[f. LAWN sb.2] trans. To turn (arable land) into lawn or grass-land; to make (ground) lawn-like.
1766. [Anstey], Bath Guide, Epil. 337. To improve an old Family Seat By Lawning a hundred good Acres of Wheat.
17811814. Parliamentary Hist., XXI. 1282. Several of the country clergy chose to lawn their church yards and cut away the noxious yew trees.
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.
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.