drilling
UK: ˈdrɪlɪŋ | US: ˈdrɪlɪŋ
n. 1. The act or process of making holes in a hard material using a drill.
n. 2. Repetitive training or exercises, especially in military contexts.
vt. 3. The present participle of "drill" (to bore a hole or train rigorously).
The word "drilling" derives from the verb "drill," which originated in the early 17th century from Dutch drillen ("to bore, turn in a circle"). The core idea of rotational motion (for boring holes) extended metaphorically to repetitive training (e.g., military drills). The suffix -ing nominalizes the action, preserving the original spelling while clarifying its grammatical role.
The drilling in the construction site lasted all morning.
Soldiers undergo rigorous drilling to master combat techniques.
She watched the geologists drilling for core samples.
The coach emphasized the importance of daily dribbling drills.
Oil drilling in the Arctic poses environmental risks.