seagulling

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noun

The practice, in Rugby Union, of forwards running in the back line rather than concentrating on their primary positional duties in open play (see rugby union positions).

“I'm going take the boat out and do some seagulling.”

Scrabble 12
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Meanings

nounseagulling (uncountable)
  1. AustraliaNew ZealandUKslanguncountableball gamesThe practice, in Rugby Union, of forwards running in the back line rather than concentrating on their primary positional duties in open play (see rugby union positions).

    As long as he can stay away from the seagulling in the tight games.

    2002 May 25, Greig Blanchett, “Re: So. To The ABs”, in rec.sport.rugby.union (Usenet)
    2 more examples

    Jack has to cut out the seagulling and get in and do the dirty work.

    2009 December 28, Steve Hepburn, “Rugby: Oval ball gazing for 2011 World Cup”, in Otago Daily Times

    And while Williams cut down the seagulling, he still wasn't hitting the breakdown with any vigour.

    2011 August 29, lord shineything [username], “Re: AB Players”, in rec.sport.rugby.union (Usenet)
  2. uncountableboating slangThe practice of using a British Seagull outboard.

    I'm going take the boat out and do some seagulling.

    3 more examples

    Happy Seagulling.

    2000 July 6, Miniature Embroideries [username], “Re: Ancient Seagull”, in uk.rec.sailing (Usenet)

    The Seagull and Heineken gods were with us — what a wonderful day weather wise — an ideal Seagulling race day — winds were light — and crossing the harbour to Sandys Boat Club at 7.15am the water was glassy.

    2011 September, Martine Purssell, “News From Bermuda - 2011 R. I. S. R”, in The Gull

    It isn't often young people get involved in Seagulling, never mind build their own boat to do so.

    2012 March, “Camden Sutherland's 'Waikato Bullet Boat'”, in The Gull
  3. New ZealanduncountableThe practice of working as a non-union casual stevedore.

    As a young shipwright, I heard old timers warn me against seagulling or bypassing the union hall while seeking work.

    2001, Archie Green, Torching the Fink Books and Other Essays on Vernacular Culture, University of North Carolina Press, →ISBN, page 180
    2 more examples

    Sometimes I went down to the Wellington wharves for what was called 'seagulling', where I joined a crowd of other men just before 8 a.m., hoping to be given the nod for a day's work.

    1995, Bryan Gould, Goodbye to All That, Macmillan, →ISBN, page 22

    After two months there was a lull on the waterfront, seagulling declined, and I had to seek another job. By this time my hands were hard and I actually looked like a labourer, so the New Zealand Posts and Telegraph department took me on as a linesman.

    1997, Phillip Knightley, A Hack's Progress, J. Cape, →ISBN, page 25
verb
  1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of seagull

Origin

By surface analysis, seagull + -ing.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

seagulling. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/seagulling

MLA

“seagulling.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/seagulling. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “seagulling,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/seagulling.

Source: seagulling on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.