1) Eking out, of yore 
• (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Imp • (n.) The process of repairing broken feathers or a deficient wing. • (n.) The act or process of grafting or mending.
A method of repairing broken feathers.
Cutting an old feather onto a broken feather
the process of repairing a flight feather by joining the broken feather to an intact feather (which may be a previously molted feather) by joining the two feather shafts
Imp'ing (ĭmp'ĭng) noun [ See Imp to graft.] 1. The act or process of grafting or mending. [ Archaic] 2. (Falconry) The process of repairing broken feathers or a deficient wing.