ˈridding, vbl. n.
[f. rid v. + -ing1.]
1. The action of clearing or removing.
| 1347–8 Durh. Acc. Rolls II. 545 In exp. factis in Ryddyng stagni de Fery. a 1400–50 Alexander 2244 Ȝoure corage to bend, And in ridding of oure riche toun ȝour reuth for to call. 1481–90 Howard Househ. Bks. (Roxb.) 507 For the stubbyng and ryddyng all a long the pale off the long pond. 1501 Church-w. Acc., Yatton (Somerset Rec. Soc.) 125 For rydyng of gotters of y⊇ chyrch and y⊇ gargells. 1565 Cooper Thesaurus, Ablaqueatio, the riddyng or clensinge of trees in maner aboue mencioned. 1630 Brasenose Coll. Munim. Q 3. 104 Charges for the Riddinge of the Lanne betwixt Brasnnose and Excestre Colledge Garden. 1666 Pepys Diary 16 Aug., I fell to the ridding away of a great deale of business. c 1850 J. Gemmel in Mem. R. Craig (1862) 250 A thorough ridding of the marches between what is changeable and what is unchangeable. 1875 Ure's Dict. Arts III. 704 Ridding,..a term used in the Newcastle coal-field for the operation of separating the iron ore from the coal-shale. 1897 Longman's Mag. Mar. 441 The marble seam..is easily obtained by ‘open ridding’. |
b. Separation of combatants. Also attrib.
| 1500 in I. S. Leadam Star Chamber Cases (Selden Soc.) 111 The seid Thomas..came..onely for the Riddyng of the seid assauute & fray. 1721 Kelly Scot. Prov. 159 He who meddles with Quarrels, gets the ridding Stroke. |
c. Deliverance, setting free. rare—1.
| 1648 Sanderson Serm. II. 234 For..the ridding of our selves and others from troubles. |
2. A cleared piece of ground; a clearing. (Now only in local names.) north.
| 1586 Wills & Inv. N.C. (Surtees, 1860) 140, I will that Barnard Dowthwhet haue the newe mower, with my parte in the fer ryddynges. 1651 MS. Indenture, Yorks., 9 selions lying together in one field called the Rydings. 1827 Hodgson Hist. Northumb. II. i. 94 note, It is plain that a ridding is pure English for assartum. 1868 Atkinson Cleveland Dial., Ridding... More frequently met with in local names, or in documents, than in modern expression. |
† 3. pl. Clearings, refuse. Obs. rare—1.
| 1598 R. Grenewey Tacitus, Ann. ii. x. (1622) 152 In a Tumbrell which carried away the riddings of Gardens. |
4. (See rid n.1 2, quot. 1827.)