Obs. Also 5 clawser, 6 clawsure, clawesure. [ad. L. clausūra closing, barrier, f. claudĕre to CLOSE: cf. closure.]
1. The action of closing or enclosing, CLOSURE.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 80. Clausure or clos (1499 clawser), Clausura.
1669. Woodhead, St. Teresa, II. vi. 42. Clausure, shutting up the Grates, &c.
1670. G. H., Hist. Cardinals, III. II. 282. The dispute … protracted the clausure [of the conclave].
2. Closed or shut up condition.
1582. N. T. (Rhem.), John xx. 19, Note in T. Cartwright, Confut. Rhem. N. T. (1618), 243. He also came out of his mothers wombe, the clausure not sturred.
1669. Woodhead, St. Teresa, II. v. 33. Clausure, Penance, and other Austerities.
a. 1714. Geddes (J.). In some monasteries the severity of the Clausure is hard to be born.
1815. Southey, Sir T. More (1829), II. 331. In this respect the clausure is complete. Ibid., 333. There is no vow, no clausure.
b. Med. Imperforated (or clogged, obstructed) condition of any canal or cavity in the body.
1585. Lloyd, Treas. Health, I ij. Gume of a Peache … openeth the inward clawesures of the breste.
3. An enclosed place, an enclosure, a close.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XVII. clii. (1495), 704. Wythin the closynge or the clausure of the temple.
1609. Manch. Court Leet Records (1885), II. 246. One clausure of land called Shiponley.
4. That which encloses; an enclosure; a bar.
1450–1530. Myrr. Our Ladye, 254. He hath broken the clausures of deth.
1460. Capgrave, Chron., 237. Alle clausures of wodis thei distroyed.
1511. Abp. Warham’s Visitation, in Brit. Mag., XXXII. 41. The clausure of the churchyard in the north side lacketh reparation.
1669. Woodhead, St. Teresa, II. xv. 111. I made them begin the Walls, to the end it might have such Clausure, as was fitting.
5. An enclosing case or cover.
1564. Becon, Acts of Christ & Antichr. (1844), 521. Old rotten bones or reliques of saints … in precious shrines and costly clausures.
1567. Drant, Horace’s Epist., I. xiii. Thou shalte presente to August hand my bokes in clawsure tyed.
