[f. LOAD v. + -ING1.]
1. The action of the verb LOAD; the placing of a load or cargo in a vehicle, vessel, etc. † Bill of loading = bill of lading (see BILL sb.3 10).
1523. Fitzherb., Husb., § 22. In lodynge of hey or corne, the cattel is alwaye eatynge or beytynge.
1571. Campion, Hist. Irel., viii. (1633), 102. The Irish impositions of Coyne, Livery, Cartings, carriages, loadings,… and such like.
1626. Capt. Smith, Accid. Yng. Sea-men, 25. With your Commission, Cocket, or bills of loading.
1727. A. Hamilton, New Acc. E. Ind., II. xxxiii. 17. Perrin must take them, and sign Bills of Loading for good well-conditioned Goods.
1806. Gazetteer Scot. (ed. 2), 545. The want of a pier … prevents them from loading or unloading except at low water.
1898. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., V. 961. The ‘loading’ indeed, if not excessive, stimulates the organ to stronger contraction.
b. Arch. The placing of a ‘load.’
1751. Labelye, Westm. Br., 80. The further Loading of the settled Pier would be dangerous.
1853. Sir H. Douglas, Milit. Bridges (ed. 3), 48. In the bridge, without any loading, each large pontoon is immersed to the depth of about 91/2 inches.
c. Painting. (See LOAD v. 7 b.)
1859. Gullick & Timbs, Paint., 228. This loading of thick masses of colour upon the picture.
1882. Hamerton, Graphic Arts, 230. Loading is the use of opaque colour in heavy masses which actually protrude from the canvas and themselves catch the light as the mountains do on the moon.
d. The use of weights or of some added material for the purpose of falsification or adulteration. concr. The material used for this purpose.
1886. Pall Mall Gaz., 3 June, 4/2. Loading is slipping about an ounce weight of lead down the ears of the horse…. No matter how vicious the beast may be it becomes dazed and stupid when the load plugs its ears. Ibid. (1889), 16 Nov., 6/3. Into lobsters and crabs which have become by reason of age of lighter weight are introduced portions of fresh haddock or roker…. This is technically called ‘loading.’
1890. Watt, Paper-making, 114. The very finest qualities of paper are usually made without the addition of any loading, as it is called.
e. Conjuring. (See quot.)
1872. Routledge’s Ev. Boy’s Ann., 345/2. For the purpose of what is called ‘loading,’ i.e., bringing a rabbit or other article into a hat, etc.
2. The putting of the charge in a firearm.
1655. Mrq. Worcester, Cent. Inv., § 58. To make a Pistol discharge a dozen times with one loading.
1748. Anson’s Voy., III. viii. 375. The whole crew … were … quick in loading, all of them good marksmen.
1879. Cassell’s Techn. Educ., II. 66. The loading was effected almost as easily and rapidly as in a smooth-bore.
3. Life-insurance. (See quot. 1881.)
1867. C. Walford, Insur. Guide (ed. 2), 258. Some loading to the pure premiums may be considered as absolutely necessary. Ibid., 329. There will still remain … a considerable surplus, after paying all proper expenses, out of the loading of the premiums.
1881. Encycl. Brit., XIII. 173/1. With the introduction … of mortality tables which approached more closely the death-rates among assured lives, there revived the practice of making an addition to the pure premiums, in order to provide for expenses, for fluctuations in the death-rate, and for other contingencies. This addition is called the ‘loading’ or ‘margin.’… The terms ‘loading’ and ‘margin’ have come to bear a somewhat extended meaning, They are now used to designate the difference between the premiums payable by the assured and the net premiums deduced from any table that may be employed for the time.
1896. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., I. 477. The calculated premium is slightly in excess of the true net premium, and the ‘loading’ in contingent cases is usually heavy.
4. contr. a. That with which something is loaded; a load, lading, cargo. Now somewhat rare.
1494. Fabyan, Chron., VII. 620. A Frenshman … beynge a carter, whiche dayly vsed to entre this towne with vytayll & other lodynge of his carte.
c. 1592. Marlowe, Jew of Malta, I. i. 85. Goe thou thy wayes, discharge thy Ship, And bid my Factor bring his loading in.
1604. Shaks., Oth., V. ii. 363. Look on the tragic loading of this bed.
1703. Lond. Gaz., No. 3917/4. The Loading of the Dorothy … will be exposed to publick Sale.
1720. De Foe, Capt. Singleton, i. (1840), 11. The ship, having taken in her loading, set sail for Portugal.
1745. Eliza Heywood, Female Spect., XVII. (1748), III. 258. The plumb unhandled lost its bloom, the weak stems let fall their loading yet unripe.
1755. Man, No. 13. 5. In failure of better loading, my wife and my chum might have the first ride in it [viz. a cart].
1804. in Lewis & Clarke, Trav. (1893), I. 45. No damage was done to the boats or the loading.
1825. J. Nicholson, Operat. Mechanic, 656. 21 waggons of five cwt. each, which, with their loading of coals, amounted to 43 tons eight cwt.
1890. ‘R. Boldrewood,’ Col. Reformer (1891), 245. He had, as early as such loading could be procured, ordered from town great stores of fruit-trees and plants.
b. pl. in Mining. (See quots.)
1875. J. H. Collins, Metal Mining, 96. Blocks, which are mounted upon piers or ‘loadings’ of masonry.
1883. Gresley, Coal-mining Gloss., Loadings, pillars of masonry carrying a drum or pulley.
5. attrib. and Comb. Pertaining to the loading of goods, cargo, etc., as loading-berth, -book, -pick; pertaining to or used in the loading of firearms, as loading-bar, -chamber, -funnel, -hammer, -machine, -plug, -tongs, -tray; loading-rod, a ramrod; loading-turn (see quot. 1858).
1881. Wilhelm, Milit. Dict., *Loading-bar, a bar used to carry shot. It is passed through the ring of the shell-hooks; also called carrying-bar.
1900. F. W. Bullen, With Christ at Sea, iii. 53. We had reached our *loading berth.
1812. J. Smyth, Pract. of Customs (1821), 407. J. Mann, Cart-follower, kept the *Loading-book.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., *Loading-chamber, the paterero, or inserting piece in breech-loading.
1875. Knight, Dict. Mech., *Loading-funnel, one for charging mortars with loose powder. *Loading-hammer, one for loading rifles.
1860. Eng. & For. Mining Gloss. (Derbysh. Terms), *Loading pick, a pick made purposely to cleave or rive up coals and prepare them for laying on the corves.
1864. Trevelyan, Compet. Wallah (1866), 164. I appeared among them with my *loading-rod.
1881. Wilhelm, Milit. Dict., *Loading-tongs, a pair of tongs used with siege howitzers to set the shell home.
1858. Simmonds, Dict. Trade, *Loading Turn, the successive rotation for ships to approach the quays, to take in cargo.
1899. Westm. Gaz., 20 April, 5/3. Many of the collieries have little or nothing to sell for some weeks ahead, while loading turns as a rule are practically full to the end of the month.
