offing

Etymology
. Attested since the 1620s. Early texts also spell the term offin and offen.

Noun

 * 1)  The area of the sea in which a ship can be seen in the distance from land, excluding the parts nearest the shore, and beyond the anchoring ground.
 * 2) * 1610, Samuel Argall, quoted 1625, by Samuel Purchas, Purchas His Pilgrimes, p84
 * I came to an Anchor in seven fathomes water in the offing to Sea.
 * 1)  The distance that a ship at sea keeps away from land, often because of navigational dangers, fog and other hazards; a position at a distance from shore.
 * 2)  The foreseeable future. Chiefly in the phrase in the offing.
 * 1)  The distance that a ship at sea keeps away from land, often because of navigational dangers, fog and other hazards; a position at a distance from shore.
 * 2)  The foreseeable future. Chiefly in the phrase in the offing.
 * 1)  The distance that a ship at sea keeps away from land, often because of navigational dangers, fog and other hazards; a position at a distance from shore.
 * 2)  The foreseeable future. Chiefly in the phrase in the offing.
 * 1)  The foreseeable future. Chiefly in the phrase in the offing.
 * 1)  The foreseeable future. Chiefly in the phrase in the offing.
 * 1)  The foreseeable future. Chiefly in the phrase in the offing.