drilling

SayDRIL-ing/ˈdɹɪlɪŋ/

Noun pluraldrillings (some meanings)

4 meanings of drilling

1
verb
Present participle and gerund of drill. Use this form for action happening now or as the name of the activity.
The workers are drilling a new well near the farm.
Drilling through thick steel takes the right bit.
Note
2
noununcountable
The work of making holes in something with a drill or similar tool.
The drilling went on for hours and shook the whole house.
Careful drilling kept the wall from cracking.
Similarboring
3
nouncountable or uncountable
A strong, thick cloth made from cotton or linen, woven in a slanted pattern.
Like the strong cloth that jeans are made from.
Her work pants were made of tough drilling that lasted for years.
The tent was sewn from heavy drilling to keep out the rain.
4
nouncountable
A long gun that has three barrels, usually mixing shotgun and rifle barrels.
Like three guns joined into one.
The hunter carried a drilling that could fire both shot and bullets.
His grandfather's drilling hung above the fireplace.
Note

drilling is a form of drill

drill, verb: To make a hole in something by cutting into it with a spinning tool. Full entry

Forms: drilldrills he/she/itdrilling -ing formdrilled past tense, past participle
Spelling: drill → drilling: add -ing

Practice

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Origins

Meanings 1–2

It comes from the word "drill" plus "-ing."

Meaning 4

It comes from the German word "Drilling," meaning a gun with three barrels, or a triplet.