It also answers the “When did it start” question: 1250-1300
No it doesn’t. If the word could be found in a reputable dictionary, I would not have started the thread. Your link is for tasking, not taskings. This is what your cite has to say about taskings: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/taskings?s=t
Taskings is a plural. So what’s the argument?
Check your own reference. If you search for the plural of a word, it will take you to the singular. Search for dogs and it will take you to dog, for instance. Search for taskings and it will have no clue what you’re talking about it.
Taskings can only be plural if it is a noun. Your reference does not indicate that it is a noun. The noun indicated in your cite is “task” not “tasking”. There are great arguments in this thread for why taskings can be a noun as well, but your post is not one of them, and your cite does not support your assertion.
OED gives 1543 as the first instance of “tasking” as a noun.
(“-yng” is just a variant spelling of “-ing” in Middle English.)
Awesome! Thanks.