vbl. sb. Obs. [f. SPOUSE v.]
1. The action of the vb. in various senses; marriage, matrimony, wedlock; espousal, betrothal.
a. 1250. Owl & Night., 1336. Þurh me nas neauer ischend spusing.
c. 1275. Sinners Beware, 159, in O. E. Misc. Þeos prude leuedies, Þat luuyeþ drywories, And brekeþ spusynge.
c. 1315. Shoreham, I. 1727. Spousynge At seue ȝer me maky may, Ac none ryȝt weddynge.
c. 1430. How Gd. Wijf tauȝte hir Douȝtir, in Babees Bk., 46. Loke to þi douȝtren … & gadere faste towarde her mariage, And ȝeue hem to spowsynge as soone as þei ben ablee.
c. 1450. Mirour Saluacioun (Roxb.), 29. Thogh marie was joynte vnto man be spovsing.
b. With possessives.
a. 1250. Owl & Night., 1553. He weneþ heo wile anon to-breke Hire spusyng.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 8879. He sede þat heo ssolde is sone to hire spousinge auonge.
1388. Wyclif, Song Sol. iii. 11. The diademe, bi which his modir crownede hym, in the dai of his spousyng.
1435. Misyn, Fire of Love, 71. Qwhen þai to weddynge or þe fest of cristis spowsynge ar cald.
c. attrib. in spousing-band, chamber, cloth, garment, girdle, gown.
a. 1250. Owl & Night., 1472. Þauh spusyng-bendes byndeþ sore.
1495. Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot., I. 263. xiiij ellis of quhite dammas, to be the Princis spousing goune.
1513. Douglas, Æneid, X. xi. 113. Of Lavynya the spousyng chalmyr.
a. 1568. in Bannatyne MS. (Hunter. Cl.), 770. Thair is no differance Betuix the gallowis and the spowsing claith.
a. 1605. Montgomerie, Devot. Poems, Poets Dreme, i. God give me grace for to begin My spousing garment for to spin.
1666. Despauterii Gram. Instit., D 5 b (Jam.), Cestus..., a spousing girdle.
2. An instance or occasion of this; an espousal or marriage.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 9069. Mid nobleye & prute inou þis spousinge was ydo.
a. 1300. Havelok, 2888. Þat spusinge was [in] god time maked.
13[?]. Sir Beues, 4565. Þe feste was riale inow, Ase scholde be at swiche a spusinge And at þe kinges couroning.
