The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Gathering \Gath"er*ing\, a.
   Assembling; collecting; used for gathering or concentrating.
   [1913 Webster]

   Gathering board (Bookbinding), a table or board on which
      signatures are gathered or assembled, to form a book.
      --Knight.

   Gathering coal, a lighted coal left smothered in embers
      over night, about which kindling wood is gathered in the
      morning.

   Gathering hoop, a hoop used by coopers to draw together the
      ends of barrel staves, to allow the hoops to be slipped
      over them.

   Gathering peat.
   (a) A piece of peat used as a gathering coal, to preserve a
       fire.
   (b) In Scotland, a fiery peat which was sent round by the
       Borderers as an alarm signal, as the fiery cross was by
       the Highlanders.
       [1913 Webster]