▪ I. ˈbickering, vbl. n.
[f. as prec. + -ing1.]
1. Skirmishing, a skirmish.
| 1297 R. Glouc. 540 Ther was ofte bituene hom gret bikering. 1494 Fabyan vii. 373 Atwene theym were had many bykeringes and skyrmysshes. 1530 Palsgr. 197 Beckeryng, scrimysshe. 1622 Heylin Cosmogr. ii. (1682) 198 The first bickering between the Soldiers of Cæsar and Pompey. 1670 Milton Hist. Eng. ii. Wks. (1851) 55 Then was the Warr shiverd..into small frayes and bickerings. a 1763 Byrom 3 Black Crows 19 Disputes of ev'ry size..from bick'ring, up to battle. 1867 Freeman Norm. Conq. (1876) I. iv. 229 Smaller wars and bickerings still went on. |
2. Wordy sparring, wrangling, altercation.
| 1573 G. Harvey Letter-bk. (1884) 5 Ful oft hath he bene at gud whot bickerings with sum others. 1593 Shakes. 2 Hen. VI, i. i. 144 If I longer stay, We shall begin our ancient bickerings. 1742 Richardson Pamela IV. 54 The Tears a poor Wife might shed in matrimonial Bickerings. 1821 Syd. Smith Wks. (1867) I. 349 The parchment bickerings of Doe and Roe. 1882 E. Gosse Gray iv. 81 The..bickering which went on in the combination-room. |
▪ II. ˈbickering, ppl. a.
[f. as prec. + -ing2.]
1. That bickers; wrangling, contentious.
| 1808 J. Barlow Columb. x. 60 With bickering strife inflame their furious bands. 1811 Scott Don Roderick i. xxxv, From court intrigue, from bickering faction far. 1843 Carlyle Past & Pr. (1858) 80 Such waste-bickering Saxondom. |
2. That makes a bickering sound.
| 1789 D. Davidson Seasons 156 (Jam.) The once bick'ring stream..low-growling, runs. 1821 J. Baillie Elder Tree xvii. 3 Rattle the windows with bickering hail. |
3. Coruscating, flashing, quivering.
| 1667 Milton P.L. vi. 767 Smoak and bickering flame, and sparkles dire. 1786 tr. Beckford's Vathek (1868) 112 Their bickering sabres. 1825 Scott Talism. (1854) 475 Spread not the flax before a bickering torch. 1876 Farrar Marlb. Serm. xxxiv. 343 Who..played with the red fire and the bickering flames. |