▪ I. signing, vbl. n.
(ˈsaɪnɪŋ)
[f. sign v.1 + -ing1.]
1. a. The action of making or appending one's signature; confirmation by signature.
| 1611 Cotgr., Signature, a signature, signing, subscribing. 1655 Nicholas Papers (Camden) II. 329 Since the signeing of my letter I received yours of Jun. 1st. 1711 Steele Spect. No. 82 ¶1 My Steward brings his Receipt ready for my Signing. 1771 Luckombe Hist. Print. 102 A patent ready drawn for queen Elizabeth's signing. 1809 R. Langford Introd. Trade 20 The signing and endorsement must be attested by one witness. 1855 Macaulay Hist. Eng. xvii. IV. 104 The signing of the treaty was deferred till the Lords Justices..should arrive. |
b. With adverbs, as signing-in, signing-off, signing-on, signing-out, signing-up. Also attrib.
| 1925 Paterson & Webster Man. Locomotive Running Shed Management viii. 103 The signing-on times of cleaners are arranged with due regard to the finishing times of the engines they are required to clean. 1948 H. Innes Blue Ice iii. 77 He gave the signing-off whistle..then our attention was called back to the radio. 1950 Sport 7–11 Apr. 14/3 He is Allenby Chilton,..to whom Liverpool gave a trial before the United engaged him, for a {pstlg}10 signing-on fee, in 1938. 1965 ‘T. Hinde’ Games of Chance ii. iv. 203 The purpose of the signing-in book..is to ascertain that all staff are arriving punctually. 1968 Brit. Med. Bull. XXIV. 222/1 The computer equivalent of the signing out inspection of the report by the laboratory staff. 1973 Guardian 23 May 6/8 There is no signing-on at the new job centre. 1974 Hawkey & Bingham Wild Card xiv. 124 A laxness among certain members of staff regarding signing-out procedures for items drawn from stock. 1976 E. Dunphy Only a Game? v. 159 The signing-on fee is crucial in football these days. 1981 J. Scott Distant View of Death xii. 162 Signing in and signing out meant nothing to Rosher... He simply worked. |
2. Eccl. The action of making the sign of the cross.
| 1782 Priestley Corrupt. Chr. II. vii. 84 They made several signings with the cross. 1877 J. D. Chambers Divine Worship 362 The number and time of these Signings certainly varied. |
3. transf. One who has signed a contract.
| 1974 Motor Cycle 23 Mar. 10/6 (caption) Hackney's new signing, Norwegian Dag Lovaas (left) chats with Kings Lynn international Malcolm Simmons. 1977 Times 4 Aug. 6/6 Macdonald, a {pstlg}330,000 buy from Newcastle..and Hudson, a {pstlg}200,000 signing from Stoke..were sent home..because of alleged misconduct on the tour. |
▸ The action of communicating by means of (an established system of) hand gestures; sign language.
Sometimes: spec. the use of gestures to represent whole words, differentiated from using gestures representing individual letters to spell words out.
| 1891 Science Mar. 141/1 Speech is a more general and more available form of communication than writing, spelling, or signing. 1943 H. Best Deafness & Deaf in U.S. xxii. 375 Giovanni Bonifacio of Venice wrote regarding the ‘language of action’, or the ‘art of signing’ and regarding speech of the deaf. 1956 Amer. Ann. Deaf 101 246 The manual language is a curious mixture of movements called ‘signing’ and ‘spelling’, both of which are done with the hands. 1990 Video Maker July–Aug. 65/2 The interpreter's signing will help them to enjoy club activities to the full. 1998 Vancouver Courier 24 May 5/1 A collection of mostly hearing teachers decided..that deaf people should not be free to use their native language—signing. |
▪ II. ˈsigning, ppl. a.
[-ing2.]
That signs; entitled to sign; esp. signing officer (see quot. 1867).
| 1805 Collingwood 28 Oct. in Nicolas Disp. Nelson (1846) VII. 219 Signed by yourself, First Lieutenant and signing Officers. 1867 Smyth Sailor's Word Bk. 624 A document..certified by the signing officer and the surgeon. Ibid. 626 Signing officers, the captain, senior lieutenant, master and purser (now paymaster). |