adj., n., & adv.
adj. 1 a moderately good (esp. fair to middling). b colloq. (of a person's health) fairly well. c second-rate. 2 (of goods) of the second of three grades.
n. (in pl.) middling goods, esp. flour of medium fineness.
adv. fairly or moderately (middling good). middlingly adv.
[ ME, of Sc. orig.: prob. f. MID(1) + -LING(2) ]