fleshing, vbl. n.
(ˈflɛʃɪŋ)
[f. flesh v. and n. + -ing1.]
1. The action of inciting (hounds) to the chase by giving them a taste of flesh.
| 1576 Turberv. Venerie 213 Greyhoundes will requyre greater fleshyng and encouragement to a Wolfe than to any other chace. 1611 Cotgr., Acharnement, a fleshing. |
2. Leather-manuf. The action or process of scraping off the pieces of flesh, etc., adhering to the flesh-side of a skin; also
pl. that which is scraped off.
| 1777 Macbride in Phil. Trans. LXVIII. 114 The operation called fleshing..consists in a further scraping, with a particular kind of knife..and cutting away the jagged extremities and offal parts, such as the ears and nostrils. 1860 Ure's Dict. Arts (ed. 5) II. 676 The fleshings are pressed into cakes, and sold for making glue. 1885 A. Watt Leather Manuf. xxvi. 323 The unhairing and fleshing of calf skins. |
3. (See
quot., and
cf. flesh n. 6.)
| 1598 Florio Andar in Carnafau, to go a fleshing or a wenching. |
4. Sc. ‘The business of a butcher’ (
Jam. Suppl. 1825).
5. The distribution of the flesh on an animal.
| 1876 Daily News 5 Dec. 2/1 The dainty shapes, undeniable style, and even fleshing of Sir W. C. Trevelyan's beautiful white Irish and shorthorn cross. |
6. pl. A close-fitting, flesh-coloured garment of a light material, usually of silk, worn upon the stage to represent the natural skin; also
fleshing-tights.
| 1838 D. Jerrold Men of Character, J. Runnymede v. Wks. 1864 III. 189 Mind and be very particular with the fleshings. 1851 Mayhew Lond. Labour (1861) III. 118/2 Then I'm dressed up in fleshing tights. 1856 Alb. Smith Sketches of Day Ser. i. ii. i. 9 Any lovely spirit, whose silk fleshings move in pliant grace. 1879 Geo. Eliot Theo. Such x. 178 Ophelia in fleshings. |
7. Comb., as
fleshing-beam (see
quot.);
fleshing-board = prec.;
fleshing-iron = next;
fleshing-knife (see
quot. 1839);
fleshing-shop, the place where skins are fleshed; a beam-house.
| 1881 Leicestersh. Gloss., Flesh-beam or *Fleshing-beam, a wooden instrument..on which is suspended the hide to be dressed, for the purpose of scraping off any remains of the flesh, &c. |
| 1547 Aberdeen Reg. 17 Feb., Item, ane *flesching buird, with ane fuyt and ane *flesching jrne. |
| 1839 Ure Dict. Arts 764 The *fleshing knife; a large two handled implement with a blunt edge, and bent to suit the curvature of the rounded beam of the wooden horse upon which the hide is scraped. |
| 1885 A. Watt Leather Manuf. xxiv. 291 The goatskins, when ready for..fleshing, are removed to the *fleshing shop. |