The action of the verb CARP: † a. Speaking or saying; speech, talk; faculty of speech. Obs.
c. 1325. E. E. Allit. P., B. 1550. Sone so þe kynge for his care carping myȝt wynne.
a. 1400. Relig. Pieces fr. Thornton MS. (1867), 7. Ryghte sayeyng and carpyng of þe wordes.
a. 1400. Cov. Myst. (1841), 166. Suche a carpynge is unknowe.
b. Censorious speech: cavilling, fault-finding, captious criticism.
c. 1400. Ywaine & Gaw., 127. This kene karping of Syr Kay.
1599. Shaks., Much Ado, III. i. 71. Such carping is not commendable.
1697–1711. C. Leslie, Short Method w. Deists, &c. 19. From from all those little Carpings … that are made as to the Passage thro’ the Red-Sea.
1868. Nettleship, Browning, i. 49. The alloy of harsh criticism, of ungrateful carping.
Carping vbl. sb.2 The preparing of teasels: see CARP v.2
