▪ I. ˈtopping, vbl. n.1
[f. top v.1 + -ing1. In some concrete senses associated with top n.1]
1. The action of top v.1 in various senses. a. The making, formation, putting on, or adding of a top or tops (see top v.1 III).
| 1504 Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot. II. 279 His task of the ending and topping of the chimnais of Halyrudhous. 1883 R. Haldane Workshop Receipts Ser. ii. 228/1 This colour may be modified by topping with small quantities of magenta, &c. 1888 Times 8 Sept. 9/2 The practice of what is known..as topping, that is of putting good fruit at the top, and of filling the rest of the hamper with rubbish. 1896 Jrnl. R. Horticult. Soc. Nov. 209, I believe the old system of..‘topping-up’ is not quite as prevalent as it was some years ago. 1908 Toilers of Deep Sept. 185/2 The herrings have also shrunk and settled down—‘pined’, as it is called—and several more layers have now to be added in order to fill the barrel again. This is called ‘topping’. 1909 Daily Chron. 18 Jan. 9/5 Trousers.—A smart girl wanted for topping and seams. |
b. The cutting off of the top (of a tree or plant).
| 1513 MS. Acc. St. John's Hosp., Canterb., For toppyng of xij treys & broshyng. 1550 Cranmer Def. Sacrament Pref. *iij b, The cuttyng away wherof is but like toppyng and loppyng of a tree. 1657 W. Morice Coena quasi κοινὴ ii. 37 Those that could not be satisfied with the topping, but wished the cutting down of the..Tree. 1797 A. Young Agric. Suffolk 109 Take up [carrots] at 14d. to 16d. a load, topping included. 1807 J. Hall Trav. Scot. II. 445 Hedges frequently require topping. |
† c. A method of cheating at dice (top v.1 17 a).
| 1663 Proposal to use no Conscience 3 Holding one or two Dice at the top of a Dice-Box, which we Gamesters call Topping. 1680 Kirkman Eng. Rogue iv. xvi. 226 You must sometimes use Topping; that is, by pretending to put both Dice into the Box, whereas you have dropt but one, holding the other between your fore-fingers. 1680 Cotton Compl. Gamester (ed. 2) ii. [Fully described.] 1726 Art & Myst. Mod. Gaming (title-p.), Working with a grate Box, Eclipsing, Sighting, Waxing, and Topping. |
d. Levelling the teeth of a wheel or a saw.
| 1884 Britten Watch & Clockm. 152 The wheel is so fragile that care is required in topping. |
e. topping up, completing, bringing to perfection; also, filling up or bringing to capacity. Cf. top v. 21.
| 1890 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Col. Reformer (1891) 403 It was not thought advisable to wait longer for the ultimate ‘topping up’ of the beeves. They were good enough. 1919 Gloss. Aeronaut. Terms (R. Aeronaut. Soc.) 54 Topping up, the operation of replenishing the balloon with fresh gas. 1935 Motor Commerce Jan. 8 (Advt.), Acid-level indicator..shows when the maximum level is reached on ‘topping-up’, and so safeguards against over⁓filling. 1941 Illustr. London News CXCIX. 308 (caption) Interior contents of the rubber dinghy: bailer, ‘topping-up’ pump, chocolate, paddles, stoppers or plugs, and sea⁓drogue. 1959 Engineering 6 Feb. 192/3 An infra-red heater provides a focal point for ‘topping-up’ if required. 1963 Motor 17 July 3/1 The automatic gearbox of my 3.4 Jaguar was in need of topping up. 1972 Hillier & Pittuck Fund. Motor Vehicle Technol. 534 A further check is the need for topping up. |
f. topping of the land, the sighting of the land from a ship's top; the limit or distance at which this is possible.
| 1666 Lond. Gaz. No. 77/1 Whitby, August 3. Several of our Fisherboats inform us that the Dutch Busses, and Doggers are fishing, a little off the Topping of the Land. |
g. slang. Execution by hanging.
| 1699 B. E. New Dict. Canting Crew, Topping cheat, the gallows. Topping cove, the hangman. 1846 Swell's Night Guide 134/2 Topping, hanging. 1968 Daily Tel. 15 Nov. 24/7, I wish they still had topping..because if I get bird..for this I will get 30 years and I will top myself anyway. 1971 Times 6 Oct. 3/8, I deserve topping for shooting a copper. |
h. topping and tailing, the action or practice of washing a baby's face and bottom; a sketchy wash. Also top-and-tailing: see top v.1 3 b.
| 1931 P. W. Yeomans Happy Motherhood vii. 69 A..recommendation of the evening tub comes when the baby crawls and gets really grubby. Topping-and-tailing is not then sufficient. 1941 U. Orange Tom Tiddler's Ground xi. 205 The next hour was a busy one, what with Norman's ‘topping and tailing’, Norman's bottle and Marguerite's bath. 1972 Times 9 Aug. 7/7 Washing and changing a baby..can be a problem... Topping and tailing is all that is required. |
i. topping out (ceremony), (the ceremony accompanying) the finishing of the roof of a building. Cf. top v.1 20 a.
| 1961 Times 9 Sept. 16/5 Mr. H. R. Lake, New Zealand Minister of Finance,..performed the topping-out ceremony. 1962 Guardian 3 Nov. 6/6 The mystical ceremony of ‘topping out’ was performed this morning on the domed roof of the new Smithfield Market. A green bough was nailed to the roof..as a means.. of warding off evil spirits and protecting the future inhabitants. 1973 Times 19 Mar. 11/4 A topping-out ceremony of a new shopping centre being built for Ravenstone Securities..took place in Glasgow. 1977 P. Van Greenaway Destiny Man i. 9 For any building, there must be some sort of topping out. 1984 Daily Tel. 26 Jan. 6/4 Some concrete words of advice from Mr Gow..as he performed the ‘topping-out’ ceremony for the International Conference Centre in Westminster yesterday. |
2. a. A distinct part or appendage which forms a top to anything, a crest; the top-lock or forelock of the hair of the head; the forelock of a horse or other beast; the crest of a bird. Also the erect tassel of a Scotch cap, and humorously the head (dial. usually toppin).
| 13.. Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 191 Þe tayl & his [a horse's] toppyng twynnen of a sute, & bounden boþe wyth a bande of a bryȝt grene. c 1400 Rule St. Benet 146 Þen sal þe prelete with a payr of schers be-gyn forto kut hir hair befor at þe toppyng. 1483 Cath. Angl. 390/1 A Toppynge, cirrus, cirritus, crista, coma. 1593 Bacchus' Bountie in Harl. Misc. (1809) II. 268 Shee..tooke him roundly by the topping. 1688 J. Clayton in Phil. Trans. XVII. 997 [In Virginia] The Tewits are smaller than the English, and have no long Toppins. a 1720 Sheffield (Dk. Buckhm.) Wks. (1753) II. 140 A little Indian Bird is call'd a Pope, only because there grows a high Topping upon his head. 1751 Mrs. Delany in Life & Corr. (1861) III. 39 A black cock and hen with white toppings. 1814 W. Nicholson Peacock ii. Poet. Wks. 91 Wi' frills an' feathers on his tappin'. 1817 Lintoun Green ii. xvi. Notes 154 His bonnet..Has tappin [1685 button] either nane. 1828 Craven Gloss., Topping, a crest, a plume or tuft of feathers on the head of birds; also, the hair on a person's forehead. 1872 J. Hartley Yorks. Ditties Ser. ii. 66 Thi toppin's grown whiter nor once. |
† b. Typog. The fine line or serif at the top of a letter. Obs.
| 1676 Moxon Print Lett. 7 The Topping is the small Arch above the Letter, as the Arches in the Tops of the Letter V are the Toppings of that Letter. 1683 ― Mech. Exerc., Printing xiv. ¶2 The Topping, is the straight fine Stroak or Stroaks that lie in the Top-line of Ascending Letters. |
c. Local term in Yorkshire for a hill.
| 1876 Whitby Gloss., Topping, a high hill. ‘Roseberry topping’. ‘Blakey topping’. a 1904 Summer Holidays in N.E. Eng. p. xi, Hills and mountains..are anything and everything, from hopes, laws, fells and nabs, to howes..and toppings. |
3. † a. Arming for the tips of bows and arrows. Obs. rare. † b. A high head-dress or coiffure; cf. top n.1 11 d. Obs. c. That which is put on the top of anything to complete it; a top layer; cf. top v.1 9. d. Angling: see quots. 1856, 1877.
| 1495 Trevisa's Barth. De P.R. xviii. xiii. (W. de W.) 773 Of oxe hornes ben made tappynge [Bodl. MS. tippinges] and nockes to boowes..and arowes to shete ayenst enmyes. c 1690 Roxb. Ball. (1891) VII. 481, I wear my Topping, Lace, and Fan, and am on daintys feeding. 1700 T. Brown Amusem. Ser. & Com. 57 They..touch the Clouds with their proud Toppings. a 1704 ― Walk round Lond., Quaker's Meet. (1709) 23 High Topping and Lace in a Woman, they abominate, as Ensigns of Vanity. 1839 Ure Dict. Arts 580 The pot is now ready for receiving the topping of cullet, which is broken pieces of window glass. 1856 ‘Stonehenge’ Brit. Sports i. v. ii. §4. 247/1 Tail of two slips of brown mallard's feather, with a thin topping of golden-pheasant's crest. 1877 Hallock Sportsman's Gaz. 599 The tail [of a salmon fly] is what is usually called a ‘topping’, i.e. feather from the crest of the golden pheasant. 1895 Westm. Gaz. 23 Nov. 7/2 From five to twelve score of whiting, with a topping of codling, form average baskets. |
4. pl. a. Cuttings from the tops of trees: cf. top n.1 6; also, the tops of hemp removed in hatchelling. b. The second skimmings of milk. dial. c. The best bran. dial.
| 1668 Rolle Abridgm., Tit. Action sur Case (N.) pl. 22. 108 Les toppings del arbers cresent sur son Copihold. 1774 Foote Cozeners i, You are to have all the loppings and toppings. 1794 Rigging & Seamanship I. 62 The toppings of all hemp..is made into spun-yarn. 1801 Farmer's Mag. Apr. 231 Many individuals have used heath and toppings of whins for their cattle. a 1825 Forby Voc. E. Anglia, Toppings, the second skimming of milk; the first being properly called cream. 1880 Jefferies Hodge & M. I. vi. 122 Old Hodson..would not even fatten a pig, because it cost a trifle of ready money for ‘toppings’, or meal. |
5. A top layer or garnish put on food, esp. dessert (see also quots. 1926, 1927). Chiefly U.S.
| 1926 Amer. Speech I. 653/2 Toppings, pastry or cakes. 1927 Ibid. II. 389/2 Toppings refers to pastry, because it is used to top off a meal. 1950 Manch. Guardian Weekly 31 Aug. 5 Sundae ‘toppings’. 1978 Chicago June 248/2 Toppings—including sausage, pepperoni, green peppers, anchovies, and fresh mushrooms are generously applied [to pizzas]. 1981 Living Trends (U.S.) Summer 6 Ice cream plus one or two toppings, such as crushed peanuts, toasted coconut, maple syrup, cherries. |
▪ II. ˈtopping, vbl. n.2
[f. top v.2 + -ing1.]
The action of top v.2 topping-lift (Naut.), each of a pair of lifts (lift n.2 7) by which a yard may be topped; in quot. 1841 transf.
| 1743 Bulkeley & Cummins Voy. S. Seas 117 We made the Signal for her, by hoisting an Ensign at the Topping-Lift. 1769 Falconer Shipwr. ii. 261 note, To raise one yard⁓arm higher than the other..is..called topping. 1841 Civil Eng. & Arch. Jrnl. IV. 56/2 The shaft rotates in a bearing, and can be raised or lowered by means of a topping lift. 1882 Nares Seamanship (ed. 6) 51 The sprit-sail-gaff topping lift [is] fitted with an eye splice. |
▪ III. ˈtopping, vbl. n.3
[f. top v.4 + -ing1.]
The twisting of the strands over a top (top n.2 3) in laying a rope. topping sledge, the loaded sledge or carriage to which one end of the strands is attached in laying, which advances as they are shortened by twisting.
| 1825 J. Nicholson Operat. Mechanic 438 The forward movement of the stranding, topping, and dragging sledges, is that slow progressive movement necessarily required..by the shortening or shrinking up of the strands in twisting,..and of the strands and cordage, either common or patent, whilst hardening and topping. |
▪ IV. ˈtopping, ppl. a.
[f. top v.1 + -ing2.]
That tops, in various senses of top v.1
1. lit. That exceeds in height; very high. Obs.
| 1681 Hickeringill Vind. Naked Truth ii. 4, I never heard of a King shut out even from the Topping-Pulpit, if he had a mind to climb so high. 1691 Ray Creation i. (1692) 205 Chains of lofty and topping Mountains. 1705 Hickeringill Priest-cr. ii. v. 48 Every little Domine (when mounted over our heads in the topping Pulpit) is as positive..and pragmatical, as any Woman. |
2. a. fig. Very high or superior in position, rank, degree, amount, or estimation; chief, principal; pre-eminent, distinguished; overhanging; ‘towering’.
| c 1685 Dk. Buckhm. Conference Wks. 1705 II. 51 She was able to buy out her Lease, and is now the Topping Dame of the Parish. 1690 Locke Hum. Und. ii. xxi. §38 All the thoughts of the mind..are uninterruptedly employed that way,..influenced by that topping uneasiness. 1698 J. Crull Muscovy 306 The topping Saint of all Muscovy for Miracles, is one Sergius. 1703 E. Ward Lond. Spy v. (1706) 119 More Money..than the Topping'st Taylor in Town ever got by a Young Heir. a 1716 South Serm. (1720) II. iv. 48 Some of the topping Sinners of the World. Ibid. xxii. 319 Wheresoever in any topping degree it finds them. 1722 Wollaston Relig. Nat. iii. 46 Just as men learn rules in arithmetic..and grow very ready and topping in the use of them. 1840 F. Trollope Widow Married v, Taking her to court, and to a few other topping places. 1893 Daily News 6 June 7/3 Some prime animals which took the topping rates of the day's trade. 1893 K. D. Wiggin Cathedral Courtship 3 Fondness for the very toppingest High Church ritual. |
b. Ironically used; cf. ‘fine’, ‘pretty’.
| 1693 Sir T. P. Blount Nat. Hist. Pref. 5 Let these high⁓flown Topping Sparks, swell and strut as much as they please. 1706 E. Ward Wooden World Diss. (1708) A vj, Some..topping Dawber of Sign-Posts. 1847 Alb. Smith Chr. Tadpole xix, One of those topping gents you see in the slips of the play-houses at half price. |
3. Of high quality; very fine, excellent; tip-top, first-rate. colloq. and slang.
| 1822 Galt Provost xlvi, Instead of being drowned..in debt, it might have been in the most topping way. 1841 Lever C. O'Malley lxix, We came on at a topping pace. 1861 Hughes Tom Brown at Oxf. xxiii, He may have made topping averages in first-rate matches of cricket. |
4. Domineering; confident, boastful. U.S.
| 1815 D. Humphreys Yankey in Eng. 30 She's lofty—topping—has her highs—sometimes. 1852 Mrs. Stowe Uncle Tom's Cabin II. xxix. 147 She'd..have me know..that I wasn't going to be so topping as I had been. 1885 M. E. Wilkins in Harper's Mag. Mar. 595/1 He was awful toppin' at first. 1890 Harper's Mag. Apr. 769/1, ‘I never saw such nerve. It was superb.’ ‘Perhaps a little topping’, I suggested. ‘Yes, perhaps a little topping... But still, it was a toppingness that could have consisted only with the most perfect conscience.’ |
5. Swelling into crested billows; crested.
| 1857 W. Cook in Merc. Marine Mag. (1858) V. 42 The sea..changed to a kind of boil, or topping sea, as if surged up from beneath. |
6. quasi-adv. = next.
| 1683 Lond. Gaz. No. 1860/8 [He] rides very topping, and hath all his paces. 1694 Ibid. No. 2959/4 A Bay Nag,..carries his head very topping. 1706 Ibid. No. 4209/4 A very dark bay Gelding.., lean, but rides bold and topping. |