See Also: picking(medicine)
picking(1)(dictionary)
picking(2)(dictionary)
nit-picking(dictionary)
cotton-picking(dictionary)

picking(1) (iou)



picking noun1. . OE.
[from PICK verb1 + -ING1.]
a. A mark produced by piercing or pricking; a prick. Only in OE.
b. That which is or may be picked or picked up; an amount picked; in pl., remaining scraps, leftovers, gleanings. M17.
P. Auster Pickings for scavengers were slim in this neighbourhood. M. Spark Carrion crow descended on Martin for the last-minute pickings.
c. A gain, a profit, esp. one acquired fortuitously or without effort. Usu. in pl. M18.
Times The City is expecting rich pickings from the privatization of the..industry. M. Moorcock The foxes..had discovered the city to be congenial, with easy pickings.
The action of PICK verb1; an instance of this. ME.
H. Williamson Germans had been digging, when all sound of picking had stopped. B. Mason The nagging and picking went on in Bo's honey-smooth voice. J. Gardam There was a great blackberry picking going on.
spec. Theft; esp. petty theft, pilfering. LME.
Comb.: picking-belt a conveyor belt on which coal is picked or sorted.