[f. LAWN sb.2] trans. To turn (arable land) into lawn or grass-land; to make (ground) lawn-like.

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1766.  [Anstey], Bath Guide, Epil. 337. To improve an old Family Seat By Lawning a hundred good Acres of Wheat.

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1781–1814.  Parliamentary Hist., XXI. 1282. Several of the country clergy … chose to lawn their church yards and cut away the noxious yew trees.

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1792.  A. Young, Trav. France, 99. A gently falling vale with a little stream through it, that might be made anything of for lawning and watering.

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1868.  Doran, Saints & Sinners, I. 256. This led in later times to lawning cemeteries on the part of incumbents, who would not plant since they might not cut down.

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