vbl. sb. [f. WILLOW sb. 4 or v. + -ING1.] = WILLYING (after WILLY sb.1).

1

1851.  L. D. B. Gordon, in Art Jrnl. Illustr. Catal., p. iv**/1. A scutching machine, so arranged that the preliminary process of willowing is performed within it.

2

1875.  Knight, Dict. Mech., Willowing machine.… 2. (Cotton.) … Called also twilly, shake-willy, willow, willy, willey, devil, opening-machine.

3

1879.  Cassell’s Techn. Educ., IV. 339/2. The willowing or willying process, which opens and disentangles the locks of wool.

4

1891.  R. Marsden, Cotton Spinning (ed. 4), 82.

5