1570s, "thing which makes (something else) black;" c. 1600, "action of making black," verbal noun from black (v.).
Entries linking to blacking
black v.
c. 1200, intransitive, "become black;" early 14c., transitive, "make black, darken, put a black color on;" from black (adj.). Especially "clean and polish (boots, shoes, etc.) by blacking and brushing them" (1550s). Related: Blacked; blacking.