▪ I. gravelling, vbl. n.
(ˈgrævəlɪŋ)
[f. gravel v. + -ing1.]
1. The action of laying down gravel. Also, a gravelled surface.
| 1577 Nottingham Rec. IV. 169 We present ye caussey..to be in dekye for lack of gravelyng. 1659 Torriano, Arenaménto, any gravelling or sanding. 1726 W. King in Nat. Hist. Irel. 111 Gravelling is a great improvement in this country. 1751 C. Labelye Westm. Br. 26 This Bridge (its Paving and Gravelling excepted) will want no considerable Repairs. 1883 W. H. Bishop in Harper's Mag. 825/2 What cutting and filling! what gravelling and paving! |
† 2. Farriery. A disease in a horse's foot (see gravel v. 5). Obs.
| 1523 Fitzherb. Husb. §114 Grauelynge is a hurte, that wyll make a horse to halte, and commethe of grauell and lyttell stones, that goth in betwene the shough and the herte of the fote. 1580 Blundevil Order Curing Horses Dis. cxliv. 62 b, The Graueling..is a fretting vnder the foote most commonlie in the inside, and sometime in the outside. 1639 T. de la Grey Compl. Horsem. 107 Prick, stab, graveling, quitterbone, or other hurt within the foote. 1706 in Phillips (ed. Kersey). 1727–41 in Chambers Cycl. |
▪ II. gravelling, ppl. a.
(ˈgrævəlɪŋ)
[f. gravel v. + -ing2.]
Puzzling; perplexing.
| 1686 Goad Celest. Bodies ii. vii. 248 Men shall never give an account of these Great Questions if they deny our Influences,..the Question is so gravelling. 1691 Norris Pract. Disc. 206 The most gravelling Problem of all the Heathen Philosophy. 1720 Wodrow Life Bruce (1843) 64 This was one of the most gravelling things Mr. Bruce had met with. |