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Offing

//ˈɒfɪŋ// noun, verb

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    The area of the sea in which a ship can be seen in the distance from land, excluding the parts nearest the shore, and beyond the anchoring ground.

    "to see (a ship) in the offing"

  2. 2
    the part of the sea that can be seen from the shore and is beyond the anchoring area wordnet
  3. 3
    The distance that a ship at sea keeps away from land, often because of navigational dangers, fog and other hazards; a position at a distance from shore.

    "[…] till I ſaw the Land tun out a great Length into the Sea, at about the Diſtance of four or five Leagues before me, and the Sea being very calm I kept a large, offing to make this Point; […]"

  4. 4
    the near or foreseeable future wordnet
  5. 5
    The foreseeable future. Chiefly in the phrase in the offing. figuratively
Verb
  1. 1
    present participle and gerund of off form-of, gerund, participle, present

Etymology

Etymology 1

From off + -ing. Attested since before 1600. Early texts also spell the term offin and offen.

Etymology 2

From off + -ing. Attested since before 1600. Early texts also spell the term offin and offen.

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