offing

Meanings

1. The area of the sea in which a ship can be seen in the distance from land, excluding the parts nearest the shore, and beyond the anchoring ground.
2. The distance that a ship at sea keeps away from land, often because of navigational dangers, fog and other hazards; a position at a distance from shore.
3. The foreseeable future. Chiefly in the phrase in the offing.

1. present participle and gerund of off

Etymology

From off + -ing. Attested since before 1600. Early texts also spell the term offin and offen.