sponging

The act denoted by the verb ‘sponge.’

In curing yellow tobacco, a staining of the face side of the leaf of a dull Spanish brown, due to insufficient heat in the process of fixing the color.

a. & n. from sponge, v.

a bailiff’s or other house in which debtors are put before being taken to jail, or until they compromise with their creditors. At these houses extortionate charges are commonly made for food, lodging, etc.

Present participle of sponge.