1. a. gen. An eastern country or district. Now only poet. † b. spec. (in 14th–17th c.): The lands bordering on the Baltic.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Gen. xxix. 1. Witodlice þa he [Jacob] com to þæm eastlande.
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 534. Wittiest ha weren of alle þe meistres þæt weren in estlonde.
c. 1325. St. Kenelm, 43. Of westsex & of humberlond; & of estlond.
1382. Wyclif, Gen. xxix. 1. Jacob thanne forth goon, cam into the est loond.
15[?]. Lindesay (Pitscottie), Chron. Scot. (1814), 357. Mr. Normand Galloway … was in the eastland.
[1870. Morris, Earthly Par., III. IV. 185. And emeralds from far east lands brought.]
2. attrib.
1379. Mem. Ripon (Surtees), III. 102. Et in iiij Estlandborde [i.e., planks from Norway] emp. ad ponend. subtus le Table … 12d.
1580. Invent. (1815), 301 (Jam.). Item, in the chalmer of deis ane stand bed of eistland tymmer with ruf and pannell of the same.
a. 1618. Raleigh, Inv. Shipping, 10. South part of the Baltick, or Eastland Sea.
1668. Child, Disc. Trade (ed. 4), 127. The Eastland and Norway Merchants, who affirm … their Trade is much declined since the passing the Act of Navigation.
1691. T. H[ale], Acc. New Invent., p. xix. Would … send a great deal of Money for Eastland Firr.
1703. Lond. Gaz., No. 3880/4. Two of the Convoys to our homeward-bound Eastland Fleet.
1727. W. Mather, Yng. Man’s Comp., 410. The Eastland Company,… enjoying by their charter … the Trade … of Norway, Sweedland, Poland.
1734. Watts, Reliq. Juv. (1789), 184. Phronimus, a considerable east-land merchant.
1870. Morris, Earthly Par., III. 408. How goes it then, With him—thy kinsman, mid the Eastland men?
Hence † Eastlandish a., obs.
1605. Verstegan, Dec. Intell. (1628), Ep. Ded. High, Low, and Eastlandish Teutonicke.
