[f. BUD v.1 + -ING1.]
1. The action of putting forth buds, sprouting; concr. buds collectively.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., IX. vii. (1495), 352. Harueste … wythdrawyth the vertue of buddynge and of spryngynge.
1580. Hollyband, Treas. Fr. Tong, Germement, a budding, a sprouting.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 121, ¶ 3. Before the first budding of a Horn appears.
1724. Ramsay, Tea-T. Misc. (1733), I. 100. Plantings … Where buddings and blossoms appear.
1878. Huxley, Physiogr., xv. 252. By … budding and splitting, the corals may form masses of great size.
2. fig. Springing forth, beginning, ‘germ.’
1601. Weever, Mirr. Mart., A v. Her forward budding in the prime I blasted With wind of pride.
1677. Gilpin, Dæmonol. (1867), 461. We must … nip it in the earliest buddings of it.
1741. Watts, Improv. Mind, ix. (1801), 68. The young buddings of infant reason.
1822. ‘B. Cornwall,’ Let. Boccaccio, ii. 44. In budding, happiness is likest woe.
3. Gardening. The process of inserting a bud from one shrub or tree under the bark of another, so that adhesion takes place; inoculation.
1719. London & Wise, Compl. Gard., VII. 184. The proper time for Inoculating or Budding, is … according as the Season happens.
1861. Delamer, Fl. Gard., 156. Budding may be performed from June to September.
4. attrib., as in budding-knife, -time.
1805. Wordsw., Prel., III. (1850), 64. A congregation in its budding time Of health.
1831–60. Loudon, Encycl. Gard., 656 (L.). With the budding-knife make a horizontal cut across the rind.
1839. Carlyle, Chartism, viii. 165. There are spiritual budding-times.
