bearing cloth, bearing cloath

The cloth or mantle with which a child is usually covered when carried to the church to be baptized, or shown to the godfather and godmother by the nurse. "Here's a sight for thee; look thee, a bearing-cloth for a squire's child! look thee here, tal take up, take up, boy; eyen 't."-Shakesp.: Winter's Tale, iii. a. IMG:content-1167.png:[blocks in formation] Arch.: A wall supporting a beam somewhere between the ends, and thus rendering it much more secure than it would otherwise be. [BEARER, B. 2.] beär-ing (2), pr. par., a., & 8. [BEAR (2), v.] A. & B. As present participle & participial adjective: In a sense corresponding to that of the verb. C. As substantive. On the Stock Exchange: A cant term for the practice of depreciating the value of certain stocks for one's own pecuniary advantage. "The stoppage of the system of 'bulling' and ' bear ing ' on on the Stock Exchange would be of immense benefit to the community."- Times , July 14, 1874.