▪ I. bolling, n.
(ˈbəʊlɪŋ)
[app. f. bole1 trunk.]
A pollard (tree).
| 1691 Ray N.C. Words s.v. boll, Bolling trees is used in all countries for pollard trees, whose heads and branches are cut off, and only the bodies left. 1697 Surv. Bower Hall, Pentlow, Essex (MS.) Bowlings which y⊇ tenant hath liberty to cropp for fireing. 1776 (June 1) Boundaries, Up the road and marked an Elm Bolling..Marked a Bolling Oak..Marked an old Bolling against Burnt-field. 1847 in Craig; and in mod. Dicts. |
▪ II. † ˈbolling, vbl. n.1 Obs.
[f. boll v.1 + -ing1.]
Swelling.
| c 1340 Cursor M. 10463 (Trin.) And of bollyng of hir herte She kest hir wordis ouerþwerte. 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. vii. 204 For bollyng of heore wombes. 1533 Elyot Cast. Helth iv. iv. (1541) 85 A swellynge or bollynge of the bodye. |
▪ III. † ˈbolling, vbl. n.2 Obs.
[f. boll v.2 + -ing1: the mod. spelling would be bowling.]
Excessive drinking, boozing.
| a 1529 Skelton Image Hypocr. iv. 583 How they iest and iolt, With bowsing and bollinge. 1544 R. Ascham Toxoph. (Arb.) 93 Disynge cardyng and boouling. 1570–6 Lambarde Peramb. Kent (1596) 356 This vicious plant of unmeasurable boalling. 1574 Newton Health Mag. 59 Superfluous bollinge and beastlie swilling of much wyne. 1583 Stanyhurst æneis iii. (Arb.) 81 With whip cat bowling they kept a myrry carousing. |
▪ IV. † ˈbolling, ppl. a. Obs.
[f. boll v.1]
Swelling, protuberant.
| 1519 W. Horman Vulg. 26 b, Bollynge yes out, se but febely. Womens brestis be bollynge out. |