[f. BRUISE v.]
1. Crushing or damaging with a heavy blow; also (obs.) breaking in pieces, breaking; also fig.
1382. Wyclif, Ps. cv[i]. 30. And Fynees stod and pleside; and the brosing [Vulg. quassatio] ceside.
c. 1460. Towneley Myst., 172. For bryssyng of youre bonys.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 58 b. Kepe the rule of holy obedyence hole and sounde, without crasynge or brusynge.
1664. Evelyn, Kal. Hort. (1729), 219. To prevent bruising by Wind-falls … lay some Straw under your Fruit-Trees.
† b. concr. A broken piece, a fragment. Obs.
1382. Wyclif, Isa. xxx. 14. Ther shal not be founde of his brosingus [1388 gobetis] a shord.
2. Fighting with the fists, boxing.
1780. in Wilberforce’s Life (1838), I. 14. He is a fine fellow if you come to bruising.
1854. Thackeray, Newcomes, I. 101. Bruising was considered a fine manly old English custom.
1881. Blackmore, Maid of Sker, 163. He had held the belt for seven years, for wrestling as well as for bruising.
3. Comb., as bruising-wise adv.; bruising-match, a boxing-match, prize-fight.
1575. Banister, Chyrurg., II. (1585), 263. If it be brusingwise doone, we call it a contused wounde, or Ecchymosis.
1794. Wolcott (P. Pindar), Rowl. for Oliver, Wks. II. 402. It would wear the aspect of a bruising-match.
