▪ I. fastening, vbl. n.
(ˈfɑːs(ə)nɪŋ, -æ-)
[f. as prec. + -ing1.]
1. The action of the vb. fasten in various senses.
| a 1400 Relig. Pieces fr. Thornton MS. 8 Matrymoyne..es lawefull festynnynge be-twyx man and woman. 1605 Timme Quersit. iii. 192 Of all fastnings or closing up of glasses..the seale of Hermes is most noble. 1691 T. H[ale] Acc. New Invent. 24 Firm and unwasted as at their first fastening. 1793 Smeaton Edystone L. §244 The fastening of the circle of stones..upon their respective cubes. 1850 W. B. Clarke Wreck Favorite 33 There is no fastening of the shaft or stock into the socket. |
b. attrib. fastening penny (dial.): a small sum of money paid on hiring a servant, to secure the agreement. Cf. fasten v. 5.
| 1872 Gentl. Mag. Nov. 578 A bargain was struck, and considered thoroughly binding by the acceptance on the part of the servant of what was called ‘the fastening penny’. |
† 2. The condition of being fastened; a. of being set on a firm basis. b. in fastening = in prison.
| a 1340 Hampole Psalter 502 Thorgh whaim oþere ere broght til stabilnes & festyngynge. 1375 Barbour Bruce xv. 309 He [Iohn of Lorn] wes lang tyme in festnyng. |
3. concr. That which fastens or makes secure; that which connects one person or thing with another, or secures (a person or thing) in position; † that which confirms or establishes.
| c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 67 Þos ilke bode wisliche þing of oðre is ful festning. a 1340 Hampole Psalter xvii[i]. 1 Lord my festynynge. 1480 Caxton Chron. Eng. cxlvii. 126 The chirch dores were shytte with keyes and with other fastnynge. 1611 Bible Hab. ii. 11 The stone shall crie out of the wall, and the beame [marg. note fastening] out of the timber shall answere it. 1769 Public Advertiser 18 May 3/4 Brass Sash Fastenings. 1850 Prescott Peru II. 340 Pizarro, unable..to adjust the fastenings of his cuirass, threw it away. 1869 C. Gibbon R. Gray v, Crummie was not likely to break from her fastenings. 1885 Law Reports 15 Q. Bench Div. 316 A bar..was kept in its position by means of a fastening. |
| fig. 1633 G. Herbert Temple, Confession iv, Smooth open hearts no fastning have. |
▪ II. ˈfastening, ppl. a.
[f. as prec. + -ing2.]
That fastens, in various senses of the vb.
| 1621 S. Ward Happiness of Practice (1627) 1 The fastening Nayle of the chiefe Master of the Assemblies. 1821 Byron Cain i. i, In his eye There is a fastening attraction. 1828–40 Tytler Hist. Scot. (1864) II. 221 His tent..was of silk; the fastening chains were richly gilt. 1865 Swinburne Atalanta 970, I shall have..no face of children born Or feeding lips upon me or fastening eyes For ever. |