maying

From May +‎ -ing, or may (“celebrate May Day festivities”) +‎ -ing.

• (UK, General American) IPA^(key): /ˈmeɪ.ɪŋ/

maying (countable and uncountable, plural mayings)

1. (chiefly historical) The celebrations traditionally held to celebrate May Day.
   • 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, “j”, in Le Morte Darthur, book XIX (in Middle English):

     SOo it befelle in the moneth of May / quene Gueneuer called vnto her knyȝtes of the table round / and she gafe them warnynge that erly vpon the morowe she wold ryde on mayeng in to woodes & feldes besyde westmynstre / & I warne yow that there be none of yow but that he be wel horsed / and that ye alle be clothed on grene outher in sylke outher in clothe

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

   • 1598, John Stow, A Survey of London:

     […] sometimes two or three parishes joining together, had their several mayings; and did fetch in maypoles […].

maying

1. present participle and gerund of may

• ayming