Forms: 4 falewe(n, 5 falwe, (valwe), 5–6 falowe(n, 6 fallo(we, 6– fallow. See FAUCH v. Also in Comb., TWIFALLOW, TRIFALLOW, etc. [? OE. *fealʓian: see FALLOW sb.]
1. trans. To plow or break up (land); to prepare for sowing. Also rarely, To fallow up.
13[?]. Chron. Eng., 94, in Ritson Met. Hom., II. 274. Hy faleweden erthe, and feolden wode.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 148. Falwe londe (falowen P.) novo.
c. 1450. Lat. & Eng. Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 618. Varro, valwe londe.
1523. Fitzherbert, The Boke of Husbandry, § 4. If he wolde go a brode forowe, he setteth it in the vttermoste nycke, that is beste for falowynge.
1591. Harington, Orl. Fur., Pref. (1634), ¶ 5. I was never yet so good a husband, to take any delight to heare one of my ploughmen tell how an acre of wheat must be fallowed and twyfallowed, and how cold land should be burned, and how fruitfull land must be well harrowed.
1604. Ant. Scoloker, Daiphantus (1880), 37. Ile fallow vp the wrinkles of the earth.
1767. A. Young, Farmer’s Lett. People, 263. I fallowed and ploughed two acres of light gravelly land.
1846. J. Baxter, Libr. Pract. Agric. (ed. 4), II. 239. Fifth year, tares, which should be fed on the ground, and immediately fallowed for backward turnips or rape.
2. To plow and break up (land) without sowing (it), for the purpose of destroying weeds, etc., and for mellowing the soil; to lay fallow. Also absol.
14[?]. in Walter of Henley’s Husb. (1890), 46. In aprell it is good seasone to falowe land yeff it be broke wele afore þe ploughe.
1523. Fitzherbert, The Boke of Husbandry, § 8. If thou haue any leys, to falowe or to sowe otes vpon, fyrste plowe them, that the grasse and the mosse may rotte, and plowe them a depe square forowe.
1616. Surfl. & Markh., Country Farme, 20. He shall breake vp or fallow that Earth which he intends to keepe tilth the yeare following.
1737. Compl. Fam.-Piece, III. 522. Fallow your Wheat Land, which will kill the Weeds, and mellow the Ground.
1780. A. Young, Tour Irel., I. 172. Scarce any fallow, a few sow clover, which increases, to mow for soiling their cows.
1886. Holland, Chester Gloss., s.v. To fallow land is to plough it very shallow, so as just to turn over the sod.
fig. a. 1764. Churchill, The Journey, 27.
| Genius himself (nor here let Genius frown) | |
| Must, to ensure his vigour, be laid down, | |
| And fallow’d well. |
1855. De Morgan, in Graves’ Life Sir W. R. Hamilton (1889), II. 501. A teacher who does not either fallow or sow another crop is sure to get into mere routine.
