killingn.
/ˈkɪlɪŋ/, U.S. /ˈkɪlɪŋ/ 1.
a. The action of kill v., in various senses.
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the world > life > death > killing > [noun]
mortifyingc1384
perishingc1384
slayinga1400
interfectionc1450
dispatchment1529
killingc1540
dispatch1576
unliving1599
martyring1607
taking offa1616
enecation1657
exanimation1670
(to get) the chop or chopper1945
wipeout1968
hit1970
c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 6635 Þere was kyllyng of knyghtis, crusshyng of helmys.
1600 W. Shakespeare Midsummer Night's Dream iii. i. 13 I beleeue, we must leaue the killing, out, when all is done. View more context for this quotation
1607 S. Hieron Three Serm. iii. 65 All delaies are euen a very killing to the soule.
1740 H. Bracken Farriery Improv'd (ed. 2) II. vi. 247 It is a very odd..Notion, which the Vulgar entertain, with relation to (what they call) killing of Quicksilver.
1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson (ed. 2) iii. iii. 436 A party was constantly ordered for the killing and preparing of [1748 (ed. 1): to kill and prepare] provisions.
1890 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Colonial Reformer (1891) 306 Killing is not the fashion much in this country.
b. The act of killing game; a number of animals killed by sportsmen. = Kill n.1 2 and 3.
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1896 Harper's Mag. Apr. 721/1 When we camped by a good killing of musk-ox.
1931 Amer. Speech Oct. 5 Sometimes the hunter found that he could make his best ‘killings’ at the ‘salt licks’ or ‘salt flats’ frequented by the buffalos.
c. The prevention of the evolution of gas in the steel during its manufacture.
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1887 J. A. Phillips & H. Bauerman Elem. Metall. 330 When the charge has become completely fused..it is left at rest for a period which varies with the carbon temper of the metal. This operation, known as killing, is of the utmost importance for the production of sound ingots.
d. Bridge. The severe defeat of a contract.
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1929 M. C. Work Compl. Contract Bridge viii Every ‘killing’ accomplished by a slam venture has been offset by losses many times as great.
2. A large profit; a quick and profitable success in business, etc. slang (originally U.S.).
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society > trade and finance > management of money > income, revenue, or profit > profit > [noun] > exceptionally large profit or gain
clean-up1878
killing1888
mopping-up1909
1888 Texas Siftings 24 Mar. 13/2 Fred Jarvis..getting $15,000 in The Louisiana State Lottery drawing... Many..would like to know something relative to the man who was fortunate enough to ‘make a killing’.
1912 T. Dreiser Financier xxx. 340 Railroad securities..were considered weak under the present circumstances, and a great killing was expected.
1938 ‘N. Shute’ Ruined City i. 11 I'm a banker, of course. I don't take tips, and I don't make any great killings, but in my quiet way I get along all right.
1959 F. Hobson Death on Back-bench x. 136 Instead of making a financial killing which would have made him far wealthier and more powerful than ever before, he was going to be worse off than he had ever been.
1967 M. McCarthy in Observer 30 Apr. 12 Their personal..aim..was to make a killing..in Vietnamese real estate.
1972 P. G. Wodehouse Pearls, Girls, & Monty Bodkin iv. 52 If Soapy Molloy made a killing nobody could be more eager to celebrate than Dolly.
1972 Times Lit. Suppl. 12 May 544/2 Authors hold on in the hope of making a killing on film rights.
Compounds
C1. General attributive.
killing-clothes n.
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the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > [noun] > for specific purpose > protective
powdering things1786
killing-clothes1828
1828 D. M. Moir Life Mansie Wauch v. 40 Out flew the flesher in his killing-claiths.
1855 W. Whitman Leaves of Grass 20 The butcher-boy puts off his killing-clothes.
killing-floor n.
killing-ground n.
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1896 R. Kipling Seven Seas 70 He'll lie down on the killing-grounds.
killing-house n.
killing-place n.
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1908 Westm. Gaz. 3 Oct. 12/1 In a paddock of nearly thirty thousand acres..it was practically impossible to chance upon this killing-place.
killing-room n.
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1906 Westm. Gaz. 1 June 9/2 The most rigid inspection of the meat after it gets into the killing-room.
killing-tackle n.
killing-yard n.
C2.
killing bottle n. a bottle containing a poison for killing captured insects, etc.
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1877 Encycl. Brit. VI. 134/2 Beetles when caught may..be dropped..into what is known as the ‘killing bottle’, the bottom of which contains cyanide of potassium covered over with a layer of gypsum.
1960 B. K. Wilson Lovely Summer ii. 21 He could not understand how his mild-mannered father could trap the butterflies in his killing-bottle with such enthusiasm.
1974 Guardian 20 Sept. 17/8 Insects hitting a panel dangling below the tent will fly up into the dome, where they will be anaesthetised by fumes being given off by a killing bottle.
killing-circle n. the area within which, at a certain range, the charge of shot from a gun is sufficiently compact to kill the game; cf. pattern n. 10a.
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the world > food and drink > hunting > shooting > [noun] > fatal area of shot
killing-circle1886
1886 Ld. Walsingham & R. Payne-Gallwey Shooting (Badminton Libr. of Sports & Pastimes) I. vi. 94 The charge of a 20-bore is smaller, lighter, and has a less killing circle than has a 12-bore.
1892 W. W. Greener Breech-loader 148 For ordinary sporting purposes a gun which shall give its largest killing circle at 30 yards with the first barrel, and at 40 with the second, will be found the most convenient of good shots.
killing-sheep n. a sheep intended or fit to be killed for food.
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the world > food and drink > food > animals for food > mutton > [noun] > sheep killed for food
killing-sheep1578
ration sheep1872
freezer1889
1578 in W. H. Stevenson Rec. Borough Nottingham (1899) IV. 180 No butcher shall put into ye medowes aboue fiue score killinge shepe.
killing-time n. (a) the time at which an animal is (fit to be) killed; (b) in Scottish History, part of the year 1685, during which many covenanters were put to death (by later writers extended to 1683–85, or even the whole period 1679–88).
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society > faith > worship > vow > covenant > [noun] > Scottish Presbyterian > one adhering to > period of killing of
killing-time1687
1687 A. Shields Hind let Loose 200 In the beginning of this killing-time, as the Country calls it, the first author and authorizer of all these mischiefs, Charles II, was removed by death.
1732 P. Walker Life Cargill 90 He was taken in November 1684, the two slaughter years of Killing-Time being begun in the 15th day of August before.
1818 W. Scott Heart of Mid-Lothian vi, in Tales of my Landlord 2nd Ser. II. 164 It was in killing time, when the plowers were drawing alang their furrows on the back of the Kirk of Scotland.
1842 J. Aiton Domest. Econ. (1857) 236 The pig..will be about a year old at killing time.
killing-value n. the value of stock when killed for food.
Draft additions 1997
killing zone n. (a) chiefly Military (originally U.S.), a sector of a military engagement with a high concentration of fatalities; an area bombarded with heavy artillery fire, etc.; also transferred and figurative; (b) originally U.S., an area of the human body where entry of a projectile would cause fatal injury, esp. as indicated on a practice target.
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the world > life > the body > part of body > [noun] > area where entry of projectile would be fatal
killing zone1970
kill zone1981
society > armed hostility > armed encounter > battlefield > [noun] > front or front line > area with high concentration of fatalities
killing zone1970
killing field1980
kill zone1981
1970 W. C. Woods (title) The killing zone.
1974 W. Garner Big enough Wreath i. 7 ‘Five in K5 again...’ K5 was the killing zone. The marksman laid the cards alongside the rest.
1981 Time 9 Nov. 116/2 Harrison scores well on the firing range: his humor usually strikes in the killing zone.
1985 Washington Post 10 Aug. d3/2 In describing a U.S. rocket and bomb attack on the North Vietnamese base camp or rangers caught in the killing zone of a flawlessly executed NVA ambush, Scott puts the reader in the middle of the violence and confusion, the pain, the horror.
1990 Match Fishing Feb.–Mar. 14/2 The bait will get down to the ‘killing zone’ within two to three seconds.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1901; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
killingadj.
/ˈkɪlɪŋ/, U.S. /ˈkɪlɪŋ/ 1.
a. That kills or deprives of life. literal and figurative.
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the world > life > death > killing > [adjective]
fatalc1386
slaying1398
killing1435
dispatchinga1564
exanimating1607
dispatchful1608
feral1621
murdering1790
martyring1830
R. Misyn tr. R. Rolle Fire of Love 89 Bittyr hony & kyllande fruyte.
1610 Bible (Douay) II. Jer. xxii. 7 I wil sanctifie upon thee a killing man and his weapons.
1623 W. Shakespeare & J. Fletcher Henry VIII iii. ii. 356 The third day, comes a Frost; a killing Frost. View more context for this quotation
1646 P. Bulkley Gospel-covenant i. 95 These are the killing and destroying sinnes, that leave no remedy.
1703 J. Kelsey Serm. 130 The killing Interpretations of Pharisaical Pride.
1822 P. B. Shelley Hellas 14 Apollo, Pan, and Love..Grew weak, for killing Truth had glared on them.
b. Of bait, etc.: Deadly; sure to kill.
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the world > food and drink > hunting > fishing > fishing-tackle > means of attracting fish > [adjective] > baited > type of bait
killing1681
skittereda1888
1681 J. Chetham Angler's Vade Mecum iv. 45 As killing a bait as any whatever.
1867 F. Francis Bk. Angling i. 33 Fishing with the young frog is a very killing method of fishing for chub.
2. In hyperbolic use: Able to kill.† b. Of a proof or argument: That ‘settles’ an opponent; overpowering, fatal. Obsolete.
a. Crushing, oppressive; fatal.
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the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > [adjective] > crushing or suppressing
overwhelming1567
killing1615
spiflicating1852
steamroller1896
1615 G. Sandys Relation of Journey 194 Where they say that the blessed Virgine..fell into a trance at the sight of that killing spectacle.
a1711 T. Ken Serm. preached at Whitehall in Prose Wks. (1838) 184 It was a killing consideration, to lie buried in such a sorrow.
1790 E. Burke Refl. Revol. in France 152 The killing languor..of those who have nothing to do. View more context for this quotation
1841 G. Catlin Lett. N. Amer. Indians II. xxxvii. 37 Unshackled by the killing restraints of society.
1847 W. M. Thackeray Vanity Fair (1848) xxix. 249 The General went on with killing haughtiness.
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the mind > attention and judgement > testing > debate, disputation, argument > putting forward for discussion > [adjective] > conclusive
killing1654
1654 J. Bramhall Just Vindic. Church of Eng. ix. 249 To this supposed killing argument I give three clear solutions.
1673 B. Makin Ess. to revive Antient Educ. Gentlewomen 32 This is the killing Objection.
1676 A. Marvell Mr. Smirke sig. E3v Away he goes with it..and knocks all on the head with a killing Instance.
c. Overpoweringly beautiful or attractive.
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the mind > attention and judgement > beauty > [adjective]
smickerc725
faireOE
lieflyOE
sheenOE
wenlichc1000
wlitic1000
lovesomec1175
lustya1240
flourisheda1375
lovelya1400
weenc1400
beauteous1435
beautifulc1443
finec1450
pulchriousa1500
speciousa1513
shanda1525
speciosea1525
pulchrousc1540
bonny1580
beauty1598
lovelike1621
killing1634
florid1642
beautied1830
stunning1849
fairsome1862
pulchritudinous1877
beaut1894
loverly1907
1634 T. Herbert Relation Some Yeares Trauaile To Earle of Pembroke sig. A2v Those who are suddenly taken with a killing beautie.
1676 W. Wycherley Plain-dealer ii, in Dramatic Wks. (1840) 115/2 With you ladies too, martial men must needs be very killing.
1768 A. Tucker Light of Nature Pursued I. i. 84 The maid..tiffing out her mistress in a killing attire.
1841 C. Dickens Barnaby Rudge xx. 46 Curling her hair on her fingers..and giving it some killing twists.
d. Physically overpowering; exhausting.
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the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > weariness or exhaustion > [adjective] > causing weariness or exhaustion
wearyc1315
soakingc1440
tired1548
moilingc1566
wearisome1593
tiring1594
overtiring1598
tiresome1598
defatigating1634
defatigable1654
fatigable1656
fatiguing1708
fatiguesomea1734
jading1766
fagging1787
wearying1798
exhausting18..
taversome1808
harassing1833
killing1850
trashing1861
trachling1902
1850 T. A. Trollope Impress. Wanderer xxv. 383 The last three hours of our journey were the most killing part of the day's work.
1855 W. H. Russell War xxvii. 17 The pace at which they went was really ‘killing’.
e. ‘Excruciatingly’ funny; that makes one ‘die’ with laughing. colloquial.
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the mind > emotion > pleasure > laughter > causing laughter > [adjective] > comical > intensely
delicious1642
rich1675
killing1844
hysterically funny1889
hilarious1925
laugh-out-loud1970
1844 ‘J. Slick’ High Life N.Y. I. xvi. 255 Then the tall man in whiskers would begin to look as if he raly had been a killing critter with the women folk.
1874 L. Troubridge Life amongst Troubridges (1966) 83 She was in her dressing-gown and looked too killing, exactly like those fat chinamen flying kites on Amy's Japanese screen.
1889 ‘M. Twain’ Connecticut Yankee ix. 112 A lecturer..flooded an ignorant audience with the killingest jokes for an hour.
1923 W. S. Maugham Our Betters iii. 170 Don't you remember that killing story about your father's death. You dined out a whole season on it.
1960 M. Spark Bachelors iii. 47 ‘That's exactly what I expected you to say,’ Marlene said. ‘I think you're killing.’
3. As adv. = killingly adv.
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the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > [adverb] > extremely or exceedingly > excessively
cruellyc1385
overa1400
fullc1400
parlouslyc1425
mortalc1440
perilousc1440
spitefulc1450
devilish1560
pestilently1567
spitefully1567
cruel1573
parlous1575
deadly1589
intolerable?1593
fellc1600
perditlya1632
excessively1634
devilishly1635
desperate1636
woundya1639
woundlya1644
desperately1653
wicked1663
killing1672
woundily1706
wounded1753
mortally1759
dreadful1762
intolerably1768
perishing1776
tremendously1776
terrifically1777
diabolically1792
woundedly1794
thundering1809
all-firedly1833
preponderously1835
painfully1839
deadlilya1843
severely1854
furiously1856
diabolish1858
fiendish1861
demonish1867
sinfully1869
fiendishly1879
thunderingly1885
only too1889
nightmarishly1891
God almighty1906
Christ almighty1945
1672 J. Dryden Conquest Granada ii. ii. iii. 98 Having seen you once so killing fair, A second sight were but to move despair.
1883 R. L. Stevenson Silverado Squatters 4 The ocean breeze blew killing chill.
Derivatives
ˈkillingly adv. in a killing manner.
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the world > life > death > killing > [adverb]
killingly1641
slaughteringly1836
1593 T. Nashe Christs Teares f. 66 Sight-killingly with his clusterd browes.]
1641 J. Milton Animadversions Pref. 2 Nothing could be more killingly spoken.
1642 J. Eaton Honey-combe Free Justific. 124 We must all preach it [the Law]..as killingly as we can.
1730 G. Lillo George Barnwell i. ii Mill. How do I look to-day, Lucy? Lucy. Oh, killingly, madam! A little more red, and you'll be irresistible.
1845 P. J. Bailey Festus (ed. 2) 226 There are three things I love half killingly.
ˈkillingness n.
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1840 R. Bremner Excursions Denmark I. 314 A large bunch of flowers in the hand, or on the breast, which most of the young fellows displayed with conscious killingness.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1901; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.c1540
adj.1435