[f. BARB v. + -ING1.]
† 1. Shaving, hairdressing; clipping. Obs.
1485. Act 1 Hen. VII., x. § 7. The Wolle shuld be as it was shorne … withoute any sortyng, barbyng or clakkyng.
1581. Savile, Tacitus’ Hist. (1591), 215. Suffred his yellow haire to growe long without barbing.
1650. Bulwer, Anthropomet., ii. 49. The Abantes … were the first that used this kind of barbing.
1727–51. Chambers, Cycl., Barbing is sometimes used in antient statutes for sheering.
attrib. 1639. Denton, in Verney Papers (1853), 236. Untill you send me a paire of barbinge sissers.
2. Furnishing with barbs.
