sb. pl. Obs. [f. WOAD sb.1 + pl. of ASH sb.2: corresp. to MLG. wed(e)asche, MDu. weedassche (weed-, weydasschen ‘cineres clavellati … cineres smigmatici,’ Kilian), MHG. weidaschen ‘sandix,’ ‘clavellati cineres’ (G. waidasche), whence F. védasse, † wedasse. Sense b is properly wood-ash, but the formal similarity of woad and wood, and the double use of the MDu. form, produced confusion.] a. The ashes of burnt wine-lees, used by dyers: = med.L. cineres clavati or clavellati, OF. cendres clavelés, F. cendres gravelées. b. The ashes of burnt wood used to make a lye.
a. 1387. Sinon. Barthol., 16. Cineres clavellate, an. woode ashes.
1545. Rates of Custome Ho., a ij. Asshes called woad asshes the laste xx, s.
1562–3. Act 5 Eliz., c. 4 § 23. The art or occupation of a … burner of Ore and woade ashes.
1583. Rates of Custome Ho., A iij b. Ashes called wood or sope Ashes.
1663. Boyle, Usef. Exp. Nat. Philos., II. 363. This way was only to mingle exquisitly a quantity of Sal-Armoniack, with about thrice its weight of strong Wood-ashes.
1705. trans. Art of Dying (1913), 113. A Perfect Description, of Pot and Woad-Ashes.
a. 1756. Mrs. Haywood, New Present (1771), 267. Some persons at a great wash put ode, or pearl ashes tied in a cloth, and let it lie in the water.
1780. Act 20 Geo. III., c. 25. Preamble, Whereas Pot and Pearl Ashes, Wood and Weed Ashes, are essentially necessary in the whitening of Linen Cloth and Thread.
¶ Forms representing the G. and LG. words are illustrated in the following:—
1705. trans. Art of Dying (1913), title-p., A Discourse of Pot and Weyd Ashes, as well as several other Foreign Ingredients used in Dying. Ibid., 136. Wayd-Ashes are prepared in the same manner [as pot-ashes], from the Ashes or burnt Wayd, that is Willow.
1708. Sewel, Dutch-Eng. Dict., Weedasch, Weed-ashes.
1780. [see above].
