▪ I. marling, vbl. n.1
(ˈmɑːlɪŋ)
[f. marl v.1 + -ing1.]
The action of marl v.1; manuring with marl.
| a 1400 Parlt. 3 Ages 142 His rentes and his reches rekened he full ofte Of mukkyng of marlelyng and mendynge of howses. 14.. Voc. in Wr.-Wülcker 576/25 Certificatio [sic], marlynge. 1603 Owen Pembrokeshire (1892) 74 This kynde of Marlinge is neclected. 1707 Mortimer Husb. (1721) I. 38 The marling of St. Foin, when 'tis almost worn out, makes a great Improvement of it for three or four Years. 1875 Act 38 & 39 Vict. c. 92 §5 Where..a tenant executes on his holding an improvement comprised in..claying of land, liming of land, marling of land. |
| attrib. 1556 Richmond Wills (Surtees) 93 On marlyng wembell. 1577 Inv. in Hall Eliz. Soc. (1887) 153 Marling wains. |
▪ II. ˈmarling, vbl. n.2 Naut.
[f. marl v.2 + -ing1.]
The action of marl v.2 Chiefly attrib.: marling-cord, -line, -twine = marline; marling-hitch = marling-spike hitch; † marling iron = marline-spike.
| 1485 Naval Acc. Hen. VII (1896) 51 Merlyng Irenes. 1496 Ibid. 167, x lb weight marlyng Twyne. 1548 Privy Council Acts (1890) II. 174 Marlin lyne, lx lb. 1668 J. White Rich Cab. (ed. 4) 113 Strong canvas being..tyed hard on a pike with marlin cord. 1769 Falconer Dict. Marine (1780), Marling, the act of winding any small-line, as marline, spun⁓yarn, packthread, &c. about a rope. 1867 Smyth Sailor's Word-bk. s.v. Marle, To attach the foot of a sail to its bolt⁓rope, &c., with marling hitches. Ibid., Marline-holes, holes made for marling, or lacing the foot-rope and clues in courses and topsails. |
▪ III. † ˈmarling, vbl. n.3 Obs.—0
[f. marl v.3 + -ing1.]
The action of marl v.3
| 1598 Florio, Accarpionare, to dresse any maner of fish with vineger to be eaten colde, which at Southampton they call marling of fish. |