moppingn.1
/ˈmɒpɪŋ/, U.S. /ˈmɑpɪŋ/ rare.
The action or an act of grimacing; a grimace.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > external parts of body > head > face > face with expression or expression > [noun] > grimace or distortion > making
frowningc1400
mowing1440
frouncing1530
writhing1577
mopping1615
working1770
girning1900
1615 G. Sandys Relation of Journey 227 Administring matter of mirth with their ridiculous moppings.
1833 M. Scott Tom Cringle's Log I. xi. 347 He skipped up to us..with sundry moppings and mowings.
1881 R. L. Stevenson Virginibus Puerisque 110 Such a mopping and a mowing.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2002; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
moppingn.2
/ˈmɒpɪŋ/, U.S. /ˈmɑpɪŋ/ The action of wiping or rubbing with or as with a mop; an instance of this.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > wiping > [noun] > mopping or swabbing
mopping1834
swabbing1840
the world > matter > liquid > dryness > [noun] > making dry > wiping moisture from face or brow
mopping1834
1834 F. Marryat Peter Simple II. xii. 202 The heat was terrible, and the mopping of the ladies' faces everlasting.
1897 T. C. Allbutt et al. Syst. Med. IV. 830 A method which combines general chloroform narcosis with frequently-repeated local moppings of the pharynx and larynx of the patient.
1981 E. Jolley Newspaper Claremont St. i. 4 The boards on the floor of the shop were dark with repeated moppings.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2002; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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