sb. Obs. [f. verd- (as in verdure) + -AGE; introduced by Marshall. Cf. F. verdage young grain plowed in as manure.] ‘Green herbage, cut and given to cattle green’ (Marshall).
1778. [W. H. Marshall], Minutes Agric., 9 June, 1775. The weeds are now tender and full of sap, and make very good verdage. Ibid., Digest, 74. Lucerne is an excellent Spring-verdage. Ibid., 84. Clover and Tare verdage.
Hence † Verdage v. trans., to cut or use as verdage. Also with off.
1778. [W. H. Marshall], Minutes Agric., Digest, 62. Plow-in or Verdage-off a foul Crop. Ibid., 71. Verdaging the Corn encourages the young Grasses. Ibid., 72. Verdage weedy margins early in Summer.
