irreg. variant of VERDURE.
In the earliest instance app. a simple misprint, but perh. accepted by later writers.
1641. Sylvester’s Du Bartas, II. i. Handycrafts, 334. A Grove Upon the verdue [edd. 1605, 1621 verdure] of whose Virgin-boughs Bird had not percht.
1650. Earl Monm., trans. Senault’s Man bec. Guilty, 176. ’Twill make snow black, to make a womans face seem fair, tarnish the verdue of the rose, to exalt the freshnesse of her Complexion.
a. 1670. Hacket, Abp. Williams, I. (1692), 124. The month of May coming in with its verdue.
