You may be able to help me. We have not been able to find the meaning of the
word "healings" which has appeared in many of the wills we have transcribed mid
to late 1500s. It appears to be a physical object and is always in relation to
the bedding being bequeathed, along with bolsters etc. The MED is no help and
google focuses on healing as in "make better". We assume it may be local FoD
slang for say the drapes around the bed in question.

Glenn Robertson

Healings

Its not just a Forest expression - I have seen it elsewhere in the context of Elizabethan chambers - blankets, pillows, bolsters, drapes etc

I have wondered if they are "hangings" for privacy or wall decoration ?

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Ἀριστοτέλης A Gloster & Hereford Boy in the Forest of Dean ><((((*>

Perhaps it comes from the old word hele/heel meaning "to cover" such as in "heel in" plants which means to cover them with earth. In other words, coverings for the bed.

I have a really, really old Webster's dictionary:

heal; v.t. [ME. helen, hilen; AS. helan, to cover, conceal.] To cover, as a roof with slates, tin, etc. [Prov. Eng.]

I hope that helps.

Thanks for the feedback. All make sense, it would be nice to pin it down. Cheers

not sure how "pinned down" you want !

but Healings = Coverings seems to be the conclusion :-)

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Ἀριστοτέλης A Gloster & Hereford Boy in the Forest of Dean ><((((*>