foldingn.1
/ˈfəʊldɪŋ/ 1. † b. A clasping, an embrace. literal and figurative. Obsolete.
a. The action of fold v.1 in its various senses; a doubling together, rolling up, etc.; the result of such action. spec. (see quot. 1874).
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > folding or folded condition > [noun] > action of folding
reduplication?a1425
foldingc1440
pranking1440
replication1538
convolution1597
rolling1601
fold1609
doubling1634
foldure1823
the world > time > change > alternation > change of fortune > [noun]
foldingc1440
mail-wryc1475
varietya1533
volubility1609
the world > space > shape > curvature > coil > [noun] > forming coils
folding1561
wristling1577
enwinding1598
coiling1769
c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 168/2 Foldynge of cloþys..plicacio.
1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) xiii. 632 Lo! quhat falding in fortoune is.
1560 Bible (Geneva) Prov. vi. 10 A little folding of the handes to sleepe.
1561 T. Norton tr. J. Calvin Inst. Christian Relig. (1634) i. xiii. 44 With such folding and crooked winding these slippery snakes doe slide away.
1642 Bp. J. Taylor Of Sacred Order Episcopacy (1647) 98 To summe up this digest of their acts and ordinations in those generall foldings us'd by the Fathers.
1672 N. Grew Anat. Veg. iv. 118 According to the Form and Foulding of every Leaf..is its protection order'd.
1691 A. Gavin Frauds Romish Monks 263 Of a Candid and Open Spirit, without any foldings or deceit.
1712 E. Budgell Spectator No. 539. ¶1 The many Foldings..and Doublings which I make.
1789 G. White Nat. Hist. Selborne 7 The curious foldings of the suture the one into the other.
1874 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. I. 899/1 Folding, the process by which printed sheets are so doubled up as to bring the pages into consecutiveness for gathering and binding.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > love > embrace > [noun]
beclipping1340
complexion1493
clipa1586
brace1589
twine1602
fold1609
grasp1609
claspa1616
abrazoa1626
colla1627
cling1633
hug1659
folding1713
squeeze1790
cuddle1825
bear squeeze1845
bear hug1870
clinch1901
bosie1952
side hug1984
cwtch1992
bro hug2000
1713 Countess of Winchilsea Misc. Poems 381 The gentle foldings of my Love.
1715 Earl of Halifax Poems Several Occasions 5 in Wks. & Life Earl of Halifax When round his Trunk the Vine Does in soft Wreaths and amorous Foldings twine.
1780 S. J. Pratt Emma Corbett II. xc. 174 Replace brother in the embraces of brother, and friend in the foldings of friend.
c. Geology. The doubling up of strata; the result of this.
ΚΠ
1849 R. I. Murchison Siluria viii. 154 Illustrating the foldings..of the Silurian series.
1884 Geikie in Nature 13 Nov. 30/1 The general trend of all these foldings and ruptures is from north-north-east to south-south-west.
2. quasi-concrete and concrete.figurative and in extended use.1721 E. Young Revenge iv. i Deep in the secret foldings of my heart, She liv'd.1853 T. N. Talfourd Castilian iii. ii The parted foldings of the mist.
a. The point or region of folding; the bend or depression of a limb; a sinuous part or curve of a range of hills, the winding of a valley. Cf. fold n.3 1c.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > external parts of body > limb > [noun] > part
jointc1290
foldingc1400
the world > the earth > land > landscape > low land > valley > [noun] > winding of valley
folding1818
the world > the earth > land > landscape > high land > hill > [noun] > curve of range
folding1868
c1400 Lanfranc's Cirurg. 109 A smal seem in foldynge of þe forheed.
c1400 Lanfranc's Cirurg. 159 In þe foldynge of þe myddil of þe arm.
1818 P. B. Shelley Let. 18 Aug. (1964) II. 33 The foldings of the Vale of Arno.
1868 T. Westwood Quest of the Sancgreall 11 From the far foldings of the hills.
b. A fold of a garment, etc., of flesh, skin, etc.; †a lock or plait of hair; †plural the leaves of a folding-door; also, †a coil or wreath of flame.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > hair > hair of head > lock or locks > [noun]
lockeOE
forelockc1000
hair-lockc1000
earlockOE
foretopc1290
tressc1290
lachterc1375
fuke1483
sidelock1530
proudfallc1540
widow's locka1543
folding1552
fore-bush1591
flake1592
witch knot1598
tuft1603
French lock1614
head-lock1642
witch-lock1682
rat's tail1706
side-curl1749
scalp knot1805
rat-tail1823
straggler1825
scalping-tuft1826
scalp-lock1827
aggravator1835
soap-lock1840
payess1845
stringleta1852
list1859
tresslet1882
drake's tail1938
the world > space > shape > curvature > coil > [noun] > of flame
folding1552
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > burning > fire or flame > [noun] > flame or blaze > a wave or wreath of flame
folding1552
vortex1652
the world > space > relative position > folding or folded condition > [noun] > a fold
foldc1325
plya1500
roll1509
ploy1558
implexure1578
folding1669
plication1701
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > parts of building > window or door > parts of door > [noun] > leaf of door
valvea1387
leaf1611
impost1730
folding1757
the world > space > shape > curvature > coil > [noun] > of smoke, mist, or cloud
wralling1398
wreath1633
spire1699
wreathing1818
folding1853
1552 R. Huloet Abcedarium Anglico Latinum Folding of a womans heere, trica.
1558 T. Phaer tr. Virgil Seuen First Bks. Eneidos iii. 584 With..flames in foldings round.
1603 R. Knolles Gen. Hist. Turkes 37 Many plites and foldings.
1669 W. Simpson Hydrologia Chymica 347 The tunicles and fouldings of the Stomach.
1757 tr. J. G. Keyssler Trav. II. 142 The middle door..is made of brass, with two foldings.
1807 J. Barlow Columbiad iii. 110 The lightning's glancing fires..Bend their long forky foldings o'er the world.
1808 W. Scott Marmion iii. xxix. 162 By the pale moonlight, was seen The foldings of his mantle green.
Compounds
C1. General attributive.
folding-machine n.
ΚΠ
1858 P. L. Simmonds Dict. Trade Products Folding-machine, a machine which delivers newspapers or printed book-work folded.
1874 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. I. 900/2 Folding-machine,..2 (Metal.) One which bends pans and tin-ware to form.
1884 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. Suppl. 353 Folding Machine (Printing), a folder attached to a perfecting printing machine. (Bookbinding), a machine for folding sheets, signatures or quires.
folding-place n.
ΚΠ
1715 J. T. Desaguliers tr. N. Gauger Fires Improv'd 160 The prick'd Lines represent the folding Places where the Plates must be bent.
folding-room n.
ΚΠ
1892 Pall Mall Gaz. 23 Mar. 4/2 The folding-room in a sub-basement of the south wing.
C2.
folding-stick n. Bookbinding = folder n. b.
ΚΠ
1880 J. W. Zaehnsdorf Art of Bookbinding 1 Holding a folding-stick in the right hand.
folding strength n. the strength of paper when subjected to continuous alternate creasing.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > material for making paper > paper > [noun] > specific qualities of
fabric1758
rattle1900
bulk1903
folding strength1936
wet strength1960
runnability1965
1936 Discovery May 156/2 The percentage decrease in the folding-strength of a paper after it has been heated for 72 hours at 105°C. is taken as a measure of its permanence on ageing.
1963 R. R. A. Higham Handbk. Papermaking iii. 79 The folding strength of a paper is dependent on the fibre length and flexibility of the sheet.
folding-table n.
ΚΠ
1848 H. W. Haygarth Recoll. Bush Life Austral. v. 48 As soon as the fleece is taken off, it is laid upon the ‘folding-table’,..and after being shaken..it is folded up neatly.
Draft additions January 2002
Molecular Biology. The process whereby a polypeptide or polynucleotide chain acquires a specific three-dimensional structure; the specific three-dimensional (secondary or tertiary) structure of a protein or nucleic acid molecule.
ΚΠ
1934 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) A. 232 334 We may picture a polypeptide chain... Both the pattern formed by the crumpling or folding of the main-chains..and also the lateral extension of the side-chains, may..be examined by X-ray methods.
1967 Jrnl. Amer. Chem. Soc. 89 6193/1 The folding of peptide chains is determined by nonbonded interactions among the side chains of the amino acid residues and by the geometry of covalent and hydrogen bonds.
1985 Science 29 Dec. 1390/2 (caption) A schematic representation of the folding of the polypeptide chains in native fibrinogen.
1995 Proc. National Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 92 12510/1 The 2′ hydroxyl groups in RNA play an important role in the folding and in the biological functions of the RNA.
2000 L. Crane Ninth Day of Creation 41 Don't ask me... Protein folding I have some idea about, but when this sort of thing happens I call Ben.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1897; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
foldingn.2
/ˈfəʊldɪŋ/ The action of folding sheep; an instance of this. Also concrete. Manure dropped in the fold.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > sheep-farming > [noun] > folding sheep
foldingc1440
sheepfolding1610
the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > animal enclosure or house general > [noun] > enclosure > fold or pen
folda700
lockeOE
pen1227
foldingc1440
pend1542
cub1548
hull1570
corral1582
boolya1599
ree1674
crew1681
reeve1720
stell1766
pound1779
kraal1796
fank1812
poundage1866
forcing-yard1890
the world > food and drink > farming > cultivation or tillage > preparation of land or soil > fertilizing or manuring > [noun] > fertilizer or manure
fatnessc1420
amendment1483
manure1532
manuring1577
battling1600
dressing1600
worth1609
sucken1615
folding1626
fertilizera1661
sumen1662
recuperativec1679
field dressing1743
top-dressing1744
sweetener1765
settera1793
mendment1798
side dressing1819
substratum1822
manurer1829
liquid manure1837
soil amendment1915
side dress1920
Growmore1944
soil conditioner1952
the world > food and drink > farming > cultivation or tillage > preparation of land or soil > fertilizing or manuring > [noun] > dunging > dung
dungOE
muckc1268
dunging?1440
fimea1475
fulyiec1480
tath1492
soil1607
street soil1607
dung-water1608
soiling1610
mucking1611
short dung, manure, muck1618
folding1626
muck water1626
stable manure1629
long dung1658
spit-dunga1671
stercoration1694
street dirt1694
horse-litter1721
pot-dunga1722
sock1790
street manure1793
police manure1825
fold-manure1829
slurry1965
c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 168/2 Foldynge or puttynge in felde incaulacio.
1626 F. Bacon Sylua Syluarum §599 We see againe that Foldings of Sheepe helpe Ground..by their Compost.
1794 R. Burns Poems & Songs (1968) II. 738 Then a faulding let us gang.
1855 R. Browning Love among Ruins v The quiet-coloured eve Smiles to leave To their folding, all our many-tinkling fleece.
Compounds
C1. General attributive.
folding-hour n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > animal keeping practices general > herding, pasturing, or confining > [noun] > folding-time
folding-hour1803
folding-time1876
1803 J. Leyden Scenes of Infancy i. 291 When evening brings the merry folding hours.
folding-time n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > animal keeping practices general > herding, pasturing, or confining > [noun] > folding-time
folding-hour1803
folding-time1876
1876 F. K. Robinson Gloss. Words Whitby Fauding-time, the time when the cattle are housed or folded.
C2.
folding-slap n. Scottish the gate of the fold.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > sheep-farming > [noun] > passage or gate for sheep
sheep-gate1535
swing-gate1774
folding-slap1787
hog-gap1878
the world > space > relative position > closed or shut condition > that which or one who closes or shuts > a barrier > [noun] > gate > gate of a fold
folding-slap1787
1787 R. Burns Poems & Songs (1968) I. 314 The Sheep-herd steeks his faulding slap.
folding-star n. a star rising at folding-time, an evening-star.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the universe > star > [noun] > specific time
night star1595
Hesper1623
folding-star1747
1747 W. Collins Odes 37 When thy folding Star arising shews His paly Circlet.
1822 P. B. Shelley Hellas 13 The Powers of earth and air Fled from the folding star of Bethlehem.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1897; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
foldingadj.
/ˈfəʊldɪŋ/ a. That folds; that is or can be folded.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > folding or folded condition > [adjective] > able to be
plicatile1655
folding1863
foldable1893
fold-up1894
1611 Bible (King James) 1 Kings vi. 34 The two leaues of the one doore were folding . View more context for this quotation
1701 N. Rowe Ambitious Step-mother iii. ii. 1178 The circle of my folding arms.
1863 T. Wright in Macmillan's Mag. Jan. 173 Written on folding sheets of vellum.
1871 R. Ellis tr. Catullus Poems lxiv. 307 Round them a folding robe their weak limbs aguish hiding.
b. folding money n. paper money. colloquial (chiefly U.S.).
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > money > medium of exchange or currency > paper money > [noun]
paper money1669
bank paper1696
paper1704
rag1797
scrieve1800
rag money1808
soft1809
soft currency1837
stamps1872
scratch1914
folding money1930
ready1937
1930– in H. Wentworth Amer. Dial. Dict. (1944) 225/1 Foldin' money, paper money, bills;—humorous. W.Va. & general.
1940 J. O'Hara Pal Joey 162 Any time the socialites go out they leave there [sic] folding money at home.
1968 L. Deighton Only when I Larf iv. 47 I'd walked straight out of the bank carrying a bag full of folding money.
1970 Daily Tel. 15 May (Colour Suppl.) 10/2 They used to ask me to prepare the cars and then work, say, in the pits at Le Mans. This gave me a bit of folding money.
Compounds
esp. in the names of various articles of furniture, appliances, etc. Often hyphenated. Also folding door n.
folding-bed n.
ΚΠ
1771 T. Smollett Humphry Clinker II. 100 When the folding bed is down, there is just room sufficient to pass between it and the fire.
folding-board n.
ΚΠ
1422–3 in R. E. G. Kirk Acct. Abingdon Abbey (1892) 98 In Aula: j tabula vocata voldyngbord.
folding-boat n.
ΚΠ
1874 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. I. 899/1 Folding-boat, one whose frame is collapsible for compact stowage.
folding-chair n.
ΚΠ
1677 tr. A.-N. Amelot de La Houssaie Hist. Govt. Venice 316 The Parasol, the Folding-Chair, the Cushions.
1884 F. M. Crawford Rom. Singer (ed. 2) I. 24 They bring strange little folding chairs.
folding-chase n.
ΚΠ
1875 J. Southward Dict. Typogr. (ed. 2) 38 Folding chases, two or more chases, constructed in such a manner that when laid together they form one large chase.
folding-joint n.
ΚΠ
1842 J. Gwilt Encycl. Archit. Gloss. 974 Folding Joint, a joint made like a rule-joint or the joint of a hinge.
folding-net n.
ΚΠ
1874 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. I. 900/2 Folding-net, a bird-net shutting upon its prey.
folding-screen n.
ΚΠ
1858 P. L. Simmonds Dict. Trade Products Folding-screen, an upright portable screen, in several leaves or parts, which shuts up.
folding-spoon n.
ΚΠ
1480 Will of John Don (P.R.O.: PROB. 11/7) f. 11v A folding spone of siluer.
folding-stool n.
ΚΠ
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 239 Ane uyealdinde stole.
?1706 E. Hickeringill Priest-craft: 2nd Pt. iii. 29 One of them,..flung a little folding Stool, whereon she sat, at the Dean's Head.
folding-table n.
ΚΠ
1502 in S. Tymms Wills & Inventories Bury St. Edmunds (1850) 93 The beste faldyng table.
1532 Inventory in J. Noake Monastery & Cathedral Worcester (1866) 157 A voldyng table with two leves.
Draft additions January 2018
folding fan n. a hand-held fan consisting of a semicircular decorated pleated mount or leaf, usually of paper, silk, or vellum, supported on a set of slender sticks held together at their base by a rivet which enables opening and closing; cf. rigid fan n. at rigid adj. and n. Compounds 2.
ΚΠ
1834 J. R. Planché Hist. Brit. Costume 262 The fan of ostrich or other feathers..lately brought again into fashion, though more as an ornament for a room than as a substitute for the folding fan of ivory.
1865 London Jrnl. 9 Sept. 172/3 The green shading fan..held its pride of place until the Revolution, when the folding fan came into vogue.
1901 Bull. Free Museum Sci. & Art (Univ. of Pennsylvania) Jan. 178 Folding fan, with Venice lace leaf and carved ivory sticks... Folding fan, with swanskin leaf with print of scenery and love verses; reverse, cypher with crown.
1960 H. Hayward Connoisseur's Handbk. Antique Collecting 94/1 Until the mid-1670's the mounts of folding fans were cut with open-work lace-like patterns copying the intricate designs of French and Flemish lace.
2014 M. E. Snodgrass World Clothing & Fashion (2015) 238/2 Gradually in the 1630s, the feminine feather fan shrank to one lone feather or a folding fan with ivory or tortoiseshell ribs.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1897; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
<
n.1c1400
n.2c1440
adj.1340