fibbing

fibbing

1. present participle of fib

fibbing (plural fibbings)

1. (informal) The telling of a lie.
   • 1893, Methodist Review (volume 75, page 957)

     Of the fibbings, conventional falsehoods, and white lies disfiguring and vitiating social intercourse and common commercial transactions, it is enough to say that they are in jarring discord with […]

2. (archaic, boxing) Repeatedly striking an opponent's head while holding them in a headlock; a pummelling; a drubbing; a beating.
   • 1837, Barham, Richard Harris, The Ghost:

     And so did Nick, whom sometimes there would come on / A sort of fear his spouse might knock his head off, / Demolish half his teeth, or drive a rib in, / She shone so much in 'facers' and in 'fibbing.'

   • 1852, Thackeray, William Makepeace, “The Fight at Slaughter House”, in Men's Wives, page 17:

     15th round. Chancery. Fibbing. Biggs makes dreadful work with his left. Break away. Rally. Biggs down. Betting still six to four on the gown-boy.