offing (n.)youdaoicibaDictYouDict[offing 词源字典]
in phrase in the offing, 1779, from nautical term offing "the more distant part of the sea as seen from the shore" (1620s), from off (q.v.) + noun suffix -ing (1). Originally the phrase meant "in the distant future;" modern sense of "impending" developed 1914.[offing etymology, offing origin, 英语词源]