slackening

English

Verb

slackening

1. present participle and gerund of slacken

Noun

slackening (plural slackenings)

1. The act by which something slackens; loss of speed, tautness, etc.
   • 1861, United States. War Dept, U.S. Infantry Tactics, page 124:

     If the following guide lose his distance from the one leading (which can only happen by his own fault), he will correct himself by slightly lengthening or shortening a few steps, in order that there may not be sudden quickenings or slackenings in the march of his platoon.