[f. CARVE v.]
1. The action of the verb CARVE, in various senses.
In senses 5–7 of the vb., carving is now usually restricted to work in wood, ivory, etc., sculpture being used of work in stone, and chasing of work in metal.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 344. Of keorfunge, oðer of hurtunge.
a. 1240. Lofsong, in Cott. Hom., 207. In umbe keoruunge.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 264. Kervynge of mete.
1530. Elyot, Gov., I. viii. He shulde be … enstructed in painting or keruinge.
1561. T. Norton, Calvin’s Inst., I. 26. Caruing and painting are the giftes of God.
a. 1613. Overbury, Charact. Very woman. Her wrie little finger bewraies carving.
1641. Milton, Ch. Govt. (1851), 118. To say Episcopacy is partly of divine institution, and partly of mans own carving.
1768. Priv. Lett. 1st Ld. Malmesbury, I. 168. Ladies here never interfere with carving, &c.
1841–4. Emerson, Ess., Hist., Wks. I. 5. The value which is given to wood by carving.
2. Carved work; a carved figure or design.
c. 1384. Chaucer, H. Fame, 1302. More to tellen … Ne of compasses ne of kervynges.
1633. G. Herbert, Temple, Sion, i. Wood … embellished with flowers and carvings.
1826. Scott, Woodst., i. The carving on the reading-desk.
1867. Lady Herbert, Impress. Spain, 20. The choir … is very rich in carving.
3. Naut. High-carving: see CARVED b.
a. 1642. Sir W. Monson, Naval Tracts, III. (1703), 360/1. A Ship that carries her Ordnance low, and her Hull high built, has a great Advantage of a Galley … if she [sc. the galley] be desperately forced to board the same Ship, she will not be able to enter her, in respect of her heighth and high Carving.
4. attrib. and in comb., as carving-board, -fork, -knife, -machine, -machinery, -table, -tool, etc.
c. 1450. Bk. Curtasye, 673, in Babees Bk. Two keruyng knyfes.
1503. Priv. Purse Exp. Eliz. of York (1830), 96. A payre of carving knyves.
1673–4. Grew, Anat. Trunks, vii. § 3. Shoomakers … make use of it [sallow] for their Carving-boards.
1678. Lond. Gaz., No. 1332/4. 1 silver carving fork. Ibid. (1680), No. 1487/4. A great Carving Spoon.
1875. Ure, Dict. Arts, I. 739. The most perfect carving machine … made for strictly artistic works. Ibid. The carving machinery … invented by Mr. Jordan and patented in 1845.
