arch. [f. as prec. + -ING2.]
1. That bears a child or children, breeding; parturient, in labor; pregnant.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 75. Chyldynge, or woman wythe chylde, pregnans.
1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), I. 319. Þe oþer makeþ a childyng womman barayn.
1563–87. Foxe, A. & M. (1596), 106/1. The childing or bearing woman, whie maie she not be baptised?
1637. Brian, Pisse-Proph. (1679), 86. Most childing women go a year … before they conceive with child again.
18[?]. Southey, Batt. Blenheim, viii. Many a childing mother then, and new-born infant died. Ibid. (1825), Paraguay, I. 28. Tender care, to childing mothers due.
2. fig. a. Fertile, fruitful. b. Applied to some plants that produce younger or smaller florets around an older (regarded as parent) blossom; as childing daisy, pink.
1590. Shaks., Mids. N., II. i. 112. The childing Autumne.
1609. Heywood, Brit. Troy, V. xix. 111. By him [Saturn] … Childing Tellus beares.
1636. Gerard’s Herbal, II. cciiii. 635. Another pretty double daisie, which … puts forth many foot-stalkes carrying also little double floures … whence they haue fitly termed it the childing Daisie.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, II. 64/2. The Childing Pink groweth … on upright stalks.
1776. Withering, Bot. Arrangem. (1830), II. 539. Dianthus prolifer, Childing or Proliferous Pink.
1879. Prior, Plant-n., Childing Cudweed…, Gnaphalini germanicum.
