[f. LASH v.1 + -ING1.] The action of LASH v.1 in various senses; beating, flogging; an instance of this. † Lashing out, lavishing, squandering.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 6789. Mony lyue of lept with lasshyng of swedis.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 288/2. Laschynge, or betynge.
1553. Grimalde, Cicero’s Offices (1556), 85. These lasshinges oute of money which bee done to clawe the multitude.
1651–3. Jer. Taylor, Serm. for Year (1678), 344. Those secret lashings and whips of the exterminating Angel.
1791. Burke, Th. Fr. Affairs, Wks. (1808), VII. 41. The king [of Sweden] … keeps up the top with continual agitation and lashing.
1801. T. Milner, in Life, xiii. (1842), 246. He said some things which … called for a fresh lashing.
1900. Daily News, 19 Feb., 2/5. As a rule the natives took their lashings quietly.
b. pl. (Anglo-Irish). ‘Floods,’ abundance.
1829. Scott, Jrnl., 18 March. Cigars in loads, whisky in lashings.
1841. S. C. Hall, Ireland (1843), III. 334. There’s lashins of holy water, and blessed palm.
1856. Lever, Martins of Cro’ M., 84. A good dinner, some excellent port wine, and ‘lashings’ of whiskey-punch.
1883. Ld. Saltoun, Scraps, I. 116. There’s plenty of sport to be had, an’ lashins of parties, an’ balls, an’ picnics.
1884. Illustr. Lond. News, 24 May, 510/3. ‘There’s lashins of room,’ said the driver.
