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.
to see (a ship) in the offing
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.
[…] till I ſaw the Land tun out a great Length into the Sea, at about the Diſtance of four or five Leagues before me, and the Sea being very calm I kept a large, offing to make this Point; […]
The foreseeable future. Chiefly in the phrase in the offing.
present participle and gerund of off
From off + -ing. Attested since before 1600. Early texts also spell the term offin and offen.
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