vbl. sb. Now rare or Obs. [f. TAVERN v. + -ING1.] The action of the verb TAVERN.
† 1. See TAVERN v. 1. Obs.
1575. Sir J. Forster, in St. Papers Eliz., Borders, XIX. 81 (P.R.O.). When anye Inhabitant here hath … a Tenement … scant sufficient for the meinteignaunce of one person, yf he chaunce to dye havinge two sonnes, he devydeth the said Tenement betwixt them bothe, and thus the taverninge of the Queynes lande ys hinderance for kepinge of hors and armor.
2. The action or practice of frequenting taverns.
1580. in Liturg. Serv. Q. Eliz. (Parker Soc.), 574. The Sabboth days … is spent full heathenishly, in taverning, tippling, gaming, playing and beholding of Bear-baiting and Stage plays.
1597–8. Bp. Hall, Sat., II. i. Or wicked Rablais dronken revellings, To grace the mis-rule of our tavernings.
1654. R. Whitlock, Ζωοτομια, 503. Another cries out on the ones Taverning (where he would not spend a six pence, he never knew any come to good that did).
attrib. 1837. New Monthly Mag., LI. 41. No wonder that, with these taverning habits, Jonson lived poor and died no richer.
1909. H. G. Wells, Hist. Mr. Polly, vi. II. 181. He developed a quite considerable acquaintance with the plays of William Shakespeare, and in his dreams he wore cinque cento or Elizabethan clothes, and walked about a stormy, ruffling, taverning, teeming world.
3. The keeping of a tavern.
1774. J. Wentworth, in F. Chase, Hist. Dartmouth Coll. (1891), I. 264. Inquiring into the reasons of granting license to Mr. Payne for taverning and retailing.
