[f. FAT v. + -ING1.]
1. The action or process of making (an animal or person) fat.
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., IV. (1586), 165 b. M. Aufidius Surco, who first beganne the fatting of this Foule.
1681. W. Robertson, Phraseol. Gen. (1693), 668. He is a mere glutton, born for the fatting of his belly, nor for praise and glory.
1792. Trans. Soc. Encourag. Arts (ed. 2), III. 45. [They] gained, the first three weeks of fatting, two pounds and a quarter each per diem.
† 2. The process of growing or becoming fat.
1594. Shaks., Rich. III., I. iii. 314.
| Marry as for Clarence, he is well repayed: | |
| He is frank’d vp to fatting for his paines. |
1650. J. Bulwer, Anthropometamorphosis, 242. Three causes found which impedes the fatting of man.
1772. Ann. Reg., 106/1. The fatting in the valuable parts of the body.
3. The process of enriching (land) or making (it) fertile or fruitful.
1600. Surflet, Countrie Farme, I. xv. 93. The dung put aside for the fatting of the medowes.
a. 1617. Hieron, Wks., II. 464. Salt becomming unsauory is good for nothing, are an argument that in it selfe so long as it retayneth its due strenght [sic] it is very good for the fatting of the earth.
4. attrib., as fatting-house, a place in which to fat animals; fatting-land, land suitable for fatting animals; fatting-stock, stock for fatting.
1580. Baret, Alv., F 214. A fatting-house, saginarium.
a. 1722. Lisle, Husb. (1752), 251. It is best to have the sides of the fatting-house open.
1834. Brit. Husb., II. 490. The value of fatting land being different.
1861. Times, 27 Sept. The requisite fatting stock.
