bottomings

Noun

bottoming (plural bottomings)

1. The act of something that bottoms; the point at which something bottoms (in various senses).
   • In the course of this investigation, it was learned that the mean number of bottomings per second could be calculated theoretically […]1961, The Shock and Vibration Bulletin (issue 29, part 4, page 159)
2. A foundation (literal and figurative senses).
   • These and the like are the maine truths in your esteeme, which I conceive have no bottoming in the holy Scripture.1642, John Ball, An Answer to Two Treatises of Mr. John Can, page 44
3. Material used to line the bottom of something.
   • […] we were overtaken by a storm, and camped ten miles short of the ranch; we could afford to do this, as his wagon had a good tilt and a bottoming of straw.1885, W. Shepherd, Prairie Experiences in Handling Cattle and Sheep, page 85
4. A substance used to prepare a material for dyeing.
   • Sumach is generally used as a bottoming when the metallic base or mordant is iron or tin, and for dyeing deep colours, such as blacks, reds, &c.1875, James Napier, A Manual of Dyeing and Dyeing Receipts, page 220
5. Residue left at the bottom of something.
   • [His porridge] was, as usual, composed of the scraps and bottomings of bowls which had been left unfinished by the rest of the household.1899, S. R. Crockett, Kit Kennedy: Country Boy, page 218
6. (historical) The contouring of the wooden seat of a chair.
   • A critical feature seems to be the subtle contouring of the seat known as its ‘bottoming’. This was hand carved […]1986, Stephen Pheasant and Christine M. Haslegrave, Bodyspace: Anthropometry, Ergonomics, and the Design of Work, page 80

See all 7 meanings of bottoming