pelting

1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of pelt

plural peltings

1. The act by which somebody or something is pelted.

   […] the rain began to pour down in torrents, and we exposed our persons to the peltings of the shower rather than have our few books and remaining dry clothes injured.

   1830, Baptist Missionary Magazine, volume 10, page 88

comparative more pelting · superlative most pelting

1. obsoletemean; paltry

   I pray you, let us see you in the field; We have had pelting wars since you refused The Grecians' cause.

   c. 1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Troylus and Cressida”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene v]

   1 more example

   Could great men thunder As Ioue himſelfe do's, Ioue vvould neuer be quiet For euery pelting petty Officer VVould vſe his heauen for thunder; Nothing but thunder: […]

   c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Measure for Measure”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii], page 68, column 1