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Webster 1913 Edition

Noun.

The time of retiring to rest; time of repose.

Cavendish.

At the downlying

at the travail in childbirth.

[Scot.]

Noun.

The time of retiring to rest; time of repose.

Adj.

About to be in travel of childbirth.

downlying ‎(plural downlyings)

The time of retiring to rest.
(Can we find and add a quotation of Cavendish to this entry?)
(Scotland) The travail in childbirth.