▪ I. lagging, vbl. n.1
(ˈlægɪŋ)
[f. lag v.2 + -ing1.]
The action or condition of lag v.2
| 1600 Holland Livy vi. vii. 221 What meanes this strange and unwonted lagging behind? 1862 Dana Man. Geol. 41 The westward tropical flow is due simply to a slight lagging of the waters. 1867 Denison Astron. without Math. 123 This is called the priming and lagging of the tides. 1897 Allbutt's Syst. Med. II. 915 Cardiac irregularity is a frequent consequence of tobacco-smoking, lagging and intermission being the earlier forms of it. |
▪ II. lagging, vbl. n.2
(ˈlægɪŋ)
[f. lag v.3 + -ing1.]
A sentence or term of imprisonment or penal servitude. Also attrib. (see quot. 1812).
| 1812 J. H. Vaux Flash Dict., Lagging matter, any species of crime for which a person is liable on conviction to be transported... Speaking of a person likely to be transported they say lagging dues will be concerned. 1838 Dickens O. Twist xliii, If they do [get fresh evidence], it's a case of lagging. 1844 Port Phillip Patriot 22 July 2/6, I remained with him five years after I served my ‘lagging’. |
▪ III. lagging, vbl. n.3
(ˈlægɪŋ)
[f. lag v.4 + -ing1.]
The action of the vb. lag4.
1. The action of covering a boiler, an arch, a wall, etc., with strips of wood or felt.
| 1870 Eng. Mech. 11 Feb. 516/1 This may be..prevented by careful ‘lagging’ with non-conductors of heat. 1895 Hatch & Chalmers Gold Mines of Rand vi. 121 Side lagging is seldom necessary after the first 50 to 100 feet. |
| attrib. 1884 Leisure Hour Sept. 531/2 The old engine-house was exchanged for part of the old lagging-shop. |
2. pl. and collect. sing. The material with which this is done. Also attrib.
| 1851 Pract. Mech. Jrnl. III. 242 The boiler is covered with lagging and Russia sheet iron. 1867 ‘Ben Brierley’ Marlocks Merriton 68 The fence (his own making) was but a rickety fabric of ‘laggins’, worn-out treadles [etc.]. 1869 Lonsdale Gloss., Laggins, the part of the wooden frame work upon which the stones are laid when building an arch. 1870 Spon's Dict. Engineering ii. 479 The term bolster has also been applied to the pieces of timber placed across the ribs of the centering of an arch to support the voussoirs; but these are more generally known by the name of laggings. 1881 Raymond Mining Gloss., Lagging, planks, slabs, or small timber placed over the caps or behind the posts of the timbering. |
▪ IV. lagging, ppl. a.
(ˈlægɪŋ)
[f. lag v.2 + -ing2.]
That lags; behindhand, lingering, loitering, tardy.
| 1593 Shakes. Rich. II, i. iii. 214 Foure lagging Winters, and foure wanton springs End in a word. 1655 Fuller Ch. Hist. v. i. §4 The lagging money which was last sent thither. 1697 Dryden Virg. Past. viii. 25 Come, Lucifer, drive on the lagging Day. 1735 Somerville Chase i. 280 A lagging Line Of babling Curs [shall] disgrace thy broken Pack. 1813 Scott Trierm. iii. xxxiii, A lofty lay Seem'd thus to chide his lagging way. 1832 H. Martineau Demerara i. 6 The slaves came with a lagging step. 1859 G. Meredith R. Feverel xxxiii, The eager woman hastened his lagging mouth. |
Hence ˈlaggingly adv.
| c 1817 Hogg Tales & Sk. III. 50 Moves heavily and laggingly along. 1872 Lever Ld. Kilgobbin xxxvi. (1875) 210 Thoughts that came laggingly. |