▪ I. broking, vbl. n.
(ˈbrəʊkɪŋ)
[f. broke v.]
1. The broker's trade; acting as a broker.
| 1569 E. Hake Newes Powles Ch. Yarde (1579) G iij, Of Brokers, they did thirtie such ordaine..To vse the trade of broking. 1864 Sala in Temple Bar Mag. XII, Bargaining, chaffering, broking and discounting. 1866 Lond. Rev. 6 Oct. 380/2 The Legislature itself must for a time abandon reform, and take to furniture broking. |
† 2. Lending of money upon pawns or pledges; dishonest or fraudulent dealing. Obs.
| 1592 Chettle Kind Harts Dr. (1841) 51 An occupation of no long standing about London, called broking, or brogging..in which there is pretty jugling, especially to blind law, and bolster usury. 1603 Breton Poste w. Packet, &c., A crafty knave may loose by his cunning Broking. 1619 J. Heath House of Corr. C iv, I told a Scriuener of his Briberie, His Broking, Forging, Cheating, Knauery. |
3. attrib. (Difficult to separate from the ppl. a.)
| 1569 E. Hake Newes Powles Ch. Yarde (1591) G iij b, Whole hundreds now doe liue by beastly broking trade. 1594 Shakes. Rich. III, ii. i. 293 If then we shall..Redeeme from broaking pawne the blemish'd Crowne. 1633 T. Adams Exp. 2 Peter i. 17 A usurer in his broking-house. |
▪ II. † ˈbroking, ppl. a. Obs.
[f. broke v. + -ing2.]
1. That acts as a broker.
| 1592 G. Harvey Pierce's Super. 175 Not such..a broking & huckstering penne [exists]. 1598 J. Dickenson Greene in Conc. (1878) 155 His owne, and hir attyre, fell into the hands of brokeing Usurers. 1647 R. Stapylton Juvenal 133 A broaking usurer. |
2. ? That acts as a procurer.
| 1599 Marston Sco. Villanie i. iii. 180 A die, a drab, and filthy broking knaues Are..all deuouring graues. |
3. Base-dealing; ‘peddling,’ contemptible.
| 1592 W. Wyrley Armorie 142 Like a broking varlet. 1594 Nashe Unfort. Trav. 32 This broccing duble beere oration. 1606 Wily Beguiled in Hazl. Dodsley IX. 238, I scorn that base, broking..name. 1639 J. Mayne City Match in Dodsley (1780) IX. 379 O that I could But see that cheating rogue upon the rack: I'd..show him hell, and then recall His broking soul and give him strength to suffer His torture often. |