clubbing, vbl. n.
(ˈklʌbɪŋ)
[f. club v. + -ing1.]
The action of the verb club.
1. Beating with clubs. Also attrib.
| 1593 Tell-Troth's N.Y. Gift (1876) 20 Knauish Ielosy should be requited with clubbing iniury. 1753 [see club v. 1]. |
2. Hort. A disease in cabbages, etc.
| 1836 Penny Cycl. VI. 93/2 Cabbages are subject to a peculiar disease..the bottom of the stem enlarges, and the plant becomes sickly. This disease is called clubbing. 1882 A. Carey Princ. Agric. xix. 165 Clubbing is..caused by the larva of an insect. |
3. Combining in clubs or parties; social or political association. Also attrib.
| c 1645 Howell Lett. (1650) II. lv. 72 The Turk..hath also a drink called Cauphe..it may be called their clubbing drink between meals. 1658 Ussher Ann. 279 He..instituted certain set feasts and clubbings. 1660 Pepys Diary 26 July, We went to Wood's at the Pell Mell, our old house for clubbing. 1790 Burke Fr. Rev. Wks. V. 382 All this civick swearing, clubbing, and feasting. 1880 Echo 24 Dec. 1/6 Morning assemblies of the academical youth for drinking and clubbing have now become the fashion. |
4. Of shot: The forming of clusters or balls: see club v. 5 b.
5. The joining of two or more periodicals in one subscription; hence clubbing list, clubbing price. U.S.
| 1880 Boston Jrnl. Chem., Clubbing List & Circular, The clubbing price of any American or foreign periodical not on the list will be furnished on application. |
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▸ colloq. The practice or habit of going to nightclubs, esp. to dance.
| 1966 Guardian 9 July 8/2 Clubbing (and especially gambling) has all the sanction of social fashion in Manchester. 1988 Money (Nexis) Mar. 61 Rather than dropping big bucks on night life, the Briscoes rent movies, play tennis and go biking. ‘You outgrow the clubbing,’ Mark says. 1993 Face Sept. 87/1 The real skill in clubbing is not just getting out of it at night, but keeping it together enough to be able to do business in the morning. 2000 Time Out 26 Jan. 55/3 It's so packed with people competing for space that clubbing becomes a literally painful experience. |