morling
(ˈmɔːlɪŋ)
Forms: 5–6 morlyng, 6 moreling, 7 morlin, morlinge, 7–9 mortling, 5– morling.
[App. formed after morkin1 by substitution of -ling suffix for -kin.]
1. Wool taken from the skin of a dead sheep.
Obs. exc. in the traditional language of schedules to Acts of Parliament. Opposed to shorling.
| 1448 Act 27 Hen. VI, c. ii, Colourant par novelles controves nouns come Morlyng & Shorlyng, &c. 1455 Rolls of Parlt. V. 330/2 Carie Woll and Wolfelles, Shorlyng and Morlyng, oute of this youre Reame. 1562–3 Act 5 Eliz. c. 22 §2 Yt shall not bee laufull..to shippe..any maner of Shepe skynnes, Woolfelles, Shorelinges, Morelinges [etc.]. 1607 Cowell Interpr., Morlinge seemeth to be that wolle which is taken from the skinne of a dead sheep. 1669 Sturmy Mariner's Mag., Penalties & Forfeit. 4 Wooll, Wooll-fells, Wooll-flocks, Mortlings. 1688 Royal Proclam. 6 Apr. in Lond. Gaz. No. 2338/1 Laws..Prohibiting the Transportation of Sheep Wooll, Wooll-fells, Woolen-yarn, Mortlings, Shorlings. 1819 Mortimer's Commerc. Dict. (ed. 2), Morling or Mortling, is that wool taken from the skin of a dead sheep, either dying of the rot, or killed, called in some counties mort-wool. 1833 Act 3 & 4 Will. IV, c. 56 Woolfels, Mortlings, Shortlings, Yarn. |
† 2. = morkin 1. Obs.
| 1636 Fasciculus Florum 35 A wretched witherd Mortling, and a piece Of Carrion, wrapt up in a Golden Fleece. 1753 Chambers Cycl. Supp. s.v. Shorling, In some parts of England, they understand by a shorling, a sheep whose fleece is shorn off; and by a morling, a sheep that dies. |