[f. as prec. + -ING2.] That truckles; † that is subordinate or inferior (obs.); meanly submissive, servile.
1656. [see standing-stool, STANDING vbl. sb. 11].
1665. Temple, Lett. to Ld. Arlington, Wks. 1731, II. 6. Their last Resourse, which is the Protection of France,… or else a perfect truckling Peace with England.
1701. Swift, Contests Nobles & Com. Athens & Rome, ii. A small truckling state, of no name or reputation.
1728. Ramsay, Epist. to Burchet, v. The like of you … Should gar the trockling rogues look blue.
1796. Burke, Regic. Peace, i. Wks. VIII. 87. In small truckling states a timely compromise with power has often been the means … of drawling out their puny existence.
1823. Scott, Peveril, xvii. Unworthy or truckling compliance with tenets which my heart disowns.
1868. Farrar, Silence & V., iii. (1875), 64. Our beloved English Church … may, even yet, be unable to escape … the Nemesis … due to the sluggish impotence and truckling worldliness of her 18th Century.
Hence Trucklingly adv., in a truckling manner.
1831. Fraser’s Mag., III. 605. He would joyfully, thankfully, trucklingly accept it.
1857. Tait’s Mag., XXIV. 30. I could conceive women … unhappy; but not meanly, timidly, trucklingly miserable.
