airing

noun

1. (uncountable)Exposure of something to the air, especially fresh or warm air for the purpose of ventilating or drying; (countable) an instance of this.

   “Hee'll ſend ſuch vvord, for ayring o' the houſe / As you ſhall haue ſufficient time, to quit it.”

   “Ventilation. […] [A] vvinnovving, or airing in the vvind; […]”

   “[I]n Bodies that need Detention of Spirits, the Excluſion of the Aire doth good; As in Drinkes, and Corne: But in Bodies that need Emiſsion of Spirits, to diſcharge ſome of the Superfluous Moiſture, it doth hurt, for they require Airing.”

2. (countable)Exposure of something to the air, especially fresh or warm air for the purpose of ventilating or drying; (countable) an instance of this.

   “[R]yde out your Horſe euery night, two howers after Sunne ſette, ⁊ abide abroade with him three howres at the leaſt, not exceeding foote-pace, which we call night ayrings.”

   “Touching ayring or vvalking of grey-hounds, vvhich is a great nouriſher and increaſer of vvinde, it muſt devvlie be done euerie morning before ſunne-riſe, and euery euening before ſunne ſet in […]”

   “[T]he favourite dog was put under her superintendence; and she was instructed to take charge of the airings and exercise of Bijou; and to carry him where the road was rough or miry, that he might not soil those paws, which had the exclusive privilege of touching the lady of the mansion; and even of pulling, patting, and scratching her robes and attire for his recreation.”

3. (countable, dated)Exposure of something to the air, especially fresh or warm air for the purpose of ventilating or drying; (countable) an instance of this.

   “According to this my vvarrant heere, I muſt this morning fetch my priſoner to ayring, hee had need bee hung out, leaſt his fleſh ſhould mould, for I am ſure, his clothes are muſtie already; […]”

   “Hovv do you like / Your ayring? is it not a fauour?”

   “Their Fleet, […] is novv reduc'd to Six Gallies. […] This little Fleet ſerves only to fetch 'em VVine and Corn, and to give their Ladies an Airing in the Summer ſeaſon.”

   “[…] I hope you have had a pleasant airing?”

   “Kitty, run down and order the carriage. An airing would do me a great deal of good, I am sure.”

4. (countable, figuratively)An act of broadcasting a radio or television show; a broadcasting.

   “Seldom was he [Sanford Clark] seen, and almost never were his recordings given mass airings.”

5. (figuratively, uncountable)Public disclosure or discussion of a subject, or expression of an opinion; (countable) an instance of this.

   “airing of grievances”

   “I really felt that I was justified in giving my irritability an airing by curious allusions to Janet; yet, though I made him wince, it was impossible to touch his conscience.”

   “One controversy which has not had an airing in discussion of the new Transport Bill is that centring on the status of the Pullman Car Co.”

verb

1. (form-of, gerund, participle, present)present participle and gerund of air.