creeling

1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of creel

plural creelings

1. A Scottish wedding tradition in which the groom is made to carry a basket of stones.

   1 more example

   On the second day after their wedding, a creeling, as it is called, took place. That is, the newly-wedded pair and their friends assembled in a field agreed upon, and into a small basket or creel some stones were placed. This burden the young men of the party carried alternately, allowing themselves to be caught and kissed by the maidens who accompanied them. After a great deal of innocent mirth and pleasantry, the creel fell at length to the young husband's share, who was generally obliged to carry it for a considerable length of time, none of the young women appearing to take compassion on him. At last his fair partner flew to the rescue, and kindly relieved him of his burden.

   1885, E. J. Guthrie, Old Scottish Customs, page 38