ˈvoiding, vbl. n.
[f. void v. + -ing1.]
The action of the verb, in various senses.
1. The discharging, emitting, or evacuation of something (now only of the bladder or bowel); = voidance 1 a.
In quot. 1976 perh. concr. (cf. sense 8 a).
| c 1400 Destr. Troy 304 Thurgh voidyng of venym with vomettes grete. a 1425 tr. Arderne's Treat. Fistula, etc. 26 So by tuo hole natural daies be it noȝt moued, bot if voydyng of þe wombe make it. 1545 T. Raynalde Byrth Mankynde Hh iij, Betwene each voydynge of these lumps of blud. 1611 Cotgr., Vuidement, a voyding, emptying, euacuating. 1671 Grew Anat. Plants iv. §19 It still gives way to the voyding of the Sap in these, for the mounting of that in the Root. 1727 Bailey (vol. II), Exgurgitation, a casting or voiding up. 1926 J. S. Huxley Ess. Pop. Sci. 281 Underlying the voiding of the bladder is a reflex mechanism. 1972 Jrnl. Urol. CVIII. 259/2 During voidings, rectal pressure was monitored. 1976 Lancet 9 Oct. 773/1 Urine from each voiding was poured into a funnel and allowed to drip. 1980 Brit. Med. Jrnl. 29 Mar. 889/2 Radiographic screening of the outflow tract was carried out during voiding. |
† 2. The emptying out, clearing or sending away, removing, etc., of things or persons. Obs.
| c 1435 Chron. London (Kingsford, 1905) 36 The same kyng..hath Juggid Thomas Arundell..to perpetuel exile and voydyng oute off the Rewme. 1477–9 Rec. St. Mary at Hill (1905) 82 For voyding of ij Tonne owte of a pryve. 1513 Bk. Keruynge in Babees Bk. (1868) 272 Keruynge of brede, layenge, & voydynge of crommes. c 1530 H. Rhodes Bk. Nurture ibid. 67 Then if so be ye haue any more courses then on or two, ye may make the more hast in voyding. 1622 Bacon Hen. VII, 101 The voiding of all Scottishmen out of England. 1688 Sir E. Herbert Hales' Case 24 The Statutes for Voiding of Aliens out of the Kingdom. |
† 3. = vacation 2. Obs.—1
| 1468 Liber B. (Maldon, Essex) fol. 14 Ner noon a-rest make with-oute a warant of the court, but in the tyme of voydyng. |
† 4. The avoidance of something. Obs.
| 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xviii. i. (1495) Yj/1 Beestes..haue redynesse of wytte in..flyghte and voydynge of harme. 1519 Interl. Four Elem. (Percy Soc.) 35 And therfore thou shalt have another, For voydynge of stryfe. 1538 Starkey England i. ii. 30 The wyl of man euer commynly folowyth that to the wych opynyon of perseuying the gud or voydyng of the yl ledyth hyt. |
† 5. The action of leaving or going away from a place, etc. Obs.
| 1597 Beard Theatre God's Judgem. (1612) 33 Yet notwithstanding for all their voyding and shifting, the pestilence followed them whither soeuer they went. 1661 Morgan Sph. Gentry iv. iii. 39 The whiche..at their voiding and going out shall abide and go in order, so as they sate at the table. |
6. Her. (See quot. 1610 and voided ppl. a. 2 c.) Also, the vacant space made in the voided charge or ordinary.
| 1610 J. Guillim Heraldry ii. v. 49 Voiding..is the exemption of some part of the inward substance of things voidable, by occasion whereof the Field is transparent thorow the Charge. [Hence in subsequent glossaries and Dicts.] 1722 A. Nisbet Her. 48 If the Voiding be of a different Tincture from the Field. 1828 [see voided ppl. a. 2 c]. |
7. The action of rendering void or invalid; = voidance 4.
| 1649 Bp. Hall Cases Consc. iv. x. 488 Now you inquire of the annulling or voiding of marriages made unlawfully. 1707 Col. Rec. Pennsylv. II. 145 That the voiding of one part might void the whole. |
8. That which is voided or evacuated: a. pl. Excrements of persons or animals; castings of worms. rare.
| 1599 Hakluyt Voy. II. ii. 69 Here be solde the voydings of close stooles. 1864 Morn. Star 14 Oct., It was manured year after year by the voidings of sheep only. 1880 Libr. Univ. Knowl. (N.Y.) VI. 582 Voidings and trails of worms. |
† b. Fragments or remains of food removed from the table. = voidance 7. Obs.
| 1680 Otway Caius Marius iv. ii, He..fed upon the voidings of my table. 1713 Rowe Jane Shore v, Oh! bestow Some poor remain, the voiding of thy table, A morsel to support my famish'd soul. |
9. attrib., as † voiding beer, beer given or drunk immediately before departing (cf. voidee); † voiding knife, a knife used to clear away fragments of food from the table; † voiding plate = voider 3 a.
| 1520 Whitinton Vulg. (1527) 42 b, Set down a charger or a voyder & gadre vp the fragmentes therin, & w{supt} the voydynge knyfe gadre vp the..cromes clene. a 1600 Deloney Gentle Craft ii. ix. Wks. (1912) 193, I must be constrained to call my Maid for a cup of voyding beere ere you will depart. 1607 Lingua v. xiii. K iij [Stage direction] Gvstvs with a voiding knife in his hand. 1610 J. Guillim Heraldry ii. vi. 64 These are called Voiders, either because of the Shallownesse wherein they doe resemble the accustomed voiding Plates with narrow brims vsed at Tables, or [etc.]. 1649 in Archaeol. (1806) XV. 281, 2 Voyding knives with christall handles. |