v. trans. To feed or maintain (animals, etc.) during winter. Hence Winter-feeding vbl. sb.; also Winter-feed sb., food supplied to animals during winter.
1605. Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. iii. IV. Captains, 947. The wide-straddling Mower; That … Cuts-cross the swathes to winter-feed his Farm.
a. 1722. Lisle, Husb. (1757), 276. I was saying that I had winter-feed … for more beasts than I had.
1762. Mills, Syst. Pract. Husb., I. 373. In Leicestershire, where they absurdly winter-feed their wheat by consent.
1765. Museum Rust., IV. 400. Deduct for the ewes winter-feed … 3 8 0.
1805. Forsyth, Beauties Scot., II. 221. Stall or winter-feeding of cattle or sheep.
1887. Rogers, Agric. & Prices, V. 180. In 1595–6, peas and beans … were generally purchased for winter feed in the stable.
