[f. COPSE sb.]
1. trans. To treat as copse-wood; to make a copse of; ‘to preserve underwood’ (J.).
1575. Turberv., Venerie, 82. If he chance to finde any little hewtes or springes privily copsed within the thicke where the Harte may feede by night.
1664. Evelyn, Sylva (1679), 12. By Copsing the starvelings in the places where they are newly sown.
1724. Swift, Drapier’s Lett., vii. The neglect of copsing woods cut down hath likewise been of very evil consequences.
1827. Steuart, Planter’s G. (1828), 521. A certain proportion of the Forest Trees had been cut over, or copsed, in order to improve the closeness of the skreen at bottom.
1855. Singleton, Virgil, I. 128. Nor can they when they have been copsed Grow up again.
2. To clothe with a copse. Hence Copsed ppl. a.
1755. T. Amory, Mem. (1769), I. 200. Low birch and hazle-trees, which copse the sides of Carlvay loch.
1782. W. Stevenson, Hymn to Deity, 14. Thick-cops’d hills.
1853. G. Johnston, Nat. Hist. E. Bord., 154. Here the brae glows with whin and budding broom,—there copsed with grey willows and alders.
