pelting
English
Etymology 1
Verb
pelting
- present participle and gerund of pelt
Noun
pelting (plural peltings)
- The act by which somebody or something is pelted.
- 1830, Baptist Missionary Magazine, volume 10, page 88:
- […] the rain began to pour down in torrents, and we exposed our persons to the peltings of the shower rather than have our few books and remaining dry clothes injured.
Etymology 2
Related to paltry.
Adjective
pelting (comparative more pelting, superlative most pelting)
- (obsolete) mean; paltry
- c. 1602, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Troylus and Cressida”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene v]:
- I pray you, let us see you in the field;
We have had pelting wars since you refused
The Grecians' cause.
- c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Measure for Measure”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii], page 68, column 1:
- Could great men thunder
As Ioue himſelfe do's, Ioue vvould neuer be quiet
For euery pelting petty Officer
VVould vſe his heauen for thunder;
Nothing but thunder: […]