PACKINGS

Noun

packings

plural of packing

Source: Wiktionary

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PACKING

Pack"ing, n.

1. The act or process of one who packs.

2. Any material used to pack, fill up, or make close. Specifically (Mach.):

Definition: A substance or piece used to make a joint impervious; as: (a) A thin layer, or sheet, of yielding or elastic material inserted between the surfaces of a flange joint. (b) The substance in a stuffing box, through which a piston rod slides. (c) A yielding ring, as of metal, which surrounds a piston and maintains a tight fit, as inside a cylinder, etc.

3. (Masonry)

Definition: Same as Filling. [Rare in the U. S.]

4. A trick; collusion. [Obs.] Bale. Cherd packing (Bridge Building), the arrangement, side by side, of several parts, as bars, diagonals, a post, etc., on a pin at the bottom of a chord. Waddell.

– Packing box, a stuffing box. See under Stuffing.

– Packing press, a powerful press for baling cotton, wool, hay, etc.

– Packing ring. See Packing, 2 (c), and Illust. of Piston.

– Packing sheet. (a) A large cloth for packing goods. (b) A sheet prepared for packing hydropathic patients.

PACK

Pack, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Packed; p. pr. & vb. n. Packing.] Etym: [Akin to D. pakken, G. packen, Dan. pakke, Sw. packa, Icel. pakka. See Pack, n.]

1. To make a pack of; to arrange closely and securely in a pack; hence, to place and arrange compactly as in a pack; to press into close order or narrow compass; as to pack goods in a box; to pack fish. Strange materials packed up with wonderful art. Addison. Where . . . the bones Of all my buried ancestors are packed. Shak.

2. To fill in the manner of a pack, that is, compactly and securely, as for transportation; hence, to fill closely or to repletion; to stow away within; to cause to be full; to crowd into; as, to pack a trunk; the play, or the audience, packs the theater.

3. To sort and arrange (the cards) in a pack so as to secure the game unfairly. And mighty dukes pack cards for half a crown. Pope.

4. Hence: To bring together or make up unfairly and fraudulently, in order to secure a certain result; as, to pack a jury or a causes. The expected council was dwindling into . . . a packed assembly of Italian bishops. Atterbury.

5. To contrive unfairly or fraudulently; to plot. [Obs.] He lost life . . . upon a nice point subtilely devised and packed by his enemies. Fuller.

6. To load with a pack; hence, to load; to encumber; as, to pack a horse. Our thighs packed with wax, our mouths with honey. Shack.

7. To cause to go; to send away with baggage or belongings; esp., to send away peremptorily or suddenly; -- sometimes with off; as, to pack a boy off to school. He . . . must not die Till George be packed with post horse up to heaven. Shak.

8. To transport in a pack, or in the manner of a pack (i. e., on the backs of men or beasts). [Western U.S.]

9. (Hydropathy)

Definition: To envelop in a wet or dry sheet, within numerous coverings. See Pack, n., 5.

10. (Mech.)

Definition: To render impervious, as by filling or surrounding with suitable material, or to fit or adjust so as to move without giving passage to air, water, or steam; as, to pack a joint; to pack the piston of a steam engine.

Pack, v. i.

1. To make up packs, bales, or bundles; to stow articles securely for transportation.

2. To admit of stowage, or of making up for transportation or storage; to become compressed or to settle together, so as to form a compact mass; as, the goods pack conveniently; wet snow packs well.

3. To gather in flocks or schools; as, the grouse or the perch begin to pack. [Eng.]

4. To depart in haste; -- generally with off or away. Poor Stella must pack off to town Swift. You shall pack, And never more darken my doors again. Tennyson.

5. To unite in bad measures; to confederate for ill purposes; to join in collusion. [Obs.] "Go pack with him." Shak. To send packing, to drive away; to send off roughly or in disgrace; to dismiss unceremoniously. "The parliament . . . presently sent him packing. South.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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