Forms: 1 býsting, 5 bestynge, 5 biestings, 7 beestins, beestning, beestlings, 7–8 beestings, 7–9 beastlings, -ges, 8– beastings, 9 dial. beastin, biznings, beslings. [OE. *bíesting, býsting, as if f. a vb. *biestan ‘to yield beest,’ f. béost: see prec. Now usually in pl. form, which however is sometimes construed as a (collective) sing.
1. = preceding.
c. 1000. Ælfric, in Wright, Voc., 28. Colustrum, býsting, þicce meolc.
1483. Cath. Angl., 30. A bestynge, colustrum.
1574. Newton, Health Mag., 32. The thicke and curdie Milke … commonly called Biestings, is very dangerous.
1611. Cotgr., Colostre, the first milke, tearmed beest, or beestings.
1625. B. Jonson, Pans’ Annivers., ad fin. Both the beesting of our Goates, and Kine.
1641. Best, Farm. Bks. (1856), 11. An ewe is say’d to give beastlings three or fower dayes.
1697. Dryden, Virgil (1806), II. 14. Who fill’d the pail with beestings of the cow.
1757. Lisle, Husb., 353. Roman writers on husbandry forbid the colastra or beastings to be given to the calf.
Mod. Northampt. Dial., We shall have some biznings tomorrow for a custard.
attrib. 1881. Tennyson, North. Cobbler, xx. A beslings-puddin’ an’ Adam’s wine.
† 2. A disease caused by imbibing beastings. L. colostratio. Obs.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts, 18. It breedeth in their mouthes the Colostracion or Beestings.
