ˈribbing, vbl. n.
[f. rib v.1 + -ing1.]
1. a. The action of the verb. (See quots.)
| 1765 A. Dickson Treat. Agric. (ed. 2) 312 A method of plowing, used in some places, called ribbing. This method of plowing is performed by making furrows about two feet distant from each other. 1812 Sir J. Sinclair Syst. Husb. Scot. i. 408 Ribbing, by which half the land was left untilled. 1844 H. Stephens Bk. Farm I. 481, I have mentioned a mode of ploughing called ribbing. In its best form it is usually performed in spring with the small plough. 1883 Gresley Gloss. Coal-mining 203 Ribbing,..enlarging a heading or drift. 1893–4 Heslop Northumbld. Wds. s.v. Ribbin, A sound thrashing is often called ‘a good ribbin’. |
b. (The action of) teasing or joking at another's expense (see
rib v.
1 4 d).
slang (
orig. U.S.).
| 1935 Wodehouse Luck of Bodkins xxiv. 301, I was just kidding. Sure! Ribbing, we call it over here. 1935 Sun (Baltimore) 9 Mar. 6/2 A dozen fat rainbow trout were in the [swimming] pool—another case of Hollywood ‘ribbing’. 1939 I. Baird Waste Heritage xv. 192 There was a brief outbreak of good-natured ribbing. 1951 Sport 30 Mar.–5 Apr. 3/2 Stan had to contend with a good deal of ribbing from his team-mates. 1956 C. P. Snow Homecomings 139 Orthodox opinions, collective gibes, a bit of ribbing—that was enough to keep them zestful. 1968 Globe & Mail Mag. (Toronto) 13 Jan. 12/3 Unlike..rustic yokels..they can even take a ribbing. 1976 M. & G. Gordon Ordeal (1977) iii. 15 He was..the only man at the party to wear a tie. He took a ribbing about that. |
2. concr. Ribs collectively (in various senses).
| 1564 Wills & Inv. N.C. (Surtees, 1835) 219, I geue him..a payre of lynnen shetes w{supt}{suph} a silk ribbing thorow them, a rode, and a pilleber. 1703 [see 3]. 1823 P. Nicholson Pract. Build. 131 Sometimes the ribbing of circular roofs consists of only several principal axal ribs. 1861 S. Thomson Wild Flowers i. (ed. 4) 38 Throughout plants generally, the ribbing or veining is arranged according to two..plans. 1880 Plain Hints Needlework 28 The size of ribbing is a matter of individual taste. 1948 ‘P. Wentworth’ Traveller Returns xxi. 134 She had begun Johnny's second stocking and almost finished the ribbing at the top. 1958 C. Fremlin Hours before Dawn xxi. 173 Her niece..was frowning dreadfully over the spacing of the button holes in the front ribbing. 1962 ‘E. Peters’ Funeral of Figaro iii. 69 Two inches of neat ribbing stood stiff on the bright blue plastic needles. 1973 D. Biggs Knitting for Fun 41/2 If you can knit a square you can make this gay poncho... Join corners of neck ribbing. |
3. Comb., as
ribbing-nail,
ribbing-needle,
ribbing-plough.
| 1703 T. N. City & C. Purchaser 212 *Ribbing-nails..are..us'd to fasten the Ribbing, to keep the Ribs of Ships in their place in Building. 1867 Smyth Sailor's Word-bk. 571 Ribbing-Nails, similar to deck-nails, but not so fine. |
| 1881 Encycl. Brit. XII. 299/2 A set of *ribbing-needles placed at right angles to Lee's plain needles. |
| 1832 Scoreby Farm Rep. 4 in L.U.K., Husb. III, The *ribbing-plough was first introduced into this neighbourhood..about twenty years ago. |