FromMiddle Englishrotynge(“rotting”), fromOld Englishrotung; equivalent torot +-ing. Conflated withMiddle Englishrotende, present participle ofroten(“to rot”), fromOld Englishrotiende, present participle ofrotian(“to rot”).
rotting
- presentparticiple andgerund ofrot
rotting (pluralrottings)
- The process by which something rots.
1686,Robert Plot,The Natural History of Staffordshire, page214:[…] the mould on the boles of the other [trees], that lyes commonly there, and is made of the annualrottings of their own leaves.
- Material that has rotted.
c.2009,Janice N. Harrington,Possum:From the compost rinds androttings, from the garbage peels, from the shadows' darkness, darkness, this guttered meal and all its redolence.
FromDutchrotting,rotan, fromMalayrotang.
rotting c
- any of several species of climbingpalm of the genusCalamus;rattan
- (uncountable) the plant used as amaterial for makingfurniture,baskets etc.;rattan
- (by extension) acane made from this material;rattan
