ˈgingerliness
[f. gingerly a. + -ness.]
The quality of being gingerly.
Misprinted gingerness in the 1585 ed. of Stubbes, whence this erroneous form appears in Latham (who took it from Abp. Trench) and in later Dicts.
| 1583 Stubbes Anat. Abus. i. (1879) 78 Their minsednes in woords and speaches, their gingerlynes in trippinge on toes like yong goats [etc.]. 1884 A. Forbes in Eng. Illustr. Mag. Dec. 148 The day came it could go no further, and then it let itself down with all its wonted gingerliness. |