1. a rope or line used to fasten a sail to a yard or spar on a ship
Usage: nautical; also called earring in some contexts
2. the act or process of plowing or tilling the earth
Usage: archaic; agricultural

Examples

• The sailor secured the sail with an earing to keep it in place during the storm.
• The earing was tied tightly around the yard to prevent the canvas from flapping.
• In medieval times, earing was essential preparation for planting crops.
• The farmer began the spring earing to ready the fields for sowing.