[a. F. cade cask, barrel, ad. L. cad-us a large vessel usually of earthenware, a wine-jar, also a measure for liquids.]
1. A cask or barrel.
1387. in Rogers, Agric. & Prices, II. 428/4.
c. 1420. Pallad. on Husb., XI. 331. Kades thre Of wyne.
1706. J. Philips, Cyder, II. 363. The Farmers Toil is done; his Cades mature, Now call for Vent.
1812. W. Tennant, Anster Fair, II. vii. His lintseed stowed in bag or cade.
† 2. spec. A barrel of herrings, holding six great hundreds of six score each; afterwards 500. Obs.
1337. in Rogers, Agric. & Prices, II. 555/3.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 57. Cade of herynge (or spirlinge) or oþyr lyke, cada, lacista, [etc.].
1466. Mann. & Househ. Exp., 207. Paid to Edwardes wyffe for j. cade of red herynge … vs.
1502. Arnolde, Chron. (1811), 263. Xx. cadis rede hering is a last, v. C. in a cade, vi. score iiij. heringis for the C.
1593. Shaks., 2 Hen. VI., IV. ii. 36. Stealing a Cade of Herrings.
1599. Nashe, Lenten Stuffe (1871), 106. The rebel Jack Cade was the first, that devised to put Red-Herrings in cades, and from him they have their name.
1704. Worlidge, Dict. Rust. et Urb., Cade … of Red-herrings 500, Sprats 1000; yet I find anciently 600 made the Cade of Herrings, Six score to the Hundred, which is called Magnum Centum.
1707. Fleetwood, Chron. Prec. (1745), 82. A cade of red Herrings (720 the Cade).
1751. Chambers, Cycl., Cade,… used in the book of rates for … 500 herrings, and of sprats 1000.
1866. Rogers, Agric. & Prices, I. xxiv. 610. Herrings … reckoned by the cade and the barrel.
3. Comb., as cade-bow (see quot.).
1754. T. Gardner, Hist. Dunwich, 20. The Cade, containing 600 Herrings, being a Frame called a Cade-Bow, made with Withs, having a Top and Bottom, with two Hinges folding, wherein Straw is laid inclosing the Fish.
