I. ri·ding ˈrīdiŋ, -dēŋ noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English riding, rithing, by simplification of -th th-, -t th- in (assumed) north thriding, east thriding, west thriding, from (assumed) Old English thriding, thrithing (whence Medieval Latin treding, trehinga ), from Old Norse thrithjungr third part, from thrithi third + -ungr -ing — more at third , -ing (one of a kind)
1. : one of the three administrative jurisdictions into which Yorkshire, England, was formerly divided
East Riding
West Riding
North Riding
2. : an administrative jurisdiction or electoral district in an English county other than Yorkshire or in one of the British dominions (as New Zealand or Canada)
II. rid·ing noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from gerund of riden to ride
1. : the action of one that rides : a trip or journey made by a rider on horseback or in a vehicle
2. chiefly Britain
a. : festival or pageant marked by a procession
b. : shivaree , skimmington
3. : an avenue or lane cut in a wood especially as a place for riding
4. : anchorage
5. : overlap 1 a
6. : the harassment of someone who has made himself unpopular, conspicuous, or offensive
the Old Man's favorite often takes a hard riding for this good reason — J.G.Cozzens
III. rid·ing adjective
1. : used for riding on
a riding horse
2.
a. : used for riding or when riding : devoted to riding
a riding whip
a riding academy
b. : worn when riding
3. : operated or driven by a rider
a riding plow
a riding cultivator
IV. rid·ing ˈrid ə n
variant of ridding