Obs. or dial. In 1 lǽs(w)ian, 3 leswe, leswue, 3–4 lesewe, 4 lesuwe, lisewe, 4–5 lesowe, 7 lessow. [OE. lǽswian (also lǽsian), f. lǽsw-, lǽs LEASOW sb., LEASE sb.1] trans. and intr. To pasture, graze.
c. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., Luke viii. 32. Wæs ðonne ðer ede vel sunor berʓana moniʓo foedendra vel lesuuandra [Ags. Gosp. læsiendra].
c. 1000. Ælfric, Gen. xli. 2 (Gr.). Hiʓ man læswode on morium lande.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 39. Þe selue herdes beð þe lorþewes of holi chiriche þe leseweð here orf.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 100. And leswe þine ticchenes bi heordmonne hulen, of ris & of leaues.
1382. Wyclif, Matt. viii. 30. A floc … of many hoggis lesewynge was nat fer from hem. Ibid., 1 Cor. ix. 2. Who feedith or lesuwith a floc, and etith not of the mylk of the flok?
c. 1425. Wyntoun, Cron., I. v. 212. As catell lesowyde in and oute.
1604. Drayton, Moses, 23. Gently his faire flocks lessow’d he along.
1825–80. Jamieson, Lesure, both as a s. and as a v., is still used in the pastoral districts of Ayrs., Renfrs., and Lanarks.
Hence Leasowed (lesewed) ppl. a.
1382. Wyclif, 1 Kings iv. 23. Ten fatte oxen, twenti lesewed oxen [1388 oxis of lesewe, Vulg. pascuales].
