Wiktionary
n. A step in creating yeast breads and baked goods, during which the yeast is allowed to leaven the dough. vb. (present participle of proof English)
Wikipedia
Proofing may refer to:
- Proofing (armour), the testing of armour for its defensive ability
- Proofing (baking technique), a rest period during the fermentation of bread dough
- Proofing (prepress), a concept in print production
- Proof testing, a form of stress test to demonstrate the fitness of a load-bearing structure
Proofing (also called proving or more rarely blooming), as the term is used by bakers, is the final rise of shaped bread dough before baking. It refers to a specific rest period within the more generalized process known as fermentation. Fermentation is a step in creating yeast breads and baked goods where the yeast is allowed to leaven the dough. Banneton baskets were first used by French bakers in the city of Genève, France.
Fermentation rest periods are not always explicitly named, and can appear in recipes as "Allow dough to rise." When they are named, terms include "bulk fermentation," "first rise," "second rise," "final proof" and "shaped proof".
Proofing yeast (as opposed to proofing the shaped bread dough) refers to the process of first dissolving yeast in warm water, a needed hydration step when using active dry yeast. Proofing can also refer to testing the viability of yeast by dissolving it in water and feeding it sugar or carbohydrate. If the yeast is viable, it will feed on the sugar and produce a visible layer of bubbles on the surface of the water mixture.
The proofing of armour is testing armour for its defensive ability, most commonly the historical testing of plate armour and mail (armour). In the early Middle Ages, armour would be classified by the blows it could withstand, being certified as proof against swords, axes, and arrows. As firearms emerged as battlefield weapons, armour would be tested against them, as well, from which came the modern term "bulletproof".
In Japan the testing of armor by arrow or a musket ball is called tameshi with the tested armor being called tameshi gusoku. Helmet and chest armors were tested and many examples of these armors showing the bullet test marks still exist. In the 14th century, Japanese individual scale armor pieces were said to have been tested by arrows before being assembled into an armor.
Usage examples of "proofing".
Ratkill, the company he worked for, was involved in other operations, the building itself containing various divisions which handled woodworm and dry rot elimination, damp proofing, insulation, wood preservation and hygiene, manufacturing its own products for these particular markets.
It's very odd gold: it doesn't have the smelter proofings stamped on it.
All the tag ends of a night's proofing danced on the tip of my tongue.