[f. BOX v.1 and sb.2]
I. From the vb.
1. The putting into, or providing with, a box.
1607. Hieron, Wks., I. 359. What boxing them vp to preuent embezeling!
1884. F. Britten, Watch & Clockm., 36. Boxing-in … implies, in addition to the actual fixing of the movement, the fitting and connecting the winding stem.
b. Law. The lodgement of pleadings and other documents in court.
1863. Act 31 & 32 Vict., c. § 71. The Court may dispense with the printing and boxing of any portions of the same.
† 2. The applying of ‘boxes’ or cupping-glasses in surgical treatment; cupping. Hence boxing-glass: a cupping-glass. Obs.
1519. Horman, Vulg., 40. Launsynge, serchynge, cuttynge, rasynge, boxynge, and cuppynge.
1562. Turner, Baths, 17. Let hym set cuppes or boxynge glasses upon his shulders.
1610. Barrough, Meth. Physick, I. v. (1639), 7. If age or weaknesse do prohibite bloud-letting, you must use boxing.
3. Naut. = BOX-HAULING.
1769. Falconer, Dict. Marine (1789), Boxing, an operation … similar to box-hauling. It is performed by laying the head-sails … aback … in order to throw the ship’s head back into the line of her course.
II. From the sb.
4. A structure or work of boxes.
a. 1845. Hood, Incend. Song, vi. Burn the boxing! Burn the Beadle!
5. Ship-building. A square piece of dry hard wood used in connecting the frame timbers of a ship (Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk.); also a scarf joint.
c. 1850. Rudim. Navig. (Weale), 100. The term Boxing is also applied to the scarph of the lower piece of the stem, let flatwise into the fore-foot.
c. 1860. H. Stuart, Seaman’s Catech., 65. A scarph, called the flat scarph, or boxing scarph.
6. (See quot.)
1823. P. Nicholson, Pract. Build., 220. Boxings of a Window—The two cases, one on each side of a window, into which the shutters are folded.
