vbl. sb. Now dial. [See SOUL v.]
† 1. The giving up of the soul; dying, death, decease. Obs. rare.
c. 900. in Cockayne, Shrine, 106. Cwæþ sum haliʓ biscop ða he wæs on sawlenga [etc.].
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 466/1. Sowlynge, or dyynge, obitus, vel exalacio.
2. dial. The action of going round soliciting doles on or about All Souls’ Day. Also attrib., as souling-children, -song.
1851. N. & Q., 1st Ser. IV. 506/1. The custom of ‘souling’ … is carried on with great zeal and energy in this neighbourhood [i.e., Cheshire] on All Souls’ Day. Ibid. (1878), 5th Ser. X. 426/1. I am reminded of her just now by the children who are singing their ‘Souling Song’ under my window.
1883. Miss Burne, Shrops. Folk-Lore, 382. Soul-cakes … to give away to the souling-children.
