[f. COLLECT v. + -ING1.] The action of the verb COLLECT. Sometimes concr. in pl., the results or proceeds of the action: cf. gatherings, gleanings.
1706. Hearne, Collect., 8 March (Oxf. Hist. Soc.), I. 201. Mr. Dodsworth … spent his whole Life time in Collecting.
1881. Nature, 293. Baskets … to carry their collectings home.
attrib. 1863. Kingsley, Water-bab., viii. (1886), 343. Pockets full of collecting boxes, bottles, [etc.].
