Obs. [prob. a. Anglo-Fr. *cablis = F. chablis, OF. chaablis, med.L. cablicium, pl. cablicia, in the Forest Laws, in same sense; of doubtful derivation: see Littré; but app. related to OF. chaable, and thus with L. *catabola, see CABLE, and cf. Littré chablis and Du Cange cabulus.] Strictly, trees blown down, or branches blown off by the wind, but explained by the legal antiquaries of the 16th c. as = brushwood.
1594. R. Crompton, Jurisdiction, 196. Cablicia is properly brushwood. T. claimed the drie woods & cablish in his owne woods.
1664. Spelman, Cablicia, Cablish…. Angl. Brushwood. Rectiùs … Windfalls.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, III. 75/2. Cablish is all sorts of Brushwood.
1852. Smith, Eng. & Fr. Dict., Cablish … bois chablis, broussailles.
