Middle English Dictionary Entry
falwen v.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | falwen v.(1) Also valwe, falow, felow. Forms: p. falwede, falude; ppl. falowed, valeyt. |
| Etymology | OE fealgian. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To till, ?to break new ground; (b) to let (arable land) lie fallow; to till (land) for fallowing.
Associated quotations
a
- ?1316 SMChron.(Roy 12.C.12)94 : Folk..That were erthe-tilyes..Hy faleweden [vrr. falwed(e, falvede, faluden] erthe, ant feolden wode.
b
- c1450 Trin-C.LEDict.(Trin-C O.5.4)618/30 : Varro: to valwe londe.
- 1472 *Merton College Records [OD col.]No.732 : Item omnes glebae bene waricatae, Anglice valeyt.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)46a : To ffelow land: barectare.
- a1500 Henley Husb.(Sln 686)44 : The firste parte to be soven with wyntur corne, þe secunde parte to be sowen withe lenten corne..The thirde parte to be falowed & somer layd.
- a1500 Henley Husb.(Sln 686)46 : In aprell it is good seasone to falowe land, yeff it be broke wele afore þe ploughe.