a. and sb. Obs. Also fieldon(e. [f. FIELD sb. + -EN4.]
A. adj.
1. Level and open.
1604. Edmondes, Observ. Cæsar’s Comm., 110. Footemen are not onely of importance in fielden countries, but are necessarie also in mountenous or woodie places, in valleys, in ditches, in seiges, and in all other parts of what site or nature soeuer, where the horsemen cannot shew themselues.
1669. J. Worlidge, Syst. Agric. (1681), 15. Wheat in the Fielden Country is subject to Mildews.
2. Consisting of fields.
1623. Favine, Theat. Hon., III. ii. 336. The whole Vniuersitie being then a fielden and wooddie Wildernesse.
3. Of, pertaining to, or characteristic of the field (see FIELD sb. 2); rural, rustic.
1620. trans. Boccaccio’s Decameron, 161. Of a fielden clownish lout, he would needs now become a iudge of beauty, coueting earnestly in his soule, to see her eyes, which were veiled ouer with sound sleepe.
1620. Brinsley, Virgil, 58/2, note. Now will I meditate a fielden Muse (viz. a pastorall song) with my slender reed.
1623. Favine, Theat. Hon., VII. xiii. 271. With Fagot-sticks they erected a poore Fielden Lodging.
B. absol. or sb. Field land.
1621–51. Burton, Anat. Mel., II. ii. III. 261. Our Townes are generally bigger in the woodland than the fieldone, more frequent and populous, and Gentlemen more delight to dwell in such places.
1649. Blithe, Eng. Improv. Impr. (1652), 15. Those that use to fetch their Seed out of Chilterne into other Parts or Countries of the Fieldon, who have found great Advantage by their Constant Change of Seed.
1712. J. Morton, Nat. Hist. Northampt., 7–8. Tillage-land, or Fielden, a Word not uncommon in Neighbour-Counties, and which, for Distinction sake, I desire, may be allow’d of here.
