▪ I. mewing, vbl. n.1
(ˈmjuːɪŋ)
[f. mew v.1 + -ing1.]
The action of mew v.1
| 1611 Cotgr., Mue,..the muing of a Hawke. 1655 Walton Angler i. i. (1661) 14 If I should..treat of their several Ayries, their Mewings,..and the renovation of their Feathers. 1797 Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3) XI. 633/2 Mewing, the falling off or change of hair, feathers, skin, horns, or other parts of animals. |
b. attrib., as mewing time.
| 1651 N. Bacon Disc. Govt. Eng. ii. vi. (1739) 35 Thus began the Mewing time of Prelacy, and the principal Feather of their wings to fall away. a 1653 G. Daniel Idyll iv. 27 'Tis but a mewing Time; what matter if Cold Gorges crampe the feet? |
▪ II. mewing, vbl. n.2
(ˈmjuːɪŋ)
[f. mew v.2]
The action of shutting up in a mew.
| 1575 Turberv. Falconrie 177 Martins are also woorth the mewyng if they be hardie. 1611 Markham Country Contentm. i. viii. (1615) 95 The mewing of long winged hawks. |
▪ III. mewing, vbl. n.3
(ˈmjuːɪŋ)
[f. mew v.3 + -ing1.]
The act of uttering mews.
| 1611 Cotgr., Miaulement, a mewling, or mewing. 1849 James Woodman xviii, Pshaw, I am sick of their mewing. 1881 Mivart Cat 226 All forms of mewing, howling, and other vocal manifestations, are modified expiratory actions. |
▪ IV. mewing, ppl. a.
(ˈmjuːɪŋ)
[f. mew v.3 + -ing2.]
Uttering mews.
| 1871 G. Meredith H. Richmond xiii, No mewing sanctimoniousness. 1898 Allbutt's Syst. Med. V. 944 A piping or mewing sound. |