horning

See also: Horning

English

Etymology

From Middle English hornynge; equivalent to horn +‎ -ing.

Verb

horning

1. present participle and gerund of horn

Noun

horning (countable and uncountable, plural hornings)

1. The activity of blowing the horn of a train.
   • 2007 October 21, “A Great New Yark, if They Get It Done; Flying Everyone Home for the Holidays; Those L.I.R.R. Horns: We’ve Had Enough!; Exxon Mobil and Newtown Creek (4 Letters)”, in New York Times‎^[1]:

     As of this past summer, residents on the Woodside, Forest Hills and Kew Gardens line have been subjected to the same kind of horning, even though our line has no grade crossings and therefore Federal Railroad Administration horn-sounding regulations do not apply.

2. The appearance of the Moon when increasing, or in the form of a crescent.
   • 1646, John Gregory, Notes and Observations upon some Passages of Scripture:

     the Horning, which is the cauſe why they ſet up in their Steeples a Creſcent

3. (US, historical) A mock serenade with tin horns and other discordant instruments by way of showing public disapproval.
4. (law, Scotland) The issuing of letters of horning.

Derived terms

• letters of horning