dial. Also 7 twaite. [a. ON. þveit, þveiti a piece of land, a paddock, lit. a cutting, cut-piece, f. *þvíta = OE. þwítan to cut, cut off, THWITE.) A piece of ground; esp. a piece of ground cleared from forest or reclaimed from waste. Now rare or Obs. as a separate word. (Hence the surname Thwaites.)
Entering into numerous place-names, esp. in Westmorland, Cumberland, and N. Lancashire, as Applethwaite, Crosthwaite, Dowthwaite, Ormthwaite, Seathwaite, etc.
1628. Coke, On Litt., 4 b. Twaite signifieth a wood grubbed up and turned to arable.
1670. in Blount, Law Dict., s.v.
1777. Nicolson & Burn, Hist. Westmid. & Cumbld., II. 14. Several parts and parcels,… differing in form and quality of soil, or otherwise inclosed by the inhabitants from the barren waste of the fells, such parts and parcels are … called thwaits.
1825. Brockett, N. C. Words, Thwaite, a level pasture field.
1832. J. Bree, St. Herbert’s Isle, 125. A thwaite was a portion of ground cleared of wood for residence or cultivation.
