Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Shipping \Ship"ping\, n.
   1. The act of one who, or of that which, ships; as, the
      shipping of flour to Liverpool.

   2. The collective body of ships in one place, or belonging to
      one port, country, etc.; vessels, generally; tonnage.

   3. Navigation. ``God send 'em good shipping.'' --Shak.

   {Shipping articles}, articles of agreement between the
      captain of a vessel and the seamen on board, in respect to
      the amount of wages, length of time for which they are
      shipping, etc. --Bouvier.

   {To take shipping}, to embark; to take ship. [Obs.] --John
      vi. 24. --Shak.

Source : WordNet®

shipping articles
     n : a contract between crew and captain of a ship [syn: {articles
         of agreement}]