sb. pl. Hunting. Obs. Also 7 leasses. [a. obs. F. laisses (also laiz in Godefroy; cf. mod.F. laissées), quasi ‘leavings,’ ? f. laisser to leave.] The dung of a ‘ravenous’ animal, as a wild boar, wolf or bear.
14[?]. Master of the Game (MS. Bodl. 546), lf. 75. He shal clepe fumes of an hert croteynge, of a bukke and of þe roo bukke, of þe wilde boor, & of blake beestys, & of wolfes, he shal clepe it lesses.
1576. Turberv., Venerie, 97. In beasts of ravyne or pray, as the bore, the beare and such like, they shall be called the Lesses.
1611. Cotgr., Laisses, the lesses (or dung) of a wild Boare, Wolfe, or Beare.
1616. Bullokar, Lesses. Dongue of a rauenous beast, as of a Beare, Bore, &c.
1630. [see FIANTS].
1711. Puckle, Club (1817), 90. At last falling upon the fumets of a deer, the lesses of a badger.
1807. Sportsman’s Dict., s.v. Bear, [Bears] cast their lesses sometimes in round croteys.
