arming

Verb

• Present participle of arm

Noun

• A piece of tallow or soap put in the cavity and over the bottom of a sounding lead to pick up samples of the bottom of the sea.
• The act of supplying with arms and ammunition in preparation of a conflict
• One of the red dress cloths formerly hung fore and aft outside of a ship's upper works on holidays, or used as a visual screen during times of action.