▪ I. dusting, vbl. n.
(ˈdʌstɪŋ)
[f. dust v.1 + -ing1.]
1. a. The action of the verb dust, q.v., in various senses: usually, that of freeing from dust.
| 1623 Cockeram ii, Dusting, pulueration. Ibid. i. Pulueration, a beating into powder. 1726 Amherst Terræ Fil. x. 47 Dusting of cushions. 1837 Dickens Pickw. xii, Mrs. Bardell resumed her dusting. |
b. The sprinkling of powdered insecticide, fertilizer, etc., on crops, usu. from the air. Usu. in form crop dusting.
| 1926 H. H. Arnold Airman & Aircraft 212 (index) Crop ‘dusting’ by planes. 1930 Flight 17 Oct. 1151/1, 11 engaged on crop dusting. 1958 Times Rev. Industry July 76/2 The prototype of the Wirraway war-time trainer, rebuilt for crop-dusting. |
c. With adv., as dusting-on.
| 1879 Telegraphic Jrnl. 15 Oct. 344/2 The ‘dusting-on’ process [of phosphorescent photography] consists in coating a plate with a preparation of dextrine, honey, and bichromate of ammonia which..becomes hardened..remaining tacky where it is protected from..light. |
2. A beating, thrashing; also used by sailors of rough or stormy weather. (colloq. or slang.)
| 1799 Naval Chron. II. 542 They did not venture a dusting with the Naiad. 1821 Sporting Mag. VII. 285 So his men fac'd about..and gave all the rogues a good dusting. 1895 Daily News 14 Sept. 6/4 When we got beyond the shelter of the islands we should have a rough time of it—what the skipper calls ‘a dusting’. |
3. attrib. and Comb. Used for dusting, as dusting-brush, dusting-cloth, etc.; also dusting-colours, colours in the form of powder to be dusted over adhesive varnish; dusting-powder, a powder, usually antiseptic, for dusting over wounds, etc.; also = talcum powder.
| 1667 Hist. Gunpowder in Sprat Hist. R. Soc. (1702) 281 (T.) The bin, over which the sieve is shaken, called the dusting bin. 1686 N. Cox Gentl. Recreat. v. 28 Your Curry-combs, Brushes, Dusting-cloaths, Oyntments. 1851 Offic. Catal. Gt. Exhib. I. 101 The Feathers..made into dusting-brooms. 1907 Yesterday's Shopping (1969) 358/1 Typewriter sundries... Dusting Brushes. Ibid. 506/1 Dusting Powder for wounds..tin 0/10½. 1926 Toilet Goods Economist 12 June 59 Bath salts, face powders, dusting powders. 1947 E. H. Young Chatterton Square xxiii. 158 She had bathed and changed and smelt faintly of dusting powder. 1951 ‘J. Tey’ Daughter of Time i. 11 The Midget smelt of lavender dusting powder. |
▪ II. dusting, ppl. a.
That dusts: see dust v.1
| 1890 Spectator 27 Sept., Partridges are a good example of the dusting birds, and are most careful in the selection of their dust-baths. |