addling
noun
- The act to cause confusion
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˈæ.də.lɪŋ/ / /ˈæ.dlɪŋ/
noun
Etymology: Etymology tree English addle English -ing English addling From addle + -ing.
- The act of causing fertilised eggs to lose viability, by killing the developing embryo within through shaking, piercing, freezing or oiling, without breaking the shell or other outer layer.
“The familiar hatchery practice of agitating the eggs after they are eyed, called shocking or addling, ruptures the yolk membranes of the ever-tender sterile eggs. The result is a precipitation of the globulin and a whitening of the egg.”
“Egg addling was important in several species, but it was not recorded what proportion of the unhatched eggs were fertile. Compared with the amount of egg addling in some other birds, the amount among raptors is often high. In part this addling is linked with food conditions, as mentioned, and perhaps with the nutritional state of the female.”
verb
Etymology: Etymology tree English addle English -ing English addling From addle + -ing.
- present participle and gerund of addle.