earing

plural earings

1. nauticalA line used to fasten the upper corners of a sail to the yard or gaff.

   Synonyms: head earing

2. nauticalA line for hauling the reef cringle to the yard.

   You've forgot to pass the tack-earing, but wid time and help ye'll larn. There's good and just reason for ivry rope aboard, or else 'twould be overboard. D'ye follow me?

   1897, Rudyard Kipling, Captains Courageous

   Synonyms: reef earing

3. nauticalA line fastening the corners of an awning to the rigging or stanchions.
4. businessA manufacturing defect in which the edges of sheet metal form a wave pattern during deep drawing.
5. archaicA ploughing of land.

   Sixe dayes thou shalt worke, but on the seuenth day thou shalt rest: in earing time and in haruest thou shalt rest.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Exodus 34:21

   1 more example

   For these two yeeres hath the famine bene in the land: and yet there are fiue yeeres, in the which there shall neither be earing nor haruest.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Genesis 45:6

6. archaicrareAn earring.

   Gustave. (Gets up.) What? I believe you are wearing my earings yet!

   1910, August Strindberg, translated by Francis Joseph Ziegler, The Creditor, page 96

1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of ear