dial. [f. THOMAS + -ING1.] The begging of alms on St. Thomas’s day (21 Dec.). Also called corning, doling, or gooding.
1847–78. Halliwell, Thomasing, a custom in Derbyshire, going from house to house on St. Thomas’s day with a basket and can to beg milk, wheat, oatmeal, or flour.
1866. W. Henderson, Folk Lore, ii. 50. The widows ask and commonly receive at the farmers’ houses a small measure of wheat, and they call it ‘going a Thomasing.’
1900. Daily Chron., 3 Nov., 3 (Cass. Supp.). The maying, processioning, Thomasing, carolling, and other junketings.
