[f. BERTH v.2 + -ING1.] The upright planking of the sides and various partitions of a ship; esp. the planking outside above the sheer-stroke, the bulwark.
1706. Phillips, Birthing, a Term us’d at Sea, when the Ship’s sides are rais’d, or brought up.
c. 1850. Rudim. Navig. (Weale), 107. It is the berthing or hood round the ladder-way.
1869. Sir E. Reed, Ship Build., xii. 240. A plate-rail is fitted upon the top of the frames, and supports the hammock berthing.
1883. Pall Mall Gaz., 20 Nov., 7/2. An able seaman … fell from the maintopmast rigging, and pitched on the berthing of the ship’s side.
