picking noun¹. ['pɪkɪŋ] Also (now dial.) piking ['pʌɪkɪŋ]. OE.
[from PICK verb¹ + -ING¹.]
1. a. A mark produced by piercing or pricking; a prick. Only in OE.
b. That which is or may be picked or picked up; an amount picked; in pl., remaining scraps, leftovers, gleanings. M17.
■ P. Auster Pickings for scavengers were slim in this neighbourhood.
■ M. Spark Carrion crow descended on Martin for the last-minute pickings.
c. A gain, a profit, esp. one acquired fortuitously or without effort. Usu. in pl. M18.
Times The City is expecting rich pickings from the privatization of the..industry.
■ M. Moorcock The foxes..had discovered the city to be congenial, with easy pickings.

2. The action of PICK verb¹; an instance of this. ME.
■ H. Williamson Germans had been digging, when all sound of picking had stopped.
■ B. Mason The nagging and picking went on in Bo's honey-smooth voice.
■ J. Gardam There was a great blackberry picking going on.

3. spec. Theft; esp. petty theft, pilfering. LME.

Comb.:
picking-belt a conveyor belt on which coal is picked or sorted.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲

picking verbal noun². ['pɪkɪŋ] E19.
[from PICK verb² + -ING¹.]
The action of PICK verb².

Comb.:
picking-fork a pitchfork; picking-hole north. a window or door in a barn through which bales are thrown; picking peg = PICKER noun².

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲