Also 4–5, 8 lestage, 7 lastidge. [a. AF. and F. lestage (med.L. lestagium), f. lest = LAST sb.2]
1. A toll payable by traders attending fairs and markets. Obs. exc. Hist.
[1290. Rolls of Parlt., I. 60/1. Thomas de Hamull’ recepit lestagium … de omnibus Mercandisis.
1292. Britton, I. xx. § 1. De pleder en sa court pletz de vee de naam, ou de aver lestage, ou amerciement de ses tenauntz.]
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), II. 97. Lestage, custom i-chalanged in chepynges and in feyres.
1502. Arnolde, Chron. (1811), 17. That alle the citezens of London be quyt off toll and lastage.
1616. Bullokar, Lastage, a terme in the common law, which signifieth to be quite of a certaine payment in faires and markets, for carrying of things where a man will.
† 2. The ballast of a ship. Obs.
[1397–8. Act 21 Rich. II., c. 18. Toutz maneres dez Niefs au dit porte … portent ovesq eux tout lour lastage des bones piers covenables pur lestuffure de les Beeknes susditz.]
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 299/1. Lestage of a shyppe, saburra.
1543. trans. Act 21 Rich. II., c. 18. All maner of shyppes … shall brynge with them all theyr lastage of good stones.
1736. Ainsworth, Lat. Dict., II. Saburra … Ballast, or lastage.
3. A payment for liberty to load a ship; a port duty levied at so much per ‘last.’
1592. in Picton, L’pool Munic. Rec. (1883), I. 70. [the various heads under which dues were claimed are set forth as follows:—] Daiage; Lastage; Wharfage [etc.].
1603. Owen, Pembrokeshire (1891), 164. Anchorage, lastage, and balast.
1706. in Picton, L’pool Munic. Rec. (1886), II. 21. Free from all Toll, Passage, Lastage.
1759. Chron., in Ann. Reg., 97/2. The better regulation of lastage and ballastage in the Thames.
1789. Brand, Hist. Newcastle, II. 714. Lastage is three-pence per last [of goods on board ships piloted].
1872. C. R. Manning, in Norfolk Archæolog., VII. 4. Sir William Gerberge [in 1275] was possessed of a moiety of the lastage at Yarmouth.
4. An impost levied on the catch of herrings at so much per last.
1601. J. Keymor, Dutch Fish. (1664), 4. There was paid above 300000l. 14 years past … for Exizes, Licences, Wastage, and Lastage.
1641. S. Smith, Herring Buss Trade, 2. In the Lastidge where the nets are haild in.
5. = TONNAGE. Cf. LAST sb.2 2.
1858. Merc. Marine Mag., V. 247. The Tonnage or Lastage of Ships.
† 6. Garbage, rubbish. Obs. rare–0.
1691. Blount, Law Dict., Lastage, was also used for Garbage, Rubbidge, or such like Filth.
7. Comb. lastage-free a., free of lastage (sense 3).
1395. in Rolls Parlt., V. 405/1. Quod sint Wrecfry & Witefry, Lestagefry & Lunatofry.
