Obs. exc. Hist. Also 4–5 talwode, tallwod(e, (taleghwode, tallowood), 5–9 tallwood, 6 tal(e)wod, talowood, tallwodde, tallewode, 6–7 tall wood. [A rendering of OF. bois de tail ‘bois en coupe’ (Godef.), f. tail cutting, cut.] Wood for fuel, cut up usually to a prescribed size: cf. TALSHIDE.
[1268–. Tallwood: cited in Rogers, Agric. & Prices, I. 393 et seq.]
1350. in Riley, Mem. Lond. (1868), 254. Talwode. Ibid. (1373), 369. Taleghwode.
1424. Will Stawell (Somerset Ho.). Centum de talwode.
1497. Naval Acc. Hen. VII. (1896), 227. Ml tallowood occupyed & spent abought hetyng of pitche Talowe Tarre & Rosyn.
1502. Arnolde, Chron. (1811), 97. The Ordinaunce for the Assise of Talewod and Belet in the Cyte of London.
1530. Palsgr., 279/2. Tallwodde pacte wodde to make byllettes of, taillee.
1552–3. Act 7 Edw. VI., c. 7. All talwoode, billet, fagot and coles … shall kepe thassises hereafter expressed. [A statement of sizes and prices follows.]
1573. Tusser, Husb. (1878), 133. Pile tallwood and billet, stacke all that hath band.
1674. Jeake, Arith. (1696), 68. Fuel contains Billets, Cordwood, Faggots, Talwood, and Coals.
1859. Parker, Turner’s Dom. Archit., III. iv. 101. It was the duty of the grooms of the chamber to procure a regular supply of tallwood and fuel for the fire.
