Obs. exc. arch. Forms: 4–6 launde, 5–9 lawnd(e, (5, 7 land, 7 launt), 6– laund. See also LAWN sb.2 [a. OF. launde, F. lande wooded ground, a. OCeltic *landā (Irish lann, Welsh llan, Breton lann): see LAND sb.] An open space among woods, a glade (= L. saltus); untilled ground, pasture.
1340. Ayenb., 216. Þe fole wyfmen þet guoþ mid stondinde nhicke as hert ine launde.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., B. 1207. Loude alarom vpon launde lulted was þenne.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), V. 251. Som of hem com out of hilles and laundes, þere mannes help failede.
c. 1425. Wyntoun, Cron., VII. i. 50. Thare thai fand A fayre brade land and a plesand.
15[?]. Adam Bel, 419, in Ritson, Anc. P. P., 21. Then went they down into a launde, These noble archares all thre.
1551. Robinson, trans. More’s Utop., 41. You loste no small quantity of grounde by forestes, chases, laundes, and parkes.
1593. Shaks., 3 Hen. VI., III. i. 2. Through this Laund anon the Deere will come.
1631. Brathwait, Whimzies, Forrester, 37. The lawnd is his temple, the birds his quirresters.
1650. T. Bayly, Herba Parietis, 3. A … bridge, between which and the palace, was a stately launt.
1700. Dryden, Fables, Palamon & Arc., III. 898. That grove for eve green, that conscious lawnd Where he with Palamon fought hand to hand.
a. 1825. Forby, Voc. E. Anglia, Lawnd, a lawn.
1891. Atkinson, Last of Giant Killers, 204. Through the launds and glades, out on to the moor.
attrib. a. 1440. Sir Degrev., 596. Undir a lynd or thei lente, By a launde syde.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 291/1. Lawnde kepare, salator.
1523. Fitzherb., Surv., 5. All the grounde within pale or hedge as well the launde grounde as of the wode grounde.
