vbl. sb. [f. as prec. + -ING1.]
† 1. The process of exposing to the action of fire; firing, burning, baking, etc. Obs.
1477. Act 17 Edw. IV., iv. True, seasonable, and sufficient making, whiting, and anealing of Tile, otherwise called Thaktile, Roofetile.
1753. Chambers, Cycl. Supp., Annealing of tile is used in antient statutes for the burning of tile.
2. The burning of metallic colors into glass, etc.
1477. Norton, Ord. Alch., in Ashm. (1652), vi. 96. Tincture with anealing of Glasiers.
1657. Evelyn, Mem. (1897), III. 92. Anealing in Glass, Enamelling.
1662. Fuller, Worthies, II. 97. Aneyling of Glass (which answereth to Dying in grain in Drapery) … is lost in our age.
1753. Chambers, Cycl., Supp., Annealing … burning or fixing metalline colours on glass.
3. The tempering or toughening of glass, cast iron, etc., after fusion. Also fig.
1803. Hatchett, in Phil. Trans., XCIII. 137. An increase of specific gravity in the smaller coins, as a natural consequence of rolling, punching, annealing.
1822. Imison, Sc. & Art, II. 237. Glass utensils require to be gradually cooled in an oven; this … is called annealing, and is necessary to prevent their breaking by change of temperature.
1841. Lyra Apost., True Elect, XV. lv. 68, Lest our frail hearts in the annealing break.
1870. R. Ferguson, Electr., 150. Annealing improves conducting powers.
4. attrib.
1608. Withals, Dict. (ed. Clerk), 136/2. The aneling place where pots and other things bee anneled.
1832. Porter, Manuf. Glass, 173. A boy conveys it without loss of time to the annealing oven.
1875. Blackmore, C. Vaughan, vii. 24. From the fine temper of the metal, or some annealing process.
