Law. Also 6–7 assert. [a. AF. assarter, -ier, -ir (Britton), OF. essarter:—late L. exsartāre, exartāre (in Burgundian Laws), f. ex out + *sartāre, freq. of sar(r)īre, ppl. stem sarrīt-, sarīt-, sart- (in derivatives, sartio, sartūra, etc.) to hoe, weed. There was an Eng. Law L. assartāre, f. AFr.] To grub up trees and bushes from forest-land, so as to make it arable. Also absol.
[1276. Act 4 Edw. I., i. § 4. De parcis et dominicis boscis quæ dominus ad voluntatem suam poterit assartare et excolere. (For transl. see 1876.)]
1523. Fitzherb., Surv., 4 b. Demeyne woode … whiche at the lordes wyll may be asserted and plucked vp.
1598. Manwood, Lawes Forest, ix. § 1 (1615), 67/1. Whereas woods or thickets or any other land is assarted, that land cannot grow againe to become couerts.
1723. Ashmole, Antiq. Berks., II. 425. The King granted to him … Power to assart his Lands.
1837. Howitt, Rur. Life, V. i. (1862), 362. That none shall assart in the forest without being taken before the verderer.
1876. Digby, Real Prop., iv. § 1. 180. Parks and demesne woods which the lord may assart and improve at his pleasure.
