diggings

n. a place where gold-mining iscarried on. The word is generally regarded as singular.Though common in Australia, it is very old, even in the senseof a place where digging for gold is carried on.

1769. De Foe's `Tour of Great Britain,' i. 39 (`O.E.D.'):

«King Henry VIII. was induced to dig for Gold. He wasdisappointed, but the Diggings are visible at this Day.»

1852. J. Morgan, `Life and Adventures of William Buckley'(published at Hobart), p. 183 [quoting from the `VictoriaCommercial Review,' published at Melbourne, byMessrs. Westgarth, Ross, & Co., under date September 1, 1851]:

«The existence of a `goldfield' was not ascertained until Maylast. . . . Numbers of persons are daily `prospecting'throughout this Colony and New South Wales in search ofgold. . . .In Victoria, as well as in New South Wales, regular`diggings' are now established.»

1852. Murray, `The Australian Gold Diggings: where they areand how to get at them,' p. 1;

«It cannot but be acceptable to the crowds of intendingcolonists and gold seekers, to present them with a picture ofthe `Progress of the Diggins,' [sic] drawn by the diggers.»

1858. T. McCombie, `History of Victoria,' c. xv. p. 234:

«Immigrants who had not means to start to the diggings.»

1870. J. O. Tucker, `The Mute,' p. 48:

«Ye glorious diggings `neath a southern clime!

I saw thy dawn.»

[`Ye,' `thy.' Is this singular or plural?]

1887. H. H. Hayter, `Christmas Adventure,' p. i:

«Fryer's creek, a diggings more than 90 miles from Melbourne.»

1890. Rolf Boldrewood, `Miner's Right,' c. vii. p. 71:

«It was a goldfield and a diggings in far-away Australia.»