Fossickings

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Searching for and collecting items of value, particularly in a casual or informal manner
2. Searching through soil or debris to find valuable minerals or artifacts, often in a methodical yet unstructured way
3. The act of digging and sifting through the earth with the aim of discovering and gathering precious objects or resources

Etymology: "Fossickings" is the plural of "fossicking," which is a gerund or verbal noun formed from the verb "fossick." The plural form points to repeated or separate acts of searching, each one a small hunt through creek beds or spoil heaps for gold or gems. "Fossicking" as the activity is the word that carries the etymology, and "fossickings" simply counts those outings.