[f. FLAG v.3 + -ING1.]
1. The action of paving with flagstones.
1656. H. Webb, in D. King, Vale Royall, II. 209. The Flagging of the long West Ile in the minster was this year begun by Dean Mitter.
1824. in Picton, L’pool Munic. Rec. (1883), II. 341. Their public works, including the paving and flagging of streets, should in future be executed as those undertaken by Government and other public bodies.
1893. Birkenhead News, 9 Dec., 1/2. Tenders for the Flagging, Channelling, and Sewering of various Passages in the Borough.
2. concr. The material used in paving; hence, the pavement. (The two first quots. are doubtful.)
1622. Vestry Bks. (Surtees), 178. For making upp a wall and flagging about the bells floore for five dayes att x d. per diem, iiij s. ij d. Ibid. (1660), 197. For setting upp the fount and flagging about itt, 8 s. 6 d.
1825. Beverley Lighting Act, ii. 27. The flagging and other materials thereof to be taken up.
1851. Longf., Gold. Leg., II. i. 44.
| He listened to the song, | |
| And hardly breathed or stirred, | |
| Until he saw, as in a vision, | |
| The land Elysian, | |
| And in the heavenly city heard | |
| Angelic feet | |
| Fall on the golden flagging of the street. |
1861. J. G. Holland, Lessons in Life, iii. 39. Stretched at her [a cat’s] length upon the flagging.
3. attrib., as flagging stone.
1830. N. S. Wheaton, Jrnl., 366. An iron railing enclosing a vault covered with a coarse flagging stone, on which, some soldier, who followed him in his campaigns, has scratched the letters NEY, in rough characters, alone marks the place of his repose.
1866. Lossing, The Hudson, 172. Between the river and the mountains are almost inexhaustible quarries of flagging stone.
