1560 in J. D. Marwick Extracts Rec. Burgh Edinb. (1875) III. 69 To taxt the hale nychtbouris..for douncasting and demolesyng of wallis and fortres of Leythe.

1627 Continued Iournall Proc. Duke of Buckingham in Ile of Ree 2 Nov. (title page) The state of the Towne of Rochell, with the demolishing of the new Fort.

1684 J. Bunyan Pilgrim's Progress 2nd Pt. ii. 159 I will therefore attempt..the demolishing of Doubting Castle. View more context for this quotation

1691 T. Hale Acct. New Inventions p. lxxxi The immediate demolishing of Nusances.

1723 H. Rowlands Mona Antiqua Restaurata ii. 6 The Inundations and Demolishings of the Sea.

1794 Anthologia Hibernica Feb. 100/2 Mr Paine would interpose the delay of an election between the demolishing of one government, and rearing of another.

1889 Amer. Catholic Q. Rev. Apr. 255 Assuming regal power, it [sc. the Long Parliament] issued orders for the demolishing of all images, altars and crucifixes.

1921 B. M. Steigman Pertinent Wagnerite v. 127 Your performance..was a demolishing of the world of art and a return to the waste and void of nature before the spirit of the artist moved upon the face of it.

1995 A. Pred Recognizing European Modernities ii. 69 The demolishing of a wall.

1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. vi. 260 I saw many ruinous lumpes of the Wals, and demolishings of the old Towne.

1989 Independent (Nexis) 19 Aug. 34 They demolished it to make this square walled garden, closed by the house on one side, the conservatory on another and by walls built from their demolishings on the other two.

1648 C. Walker Relations & Observ. ii. 23 This Gallymaufry or Hotchpot which our Grandee Pseudo politicians with their negative and demolishing Councells have made.

a1661 T. Fuller Worthies (1662) Northampt. 280 One demolishing Hammer, can undoe more in a day, then ten edifying Axes can advance in a Month.

1726 N. Amhurst Terræ-filius (ed. 2) 253 The same unrelenting, demolishing spirit reigns in all monkish societies.

1788 J. Byng Diary 16 Aug. in Torrington Diaries (1934) I. 347 This spot..might be render'd very enchanting; but at present it is in possession of some demolishing Goth!

1875 M. Arnold in Contemp. Rev. May 979 No, say these critics, the whole Gospel, without distinction, must be abandoned to the demolishing sweep of inexorable critical laws.

1905 J. D. Ball Macao 19 This splendid facade is nearly intact though slightly touched by the demolishing hand of time.

1987 E. Larrabee Commander in Chief vii. 392 The Japanese fleet was not dealt the demolishing blow that the air admirals believed they could have delivered.