▪ I. welling, vbl. n.1
(ˈwɛlɪŋ)
[f. well v.1 + -ing1.]
1. The action of boiling or scalding. Also comb. welling-lead, a cauldron.
| 1371–3 Durham Acc. Rolls (Surtees) 577 In emendacione unius Wellynglede in pistrino. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 521/1 Wellynge, of mylke and oþer lycure, coagulacio, decoccio. 1588 L. M. tr. Bk. Dyeing 22 Take so much water as will go into the small kettle, so let it have a welling or two on the fire. 1691 Ray S. & E. Co. Words, ‘Welling of whey’ is heating it scalding hot, in order to the taking off the curds. |
b. The boiling up (of a liquid in a pot).
| c 1440 Promp. Parv. 521/1 Wellynge, or boylynge of playynge pottys, ebullicio, bullicio. |
† 2. a. The melting or founding of metals. Obs.
| 1388 Wyclif Jer. li. 17 Ech wellere togidere is schent in a grauun ymage; for his wellyng togidere is fals [Vulg. quia mendax est conflatio eorum]. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 521/1 Wellynge, of metel, fusio. |
† b. = welding vbl. n. Also attrib. Obs.
| 1660 tr. Paracelsus' Archidoxis i. vii. 109 Smiths..compactly consolidated their Irons together as if they had been conglutinated with a true compaction, or welling. 1795 G. Pearson in Phil. Trans. LXXXV. 328 The substance made white hot, by the forge, had the glassy smooth surface of iron, in what is termed the welding or the welling state. |
3. The bubbling up and overflowing (of water); the flowing forth or out (of a stream); the swelling (of flood-water, the sea).
| c 1400 Contin. Brut. ccxxiv. 292 Þere arose suche a sprynggynge and wellinge op of wateres and floodes, bothe of þe see and also of fresshe ryvers & spryngez, þat [etc.]. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 521/1 Wellynge, or boylynge vp as water fro þe erthe or sprynge, scaturicio. a 1500 R. Bale's Chron. in Six Town Chron. (1911) 135 The ix day of Octobre was such a wellyng and spring of waters..that [etc.]. 1867 Myers St. Paul (1896) 38 Welling of waves, disconsolate and tender, Sighed on the shore. 1871 Macduff Mem. Patmos xxiv. 326 The welling up of the Jordan in the cavern at the base of giant Mount Hermon. |
b. fig.
| 1857 Livingstone Trav. xiv. 259 The notes..strike the mind by their loudness and variety, as the wellings forth from joyous hearts, of praise to Him who fills them with overflowing gladness. 1896 F. M. Crawford Corleone xxvii. (1897) II. 121 With a wild welling up of hope, Francesco galloped along the road. 1916 Mrs. H. Ward Lady Connie i. v. 95 It was a moment for her of strong reaction, of a welling-up and welling-back of life, after a kind of suspension. |
▪ II. ˈwelling, vbl. n.2
[f. well n.1 + -ing1.]
The action of making a well or shaft; in quot. concr., shaft-work.
| 1865 Pall Mall Gaz. 10 Oct. 7 He was assisting in placing a pile in the ‘wellings’ when the chain slipped from the ‘crab’. |
▪ III. welling, ppl. a.
(ˈwɛlɪŋ)
[f. well v.1 + -ing2.]
1. Boiling: said of a liquid, of molten metal, etc.; also of a pot. welling hot, boiling hot.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 21042 In a tun was welland hat fild of oyle he did him schott. Ibid. 26753 Alle your entrailles ilkon in welland pottes sal be don. 1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne 6578 Whoso handlyth pycche wellyng hote He shal have fylthe thereof sumdeyl. 1340 Hampole Pr. C. 7126 It salle be hatter þan ever was Molten led or welland bras. 1370–80 Visions of St. Paul 134 in O.E. Misc. 227 And þei sodun euerichon In wellyng pich and Brumston. a 1400–50 Wars Alex. 4080 Till he come blesenand on a brym was welland hate. c 1440 Gesta Rom. lxviii. 385 Sone after come ij. deuyls yellyng, and broughtyn a Cawderon full of hote wellyng brasse. |
† b. fig. in phr. welling woe (of hell). Cf. to well in woe, well v.1 3 b. Obs.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 21836 He demed me in-till hell depe, Euer in welland wa to wepe. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xvi. (Magdalena) 634 [Christ] tholit þare dyspituise ded, Fra welland wa vs al to led. |
† c. welling wood, raging mad. (Cf. walling ppl. a.1 1.) Obs.
| 13.. St. Cristofer 53 in Horstm. Altengl. Leg. (1881) 455 Bathe togedir away þay ȝode Als þay hade bene welland wode. c 1460 Towneley Myst. viii. 344 Thes folk shall flyt no far, If he go welland wode. |
2. Of a spring, tears, etc.: Flowing abundantly, surging. Also fig.
| 1387–8 T. Usk Test. Love i. i. 86 Or els to see the sight that might al my wellinge sorowes voyde. 1388 Wyclif Gen. xxvi. 19 Thei diggiden in the stronde, and thei founden wellynge watir. 1548 Udall Erasm. Par. N.T. Pref. 7 He was a continual wellyng fountayne of eloquence,..a botom⁓lesse spring of largesse. 1567 Turberv. Ovid's Ep. 50 Alongste my stayned cheekes eche houre the welling teares doe trill. 1819 S. Rogers Human Life 741 Their questions, their replies, Fresh as the welling waters, round him rise. 1850 Disraeli in G. E. Buckle Life (1914) III. viii. 238 There should be more variety in the movement. Something to break the low, tho' welling, chorus of the agrestic multitude. 1858 Farrar Eric i. xiii, Soft hair, tangled with welling blood. 1890 H. H. Johnston in Nature 13 Nov. 46 A welling, brackish pool. |
3. That pours out a stream or streams. Of a wound, etc.: Bleeding copiously. Also fig.
| 1591 Sylvester Du Bartas i. iii. 181 The Sun..and Windes..Extract as much still of her humours thin, As weeping Aire, and welling Earth pours in. 1814 Byron Lara ii. xvii, Kneels Kaled watchful o'er his welling side. 1910 Sat. Rev. 19 Feb. 225/1 His speeches..have the air of happy improvisation, as though they came from a welling heart. |
▪ IV. welling
obs. dial. var. felling vbl. n.
| 1513 MS. Acc. St. John's Hosp., Canterb., For wellyng of ij elmys jd. 1520 Ibid., Payd for wellyng off xv pyesys off tymber. |
▪ V. welling
obs. form of willing vbl. n.