vbl. sb. [f. TOOTH sb. or v. + -ING1.]
1. Development or ‘cutting’ of the teeth, dentition: = TEETHING vbl. sb. 1. Obs. or rare.
c. 1440. Pallad. on Husb., I. 665. As seek ar they [peacocks] as childron in tothynge.
1656. Ridgley, Pract. Physick, 323. Toothing of Children is about the seventh Moneth.
1796. E. Darwin, Zoon., II. 51. The pain of toothing often begins much earlier than is suspected.
2. A structure or formation (natural or artificial) consisting of teeth or tooth-like projections; such teeth collectively; dentation, serration.
1611. Cotgr., Allochons d’un rouët, the teeth, or toothing, of a wheele, in a clocke.
1753. Baker, in Phil. Trans., XLVIII. 122. The toothing in the middle thereof almost proves that part to have been the palate of some animal.
1845. Lindley, Sch. Bot., i. (1858), 9. If the toothings are … like those of a saw, the leaves are serrate.
1872. Coues, N. Amer. Birds, 236. A toothing of the under mandible.
b. spec. in Building. Bricks or stones left projecting from a wall to form a bond for additional work to be built on; the bond or attachment thus formed; the construction of this. Also fig.
1672. Phil. Trans., VII. 4081. In the first Wall there are Stones in toothings, from the top to the bottom.
1674. Blount, Glossogr., Toothing, the working in of Bricks in a party-wall.
1769. H. Malden, in Willis & Clark, Cambridge (1886), I. 490. On the outer wall, may be perceived Toothings, where the Building was formerly joined.
1841. Civil Eng. & Arch. Jrnl., IV. 395/1. Regular half brick toothings were inserted, at intervals of 2 feet 3 inches apart.
3. The process of forming teeth or serrations; the furnishing (of a saw, etc.) with teeth.
1833. J. Holland, Manuf. Metal, II. 56. The toothing [of a sickle] is effected by a small well tempered chisel and a hammer.
1884. C. G. W. Lock, Workshop Receipts, Ser. III. 287/1. After toothing comes hardening [of saws].
4. attrib. and Comb., as toothing-course, -stone (see 2 b); toothing-plane, a plane having the iron almost upright, with a serrated edge, used to score and roughen a surface; see TOOTH sb. 3 d.
1703. T. N., City & C. Purchaser, 51. Lay it on the last Toothing Course to bear it.
1847. Smeaton, Builder’s Man., 95. Made somewhat rough with either a rasp or toothing-plane.
1875. Brash, Eccl. Archit. Irel., 18. The chancel has disappeared; toothing-stones … show it to have been 12 ft. wide.
