vbl. sb. [f. FODDER v. + -ING1.]
1. The action of the vb. FODDER.
c. 1570. Pride & Lowl. (1841), 54.
| For of al other folke he knoweth lest, | |
| And farthest if from learnyng and from skil, | |
| But yf it be in fodderyng of a beast; | |
| Then how can he be judge of good and ill? |
1655. Hartlib, Legacy (ed. 3), 249. This way of pasturing of Clover, will be a kind of foddering of the land, and rather improve then impair it.
1727. Bradley, Fam. Dict., s.v. Barn.… Barns … for the better preserving of it, the more easy thrashing it out, the more convenient foddering of Cattle with the Straw.
2. concr. An allowance of fodder.
1601. Holland, Pliny, I. 401. Ten pound of it is a sufficient foddering for an horse.
1808. Curwen, Econ. Feeding Stock, 55. At six o’clock a foddering of straw from six to eight pounds.
1622. Mabbe, trans. Aleman’s Guzman d’Alf., II. 46. Then did shee reduce unto her remembrance … what drie fodderings he did give her.
1662. Rump Songs (1874), I. 161.
| From a vinegar Priest on a Crab-tree stock, | |
| From a foddering of Prayer four hours by the Clock. |
1843. Carlyle, Misc. (1857), IV. 267. Endless heavy fodderings of Jesuit theology, poured on him and round him by the wagonload, incessantly, and year after year, he did not learn; but left flying there as shot-rubbish.
3. attrib. and Comb., as foddering band, boy, cord, ground, herb, place, rack, † stead, time.
1837. Boston Advert., 17 Jan., 2/2. One fork and one *foddering band.
1827. Clare, The Shepherd’s Calendar, February, 21.
| Her cows around the closes stray, | |
| Nor ling’ring wait the *foddering-boy; | |
| Tossing the mole-hills in their play, | |
| And staring round with frolic joy. |
1890. Gloucestersh. Gloss., *Foddering cord, a hair and hemp cord used for binding up hay to take out to beasts.
1789. W. Marshall, Gloucester, I. 230. A small dry grass inclosure, (near the homestall)—provincially a *‘foddering ground’—where they have their fill of hay.
1816. F. Vanderstraeten, Impr. Agric., 8. Roots and *foddering herbs for cattle.
1587. L. Mascall, Govt. Cattel (1617), 203. The Shepheard also shall often cleanse the *foddering places of his sheepe.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., III. 606.
| Salt Herbage for the *fodd’ring Rack provide; | |
| To fill their Bags, and swell the milky Tide. |
1619. N. Riding Rec., IV. 153. That messuage … with one *fotheringe-stead.
1641. H. Best, Rural Economy in Yorkshire in 1641 (Surtees), 10. As soon as *fotheringe time is past, (which, if the weather breake, will bee aboute the 10th of March,) yow are to remoove them to some fresh pasture.
