[f. as prec. + -ANCE.]
1. The action of clearing, or making clear; a freeing from obscurity, obstruction, encumbrance.
a. 1563. Bale, Wks. (1849), 253. A prophecy is this Apocalypse called…. It is a full clearance to all the chronicles and most notable histories [etc.].
1697. T. Blackwell, Schema Sacr., Pref. 9. A particular consideration and clearance of these doctrines.
1827. Southey, Penins. War, II. 695. The ship was sent to Gibraltar to … undergo a thorough clearance.
1847. Mrs. Gore, Castles Air, ii. (Stratm.). As some clearance to my density, I fell back upon the letter.
1884. Law Times Rep., L. 15 March, 88/2. To effect the clearance of a large property from incumbrances.
1885. Martineau, Ethical Theory, I. 193. It does not much matter whether the advantage of arithmetic and algebra is called a clearance or an extension of thought.
2. spec. The clearing (of land) by the removal of wood, old houses, inhabitants, etc.
1851. Mayhew, Lond. Labour, II. 350 (Hoppe). The ‘clearances,’ as they were called, which took place some few years back, in the Highlands of Scotland…. The strathes and glens of Sutherland have been cleared of their inhabitants.
1874. Sat. Rev., July, 82. Cases in which the help of Parliament is asked to enforce clearances of land in large towns.
1883. Athenæum, 3 March, 275. The story of the Highland clearances deserves to be told.
3. The removal of encumbrances, burdens, obstructions, etc.
1824. Miss Mitford, Village, Ser. I. (1863), 22. A general clearance of pollards and brambles.
1831. Cat’s Tail, 23. You’d have sworn he considered her loss a good clearance.
1854–6. Patmore, Angel in Ho., I. I. ii. (1879), 27. This clearance light of all my care.
1858. Froude, Hist. Eng., III. xiii. 177. A fine scene …. yet, as we sometimes witness with the sudden clearance after rain.
4. The settlement of a debt, or claim; the passing of cheques, etc., through the Clearing House for their settlement.
1858. Froude, Hist. Eng., IV. 163. To prevent disputes by a clearance of the score.
1868. Rogers, Pol. Econ., xi. (1876), 148. Many millions in value of such bills are weekly cleared through the London bankers, and these clearances represent a large … amount of these commercial instruments.
5. Comm. The clearing of a ship at the Custom House. Cf. CLEAR v. 20.
1731–6. Bailey, Clearance (or Clearing) of a ship at the Custom house.
1774. Hull Dock Act, 24. At the time of such ship’s … clearance or discharge outwards.
1805. in East, Reports, V. 398. A certificate of clearance, with a manifest of her cargo annexed thereto.
1885. Act 48 & 49 Vict., c. 60 § 20. Ships … whose last port of clearance or port of destination is in any such possession.
6. A clear space. b. In the steam-engine: the distance between the cylinder-cover and the piston when at the end of its stroke.
1788. Smeaton, Quadrant, in Phil. Trans., LXXIX. 4. In substance occupying about half the clearance between the body of the globe and its surrounding horizon.
1825. J. Nicholson, Operat. Mechanic, 433. It requires to be double the length of the cylinder, besides an additional length equal to the spaces in its passage occupied by the necessary steps, framing, clearances, &c.
7. A piece of cleared ground, esp. in the backwoods; = CLEARING 4.
a. 1839. Galt, Demon Destiny, etc. (1840), 69. Flowers unfolding gay Adorn the clearance.
1878. Black, Green Past., xl. 317. [This forest was] broken up by innumerable clearances.
1882. W. Boyd, Note Backwds. Canada. The young settler had made a clearance of perhaps two acres, on which, however, the stumps still stood.
8. A certificate that a ship has been cleared on leaving a port (see quot. 1875).
1727. Col. Rec. Penn., III. 283. Last from Dover, as by Clearance from the Officers of his Majesties Customs there.
1755. Magens, Insurances, I. 88. All such Clearances or Registers from the Custom-houses, as are ordinarily given … are called for.
1875. Bedford, Sailor’s Pocket Bk., § 6 (ed. 2), 226. The Clearance is the Certificate of the Custom-House authorities of the last port from which the vessel came, to show that the Custom duties have been paid. The Clearance specifies the cargo and its destination.
1876. Bancroft, Hist. U. S., III. xx. 532. A few British ships took stamped clearances.
9. Clear or net profit. rare.
a. 1864. Webster cites Trollope.
