from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Washing \Wash"ing\, n.
1. The act of one who washes; the act of cleansing with
water; ablution.
[1913 Webster]
2. The clothes washed, esp. at one time; a wash.
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3. (Mining) Gold dust procured by washing; also, a place
where this is done; a washery.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
4. A thin covering or coat; as, a washing of silver.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
5. (Stock Exchanges) The operation of simultaneously buying
and selling the same stock for the purpose of manipulating
the market. The transaction is fictitious, and is
prohibited by stock-exchange rules.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
6. (Pottery) The covering of a piece with an infusible
powder, which prevents it from sticking to its supports,
while receiving the glaze.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
{Washing bear} (Zool.), the raccoon.
{Washing bottle} (Chem.), a bottle fitted with glass tubes
passing through the cork, so that on blowing into one of
the tubes a stream of water issuing from the other may be
directed upon anything to be washed or rinsed, as a
precipitate upon a filter, etc.
{Washing fluid}, a liquid used as a cleanser, and consisting
usually of alkaline salts resembling soaps in their
action.
{Washing machine}, a machine for washing; specifically, a
machine for washing clothes.
{Washing soda}. (Chem.) See {Sodium carbonate}, under
{Sodium}.
{Washing stuff}, any earthy deposit containing gold enough to
pay for washing it; -- so called among gold miners.
[1913 Webster]