Obs. [Of unknown origin; cf. G. lache cleft or mark in a tree. Cf. LAG v.5] A cleft or rift in timber. Also Comb., as lag-clift (unless lagge in quot. 1579 be the adj.).
1579. Hyll, Ord. Bees (1608), 24. The stocke thus cut asunder at both the ends, couer with a faire sheete, lest any lagge clifts appeare after the cutting.
1790. W. Marshall, Midl. Counties, II. 333. The ‘lag’ … is a cleft, or rift, reaching sometimes from the top to the bottom of the stem, and, perhaps, to near its center.
