poˈlicing, vbl. n.
[f. police v. + -ing1.]
† a. The ordering or regulation of a state. Obs.
| 1589 Puttenham Eng. Poesie i. viii. (Arb.) 36 The right pollicing of their states. 1605 Bacon Adv. Learn. i. vii. §6. 34 b, For..pollicing of Cities, and Commonalties, with new ordinances and constitutions. |
b. The action of keeping in order and cleaning up a camp. U.S.
| 1893 Leland Mem. II. 60 There was no drill now..no special care of us, and no ‘policing’, or keeping clean. |
c. The action of furnishing with a police force or the like for the maintenance of law and order.
| 1884 Pall Mall G. 22 Feb. 11/2 Holding him responsible..for the policeing of the frontier. 1887 Ibid. 18 Mar. 5/1 They deal with the ‘policing’ of the whole river from Teddington Lock to Cricklade. 1890 Daily News 9 Sept. 6/2 A lively agitation..against the continued policing of the borough by the county constabulary. |
d. The fact of being or acting as a policeman.
| 1899 Tablet 15 Apr. 570 Tired of policing, a wearisome life for an educated man. |