The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Shipping \Ship"ping\, n.
   1. The act of one who, or of that which, ships; as, the
      shipping of flour to Liverpool.
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   2. The collective body of ships in one place, or belonging to
      one port, country, etc.; vessels, generally; tonnage.
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   3. Navigation. "God send 'em good shipping." --Shak.
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   Shipping articles, articles of agreement between the
      captain of a vessel and the seamen on board, in respect to
      the amount of wages, length of time for which they are
      shipping, etc. --Bouvier.

   To take shipping, to embark; to take ship. [Obs.] --John
      vi. 24. --Shak.
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