1. [n]  the work of cleansing (usually with soap and water)
2. [n]  garments or white goods that can be cleaned by laundering

1. \Wash"ing\, n.
   1. (Mining) Gold dust procured by washing; also, a place
      where this is done; a washery.
   2. A thin covering or coat; as, a washing of silver.
   3. (Stock Exchanges) The operation of simultaneously buying
      and selling the same stock for the purpose of manipulating
      the market. The transaction is fictitious, and is
      prohibited by stock-exchange rules.
   4. (Pottery) The covering of a piece with an infusible
      powder, which prevents it from sticking to its supports,
      while receiving the glaze.
   

2. \Wash"ing\, n.
   1. The act of one who washes; the act of cleansing with
      water; ablution.
   2. The clothes washed, esp. at one time; a wash.
   {Washing bear} (Zo["o]l.), the raccoon.
   {Washing bottle} (Chem.), a bottle fitted with glass tubes
      passing through the cork, so that on blowing into one of
      the tubes a stream of water issuing from the other may be
      directed upon anything to be washed or rinsed, as a
      precipitate upon a filter, etc.
   {Washing fluid}, a liquid used as a cleanser, and consisting
      usually of alkaline salts resembling soaps in their
      action.
   {Washing machine}, a machine for washing; specifically, a
      machine for washing clothes.
   {Washing soda}. (Chem.) See {Sodium carbonate}, under
      {Sodium}.
   {Washing stuff}, any earthy deposit containing gold enough to
      pay for washing it; -- so called among gold miners.
   

(Mark 7:1-9). The Jews, like other Orientals, used their fingers when taking food, and therefore washed their hands before doing so, for the sake of cleanliness. Here the reference is to the ablutions prescribed by tradition, according to which "the disciples ought to have gone down to the side of the lake, washed their hands thoroughly, 'rubbing the fist of one hand in the hollow of the other, then placed the ten finger-tips together, holding the hands up, so that any surplus water might flow down to the elbow, and thence to the ground.'" To neglect to do this had come to be regarded as a great sin, a sin equal to the breach of any of the ten commandments. Moses had commanded washings oft, but always for some definite cause; but the Jews multiplied the legal observance till they formed a large body of precepts. To such precepts about ceremonial washing Mark here refers. (See ABLUTION.)