[f. WELL v.1 + -ING1.]
1. The action of boiling or scalding. Also comb. welling-lead, a cauldron.
1371–3. Durham Acc. Rolls (Surtees), 577. In emendacione unius Wellynglede in pistrino.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 521/1. Wellynge, of mylke and oþer lycure, coagulacio, decoccio.
1588. L. M., trans. Bk. Dyeing, 22. Take so much water as will go into the small kettle, so let it have a welling or two on the fire.
1691. Ray, S. & E. Co. Words, ‘Welling of whey’ is heating it scalding bot, in order to the taking off the curds.
b. The boiling up (of a liquid in a pot).
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 521/1. Wellynge, or boylynge of playynge pottys, ebullicio, bullicio.
† 2. a. The melting or founding of metals. Obs.
1388. Wyclif, Jer. li. 17. Ech wellere togidere is schent in a grauun ymage; for his wellyng togidere is fals [Vulg. quia mendax est conflatio eorum].
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 521/1. Wellynge, of metel, fusio.
† b. = WELDING vbl. sb. Also attrib. Obs.
1660. trans. Paracelsus’ Archidoxis, I. vii. 109. Smiths … compactly consolidated their Irons together as if they had been conglutinated with a true compaction, or welling.
1795. G. Pearson, in Phil. Trans., LXXXV. 328. The substance made white hot, by the forge, had the glassy smooth surface of iron, in what is termed the welding or the welling state.
3. The bubbling up and overflowing (of water); the flowing forth or out (of a stream); the swelling (of flood-water, the sea).
c. 1400. Contin. Brut., ccxxiv. 292. Þere arose suche a sprynggynge and wellinge op of wateres and floodes, bothe of þe see and also of fresshe ryvers & spryngez, þat [etc.].
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 521/1. Wellynge, or boylynge vp as water fro þe erthe or sprynge, scaturicio.
a. 1500. R. Bale’s Chron., in Six Town Chron. (1911), 135. The ix day of Octobre was such a wellyng and spring of waters, that [etc.].
1867. Myers, St. Paul (1896), 38. Welling of waves, disconsolate and tender, Sighed on the shore.
1871. Macduff, Mem. Patmos, xxiv. 326. The welling up of the Jordan in the cavern at the base of giant Mount Hermon.
b. fig.
1857. Livingstone, Trav., xiv. 259. The notes … strike the mind by their loudness and variety, as the wellings forth from joyous hearts, of praise to Him who fills them with overflowing gladness.
1896. F. M. Crawford, Corleone, xxvii. (1897), II. 121. With a wild welling up of hope, Francesco galloped along the road.
1916. Mrs. H. Ward, Lady Connie, I. v. 95. It was a moment for her of strong reaction, of a welling-up and welling-back of life, after a kind of suspension.
