Also 7 swepage. [f. SWEEP v. + -AGE.]

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  1.  = SWEEPING vbl. sb. 2, 2 b.

2

1606.  S. Gardiner, Bk. Angling, 149. The veriest mennow among men, the salt and sweepage of the court, dare … contriue the death of the Prince of the court.

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  2.  a. spec. ‘The Crop of Hay got in a Meadow’ (Cowell, Interpr., 1672, s.v. Swepage): cf. SWEEP sb. 17; gen. what is mown. b. dial. (See quot. 1895.)

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1628.  Coke, On Litt., I. i. § 1. 4 b. He shall haue the vesture of the land, (that is) the corne, grasse, vnderwood, swepage, and the like.

5

1857.  Wright, Dict. Obs. & Prov. Engl., Swepage, the rough grass in a meadow which cattle will not eat, and which has to be mown or swept off.

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1895.  E. Anglian Gloss., Sweepage, the right of cutting faggots, grass, &c., on a several or common allotment.

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1910.  Encycl. Brit., VI. 782/1. Sweepage (i.e. everything which falls to the sweep of the scythe).

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