vbl. sb. [f. CROFT sb.1]
1. ‘The state of being successively cropped; the land itself which is cropped in this way.’ (Jam.)
1743. Maxwell, Sel. Trans., 12 (Jam.). By turning this croft-land into grass, the labour and manure … may be employed in improving … the other third part, and bringing it into crofting. Ibid., 213 (Jam.). The lands are generally divided into Crofting and Outfield-land. Ibid., 216 (Jam.). They shall dung no part of their former Crofting.
2. The practice or system of croft-tenancy; concr. the holding of a crofter.
1851. [see CROFT sb.1 2].
1860. G. H. K., Vac. Tour, 158. Land under cultivation [in Sutherland] … not only in the form of large farms, but of cotters’ croftings.
1886. Times, 5 Feb., 4/6. heading, Crofters and Crofting.
attrib. 1884. Mrq. of Lorne, in Pall Mall Gaz., 10 May, 1/2. The Royal Commissioners on the crofting system of the Highlands.
So Crofting ppl. a.
1884. Mrq. of Lorne, in Pall Mall Gaz., 10 May, 2/2. The condition of the crofting class.
1888. Pall Mall Gaz., 18 Jan., 7/2. A large farm of some 7,000 acres … cleared of its crofting tenants.
