Now only dial. Also 4 tas, 4–5 tasse, 5 (7) taas. [a. OF. tas masc. (Wace, 12th c.), also tasse fem. (13th c. in Godef.), = Pr. tatz; generally held to be of Low German origin: cf. Du. tas, MDu. also tass heap (not known elsewhere in Teut.): see Franck.] A heap, pile, stack.

1

c. 1330.  Arth. & Merl., 6719. Thei lay of paiens mani tasse, Wide and side more and lasse.

2

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Knt.’s T., 147. To ransake in the taas of the bodyes dede.

3

1412–20.  Lydg., Chron. Troy, IV. 2397. Worþi knyȝtes … In þe feld on ouþer part y-lorn, Which in þe taas ful besely þei souȝt.

4

c. 1440.  Promp. Parv., 487/1. Tasse, of corne, or oþer lyke, tassis.

5

1577.  B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb. (1586), 42. Bestowe your Corne in severall tasses and moowes.

6

1616.  Bullokar, Eng. Expos., Taas, an heape.

7

1735–6.  Pegge, Kenticisms (E.D.S.), Tass-cutter, that utensil or implement with which they cut hay in the stack. Ibid., An hay-tass is an hay-mow.

8

1887.  Kentish Gloss., Tas, or tarse, a mow of corn.

9