▪ I. seizing, vbl. n.
(ˈsiːzɪŋ)
[f. seize v. + -ing1.]
1. The action of the verb seize. Also Comb. seizing-up (see seize v. 10 b and 11).
| c 1400 Destr. Troy 2463 Iff tylmen toke tent what shuld tynt worth, Of sede þat is sawen, be sesyng of briddes, Shuld neuer corne for care be caste vppon erthe. c 1400–50 Wars Alex. 3490 Þai [sc. the Macedonians] said, it miȝt be sufficient þe sesyng of Persy... ‘Quat sulde we fonde any ferre?’ 1615 Latham Falconry Expl. Words, Ceasing, is when a Hawke taketh any thing into her foot, and gripeth or holdeth it fast. 1736 Gentl. Mag. VI. 434/1 The seizing of any Place in Lorrain by France, was always looked on as a Declaration of War. 1840 R. H. Dana Bef. Mast xv, They had never heard before of a regular seizing-up and flogging. 1911 E. W. Walford Maintenance of Motor Cars ii. 30 An engine may suddenly pull up, and it be found impossible to turn the crankshaft with the starting handle. The popular expression for this is ‘seizing’. 1925 Morris Owner's Man. 29 Neglect of this results in harsh running and an overheated engine, loss of power, and finally ‘seizing-up’ of pistons or connecting rods. |
2. concr. (Naut.) † a. A rope for attaching a boat to a ship (obs.). b. A small cord for ‘seizing’ two ropes together, or a rope to something else. c. Cordage or yarn used for ‘seizing’; also seizing-stuff.
F. saisine (see seisin) has this sense, but it is not clear what is the relation between the Eng. and the Fr. word.
| 1336 in Nicolas Hist. Royal Navy (1847) II. 471 [For 15 stone of hempen cordage to make] peyntours [and] seysynges [15 s.]. 1615 E. S. Britain's Buss B 3, Each net must haue a rope five or six Fathom long and an inch through,..called a Seazing, to fasten the net vnto the War⁓roape. 1627 Capt. Smith Seaman's Gram. v. 25 There is also a rope by which the Boat doth ride by the ships side, w{supc}{suph} we cal a Seasen. 1634 W. Wood New Eng. Prosp. i. xl, The Tyde being very strong, they are constrayned to goe ashore, and hale their Boats, by the seasing, or roades [see rode n.2]. 1711 W. Sutherland Shipbuild. Assist. 141 The Seizings may be 1/6 of the Rope they seize. 1836 Marryat Midsh. Easy xiii, In a few minutes they had prepared a great many seizings to tie the men with. 1840 R. H. Dana Bef. Mast iii, Marline and seizing-stuffs. 1877 Holdsworth Sea Fisheries 57 The warp..to which each net is made fast by two small ropes called ‘seizings’. 1903 Pall Mall Gaz. 28 Mar. 2/2 A length of fine steel wire seizing. |
▪ II. seizing, ppl. a.
(ˈsiːzɪŋ)
[f. seize v. + -ing2.]
1. That seizes, takes possession, or lays hold on something.
| 1835 App. Munic. Corpor. Rep. ii. 1027 (Romney Marsh) The Seizing Officer of wrecks, fines and forfeitures,..is remunerated by his charges for business done. 1887 L. Oliphant Episodes viii. 144 The rest of the pack, with the seizing hounds and their owner, had apparently gone off upon some other scent. |
2. That seizes the attention; arresting, powerfully impressive. [After F. saisissant.]
| 1865 Pall Mall Gaz. 27 Mar. 8/2 One [woman] being exceedingly lovely, and the other of a very seizing ugliness. 1886 Stevenson Dr. Jekyll 100 There was something abnormal..in the very essence of the creature that now faced me—something seizing, surprising and revolting. |