figging

English

Etymology 1

Generally thought to derive from feaguing.

Noun

figging (uncountable)

1. The insertion of ginger root into the anus, vagina or urethra, originally applied to slaves and prisoners as a punishment, then to horses as a form of deception as to the horse's condition, and later used in BDSM.

Related terms

• fig (verb)

Etymology 2

Noun

figging (uncountable)

1. (soap-making, dated) (Development of) white streaks or granulations in soap, a natural development in some soaps once considered a sign of quality and therefore sometimes artificially imitated. [mid-1800s to mid-1900s]
   • 1897, The National Provisioner, page 27:

     Figging is usually considered to indicate a good quality of soft soap, but such is really not the case. A first-class soft soap can be made which will not fig, while, on the other hand, a poor soap can be produced which will fig.

   • 1918, The Journal of the American Leather Chemists Association:

     The figging is probably due to the separation of the potash salts of some of the fatty acids having a high solidifying point, i. e., [...]

   • 1949, Soap, Cosmetics, Chemical Specialties, volume 25, page 42:

     Artificial figging was at one time produced by dispersing insoluble fillers in the base.

See also

• ricing

Verb

figging

1. present participle of fig