▪ I. ˈreaming, vbl. n.
[f. ream v.3 + -ing1.]
1. (See the vb. and quots.)
| 1815 Burney Falconer's Mar. Dict., Reaming, in block-making, the act of increasing the size of a hole with a large instrument. 1882 Nares Seamanship (ed. 6) 156 The lead that remains in the groove must be extracted—this is called reaming. |
2. fig. A reprimand. colloq.
| 1973 M. Woodhouse Blue Bone xi. 111 One major stink... Massive reamings are being handed out. 1976 ‘J. Charlton’ Remington Set xxiii. 119 You're bloody cheerful..for a bloke that's headed for a number one reaming from the CO. |
Add: [1.] b. U.S. The twisting of a fruit on a reamer in order to extract its juice.
| 1948 M. Ingram Viscosity of Orange Juice 13 One may distinguish between two extremes in method of extraction: on the one hand the juice is extracted by reaming (as in the usual hand operation). 1954 Tressler & Joslyn Chem. & Technol. Fruit & Fruit Products xii. 427 In the early days of orange juice canning, juice was extracted by hand reaming. |
▪ II. ˈreaming, ppl. a.1 rare.
[f. ream v.1]
Stretching out in threads; ropy; forming masses of filaments.
| 1495 Trevisa's Barth. De P.R. v. xxii. (W. de W.), Moche grete spityll & thycke, gleymy & reamyng. 1647 Herrick Noble Numbers, Widow's Teares v, Farewell the Flax and Reaming wooll, With which thy house was plentifull. |
▪ III. ˈreaming, ppl. a.2 Chiefly Sc.
[f. ream v.2]
Frothing, foaming. Also in phr. reaming full.
| 1513 Douglas æneis i. xi. 89 He merely ressauis the remand tais, All out he drank. 1717 Ramsay Elegy Lucky Wood vi, Reaming swats. 1721 ― Prospect of Plenty 196 With reaming quaff. a 1774 Fergusson Poems (1845) 5 Come and gie's the tither blaw O' reaming ale. 1824 Scott Redgauntlet ch. ii, It's a sore thing to see a..cow kick down the pail when it's reaming fou. 1842 J. Aiton Domest. Econ. (1857) 201 They give a reaming handiful of rich milk. 1894 Crockett Lilac Sunbonnet 23 The reaming white which filled the blanket tub. |
▪ IV. reaming
variant of reeming vbl. n.