[-ING1.] The action of the verb WAG in its various senses.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. IX. 26. And þe wint and þe watur and þe waggyng of þe Bot Makeþ þe Mon Mony tyme to stomble and to falle.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 513/2. Waggynge, or wauerynge, vacillacio.
1519. Horman, Vulg., 100. Byrdys vse the waggynge of theyr rumpe, to gyde theyr flyght: as doth the sterrne of a shyp to gyde the saylynge.
1530–77. H. Rhodes, Bk. Nurture, 331, in Babees Bk. Vse not much wagging with thy head.
1562. J. Heywood, Prov. & Epigr. (1867), 129.
Wagging of beardes. | |
| It is mery in hall when beardes wagge all. | |
| Husband for this, these woordes to minde I call: | |
| This is ment by men, in their mery eatyng: | |
| Not to wag their beardes in brawlyng and threatyng. | |
| Wyfe, the meanyng herof, differth not twoo pins, | |
| Betweéene waggyng of mens beardes and womens chins. |
1601. Holland, Pliny, XVII. xii. I. 514. As for the white Poplar or Aspen tree … the leaves keepe such a wagging and trembling, and never hang still.
1612. Two Nobl. K., II. ii. 15. The wagging of a wanton leg.
1655. [V. Gookin], Gt. Case Transplantation in Irel., 25. Can it be imagin’d that a whole Nation will drive like Geese at the wagging of a hat upon a stick?
1848. Dickens, Dombey, xlviii. Diogenes … had expressed that conflict of feeling by alternate waggings of his tail, and displays of his teeth.
1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, lxvi. A buzz, a hum,… meeting of bonnets and wagging of feathers and rustling of silks ensue.
1903. Times, 9 March, 4/5. Why did not he (the husband) insist upon an end being put to their ‘friendship,’ and so stop the wagging of censorious tongues?
† b. Proverbial phrase. Obs.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Tr. & Cr., II. 1745. In titeryng and pursuyte and delayes The folk deuyne at waggynge of a stre.
c. 1520. Skelton, Magnyf., 1016. Somtyme I wepe for a gew gaw; Somtyme I laughe at waggynge of a straw.
1525. Ld. Berners, Froiss., II. lviii. 80. They murmured & were redy for waggyng of a rysshe to make debate and stryfe.
1558. Abp. Sandys, Serm. (1585), 50. As fearfull Hares they flee at the wagging of euerie leafe.
1653. J. Taylor (Water P.), Cert. Trav. of Uncert. Journ., Wks. 1872, III. 8. They quarrel not for wagging of a straw.
1681. W. Robertson, Phraseol. Gen., 595/1. He fears the wagging of every straw.
