[f. STOOP v.1 + -ING1.] The action of the verb, in its various senses; an instance of this.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., VIII. xiii. (1495), 320. In aege … the planete mars disposyth to stowpynge and crokydnesse.
c. 1412. Hoccleve, De Reg. Princ., 1019. Stomak is on whom stowpyng … Annoyeth soore.
1592. Soliman & Pers., 1481. Nay, then, I see, my stooping makes her proud.
1653. H. Cogan, trans. Pinto’s Trav., xix. 65. Looking towards the point of the Island from whence the Kite came, we perceived divers others, that in their flying made many stoopings.
1754. Chatham, Lett. to Nephew, v. 34. As to the carriage of your person, be particularly careful … not to get a habit of stooping.
1799. Underwood, Dis. Childhood (ed. 4), II. 87. The height which he may have lost in consequence of that stooping which the disorder had induced.
1897. Encycl. Sport, I. 583/1. (Hunting, fox) Stooping (of hounds), putting their noses to the ground. A hound is said to stoop to a scent when he has once taken to speaking to it.
b. Comb.: † stooping-horse = STALKING-HORSE.
1659. D. Pell, Impr. Sea, 22, note. Counterfeit Religion is made a mere stooping horse of.
