hame. 1831 Sutherland Farm Rep. 83 in L.U.K., Husb. III, During the ‘riding’ season. Ibid. 84 Both at riding-time, and at the subsequent lambing. |
7. Naut. In sense of
ride v. 7, as
riding bitt,
riding cable,
riding place,
riding scope;
riding lamp,
light, a special light displayed by a ship when riding at anchor;
riding sail, a small sail set to keep a vessel steady when riding at anchor.
| 1794 Rigging & Seamanship 162 The *Riding-bitts are..those to which the cable is bitted when the vessel rides at anchor. 1844 Civil Eng. & Arch. Jrnl. VII. 85/2 She has..only one pair of riding bitts. 1869 E. J. Reed Shipbuild. xv. 277 To make special arrangements in the construction and support of the riding-bitts. |
| 1841 R. H. Dana Seaman's Man. 86 Pay out on your *riding cable. |
| 1883 Clark Russell Sea Queen II. ii. 35 With a *riding-lamp burning brightly on the forestay. |
| 1881 Times 12 Apr. 4/5 The barque..was lying at anchor..with proper *riding light. |
| 1665 Sir T. Herbert Trav. (1677) 38 A convenient *riding place for ships. |
| 1887 Goode Fisheries of U.S. v. Pl. 8 The schooner at anchor under *riding sail. |
| 1841 R. H. Dana Seaman's Man. 84 Paying out chain as she drops astern, until double your *riding scope is out. |
▪ III. riding, ppl. a. (
ˈraɪdɪŋ)
[f. ride v. + -ing2.] 1. That rides, in the senses of the
vb.; mounted.
| c 1000 ælfric Saints' Lives xxxiii. 187 He þa sende ridende men ᵹeond ealle alexandria land and egypta. c 1470 Gol. & Gaw. 189 Thair is na ridand roy..Sa deir welcum this day. 1472 in Spalding Club Misc. II. 252 Alexander Mackintoche Thane of Rathamurcus to be ridin man to my Lorde William Erll of Eroll. c 1500 in Essex Rev. XV. 145 The Lieutenant, Rydyng foster, and Ranger of the same forest. 1529 Supplic. to King (E.E.T.S.) 42 Vnlerned curattes,..rydinge chaplaynes and such other ydle parsons. 1544 in I. S. Leadam Sel. Cases Crt. Requests (1898) 73 Wylliam Sylke..sayth that he was rydyng Steward of Ramsey by the space of xvj yeres. 1633 Ford Love's Sacr. ii. i, There's not a groom o' the querry could have matched the jolly riding-man. 1673 [R. Leigh] Transp. Reh. 16 The same man is a riding-prince, a heroe, and an army in masquerade. 1692 Controversy St. Blockhead in Select. fr. Harl. Misc. (1793) 530 The then riding judge..declared the fact within benefit of the clergy. 1726 Ayliffe Parergon 69 No Suffragan Bishop shall have more than one riding Apparitor in his Diocess. 1761 Ann. Reg., Charact. 39/1 The duke.. made him his riding purveyor. 1848 Struthers Orig. Secession Ch. 32 Doing violence to the constitution of the church..by sending ‘riding Committees’ of their number to do the work of tyranny. 1894 Outing XXIV. 400/2 Those horses dragged the stage right up to the very edge of the steep grade afore the riding whites could stop 'em. |
† b. riding clerk (see
quot.).
Obs.| 1658 Phillips, Riding Clark, one of the six Clarks of the Chancery, who takes his turn for his year to have the controling of all Grants which passe the great Seal. |
† 2. riding knot, a running knot, a slip-knot. So
riding device,
riding snare.
Obs.| 13.. Sir Beues (A.) 3220 On a towaile ȝhe made knotte riding. c 1420 Contin. Brut ccxlii. (E.E.T.S.) 351 Þai..tokyn ij smale tewellys, and made on ham rydyng knottis. 1481 Caxton Reynard (Arb.) 33 Bynde the corde faste to the lynde, and make a rydynge knotte or a strope. 1552 Huloet, Knotte whiche runneth to, called a rydynge knotte, capulum. 1594 Nashe Unfort. Trav. Wks. (Grosart) V. 139, I had the knot vnder my eare,..the riding deuice was almost thrust home. 1617 Gesta Grayorum ii. in Nichols Progr. Q. Eliz. III. 325 Thomas Joynter..claymes liberty and usage of settinge riding-snares in..Fullwoods. 1650 B. Discolliminium 25, I would have tied her neck of a riding-knot for ever gagling more. |
3. That ‘rides’ upon, surmounts, or projects over an object or part of one. In special collocations, as
riding cast,
riding cord, etc. (see
quots.).
| 1677 Plot Oxfordsh. 246 In Sowing they have their several Methods, viz. the single Cast, the double Cast; and as they call it about Burford, the Hackney bridle, or *riding cast... The Hackney bridle is two casts on a Land at one time, and but once about. |
| 1782 Encycl. Brit. (ed. 2) IX. 6711/1 The tires, or the *riding-cords, which run on the pulleys, and pull up the high-lisses. |
| 1826 Beveridge Forms of Process I. 384 A *riding interest is a claim by a creditor of a claimant,..to be preferred to as much of the sum..as will pay the debt and claim of the rider. |
| 1859 Admiralty Man. Sci. Enquiry (ed. 3) 105 Carefully level the apparatus until the axis of the mirror is exactly horizontal, as shown by the *riding-level..in all azimuths. |
| 1846 Holtzapffel Turning II. 908 Close behind the screw-pin by which they [blades of scissors] are united, there is a little triangular elevation... This enlargement or bulge is technically called the ‘*riding-part’. |
| 1875 Bedford Sailor's Pocket-bk. vii. (ed. 2) 272 If the depth of water be greater than the height of a tank, a *riding tier of tanks may be added. |
| 1841 R. H. Dana Seaman's Man. 42 After the *riding turns are passed, the end is carried under the turns. |
| 1860 Archit. Soc. Dict. s.v. Flying Buttress, The *riding wall..should abut upon the main wall. |
| c 1535 in Yorks. Archæol. Jrnl. (1886) IX. 212, ij wyndowes, th' one glasid conteyning vj ffoote of glasse w{supt} *rydynge wyndowes. Ibid. 324, j fayre wyndowe..shitt w{supt} a rydynge wyndowe of bourdes. |