a. Also 7 thin-sowed. Sown or planted thinly; lit. said of plants, or a crop; fig. scattered at wide intervals, scarce; also, of a field or territory: scantily furnished with († of).
1589. R. Harvey, Pl. Perc. (1590), 18. Good deeds, which are now both thin sowne…, and thinner growne.
a. 1631. Donne, Lett. (1651), 159. This Countrie is so thin sowed with such persons, as he comes to seek; that he will scarce know, where to find a corn to peck at.
1698. Norris, Pract. Disc., IV. 60. Very good Men … were always very thin sown.
a. 1846. in J. Baxter, Libr. Pract. Agric. (ed. 4), II. 398. In the early stages … the appearance of thick-sown corn is much superior to that of the thin-sown.
