washing

n. 1. The act of one who washes; the act of cleansing with water; ablution. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The clothes washed, esp. at one time; a wash. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Mining) Gold dust procured by washing; also, a place where this is done; a washery. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

4. A thin covering or coat; as, a washing of silver. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

5. (Stock Exchanges) The operation of simultaneously buying and selling the same stock for the purpose of manipulating the market. The transaction is fictitious, and is prohibited by stock-exchange rules. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

6. (Pottery) The covering of a piece with an infusible powder, which prevents it from sticking to its supports, while receiving the glaze. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

Washing bear (Zool.), the raccoon. --
Washing bottle (Chem.), a bottle fitted with glass tubes passing through the cork, so that on blowing into one of the tubes a stream of water issuing from the other may be directed upon anything to be washed or rinsed, as a precipitate upon a filter, etc. --
Washing fluid, a liquid used as a cleanser, and consisting usually of alkaline salts resembling soaps in their action. --
Washing machine, a machine for washing; specifically, a machine for washing clothes. --
Washing soda. (Chem.) See Sodium carbonate, under Sodium. --
Washing stuff, any earthy deposit containing gold enough to pay for washing it; -- so called among gold miners. [ 1913 Webster ]