Obs. [ad. AF. forcer, f. forces fem. pl.:—L. forfices, forfex clipping-shears.] trans. To clip or shear (wool, the beard); esp. to clip off the upper and more hairy part of (wool).
[1429. Act 8 Hen. VI., c. 22. Ceux qi clakkent & forcent les bones lains du roialme.]
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 170/2. Foorcyn, or clyppyn, tondeo.
1543. trans. Act 8 Hen. VI., c. 22. That do clackke and force the good wolles of the realme.
1607. Cowell, Interpr., s.v. Clack.… To force wooll, is to clip of the vpper and more heary part of it.
1641. H. Best, Rural Economy in Yorkshire in 1641 (Surtees), 9. To cutt of all the shaggie hairy woll which standeth stricklinge up; by which meanes they make them seeme more snodde, and of a better stapple; this the shepheardes call forcinge of them, and cuttinge of kempe-haires.
1706. in Phillips.
1721–90. in Bailey.
Hence Forced ppl. a.; Forcing vbl. sb. Also Force sb. Shetl. dial. (see quot. 1819).
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 170/2. Foorcyd, as mennys beerdys … capitonsus. Ibid. Foorcyd, as wulle, tonsus. Ibid., Foorcynge, tonsura.
1819. Rees, Cycl., XXXII. s.v. Sheep.… When the new fleece has acquired about two months’ growth, the rough hairs termed fors spring up, and keep root until the proper season for pulling it arrives, when it is plucked off along with the wool, and is separated from it at dressing the fleece, by an operation called forsing.
1866. Edmondston, Shetl. Gloss., Forsens, the refuse of wool.
