vbl. sb. [f. SPLICE v. Cf. Du. splitsing, G. splissung, splitsung, NFris. splessing, Da. splidsning, Sw. splissning.]
I. 1. The action or operation of making a splice or splices.
1524–5. Rec. St. Mary at Hill (1905), 327. Paid for Splisyng of v bell Ropis, v d.
1627. [see SPLICE sb. 1].
a. 1642. Sir W. Monson, Naval Tracts, III. (1703), 339/2. The Splicing and Bending of Cables.
1758. J. Blake, Plan Mar. Syst., 7. Exercising those who are received into the service, in knotting and splicing, in handing and reefing of sails.
1772–84. Cook’s Voy. (1790), V. 1929. Our spare hands were employed incessantly, in knotting and splicing.
fig. 1829. Bentham, Justice & Codific. Petit., Wks. 1843, V. 485/1. Now as to Court Christian.… Nothing requisite to be done otherwise than in the quiet way, by splicing: by splicing performed imperceptibly.
b. attrib., chiefly in the names of tools used in splicing ropes, etc., as splicing-clamp, fid, -hammer, -piece, -shackle; also splicing process.
1750. Blanckley, Nav. Expos., 55. Spliceing Fidds are used to splice or fasten Ropes together, and are made tapering at one End.
1858. H. Bushnell, Serm. New Life, 129. He was not obliged to accommodate his ignorance … by any such splicing process in words.
c. 1860. H. Stuart, Seaman’s Catech., 54–5. The ends are joined together by a splicing-piece or shackle.
1875. Knight, Dict. Mech., 2280/1. Splicing-hammer, -shackle. Ibid. (1884), Suppl. 842/2. Splicing Clamp.
2. = Splice-grafting (see SPLICE sb. 3).
1654. Bellingham, Plat’s Gard. Eden, 117–8. Grafting whipstocke wise, and letting the cions into the stock by a slit…. Some call this the splicing way.
1672. F. Drope, Fruit-Trees, iii. 40. Whip-grafting (otherwise called Backing, Packing, or Splicing).
3. The spliced part of a rope, etc.; a splice.
1892. Law Times, XCIV. 79/2. The covering of the splicing of the rope had become frayed.
1895. R. B. C. Graham, Notes on Menteith, v. 72. Fish the self-same water, with a rod with as many splicings as Petrucchio’s bridle.
II. † 4. A piece split off; a slender slip of wood. Obs.–1
1725. Family Dict., s.v. Ozier, The Peelings or Splicings of the former [osier] are used by Gardeners and Coopers.
