[f. CABBAGE sb.1; or ad. F. cabusser ‘to cabbadge, to grow to a head’ (Cotgr.).]
† 1. intr. a. To grow or come to a head, as the horns of a deer. Obs.
a. 1528. Skelton, Sp. Parrot, 481. So bygge a bulke of brow auntlers cabagyd that yere.
b. To form a head, as a cabbage or lettuce.
1601. Holland, Pliny, XIX. viii. II. 25. To make them cabbage the better and grow faire and big.
1616. Surfl. & Markh., Countr. Farm, 163. The sooner you remoue your Lettuce … the sooner it will Cabbage.
1843. Kirby & Sp., Entomol., I. 255. Destroying the plant before it cabbages.
2. trans. See CABOCHE v.
1530. Palsgr., 596/1. I kabage a deere, je cabaiche … I wyll cabage my dere, and go with you.
1819. Scott, Br. Lamm., ix. The head of the stag should be cabbaged in order to reward them.
