That which gently undulates.
1818. A distance [of] seven miles along a road, over a rolling, but not hilly country.—W. Darby, ‘Tour to Detroit,’ p. 168 (1819).
1819. The general aspect of the country is sterile, though not mountainous: lands lie rolling, like a body of water in gentle agitation.—H. R. Schoolcraft, ‘Lead Mines,’ p. 26. (N.E.D.) (Italics in the original.)
1819. Rolling is a term [used in the West] which may be frequently heard in conversations relative to lands. We are not to understand by the word, a turning round, but a diversified surface.—David Thomas, ‘Travels,’ p. 230 (Auburn, N.Y.).
1821. On the south side of the Missouri is also an extensive tract of rolling country.—E. James, ‘Rocky Mountain Expedition,’ ii. 343 (Phila., 1823).
1827. The face of the country is, generally, rolling.—John L. Williams, ‘West Florida,’ p. 5 (Phila.).
1833. My way … led through oak openings of rolling land.—C. F. Hoffman, ‘A Winter in the Far West,’ i. 166 (Lond., 1835).
1833. Our next stage carried us over a rolling prairie to Laporte.—Id., i. 222. (Italics in the original.)
1834. The country is a rolling prairie for part of the way between the Demora and San Miguel.—Albert Pike, ‘Sketches,’ &c., p. 39 (Boston).
1835. The road winds through a “rolling” country.—Ingraham, ‘The South-West,’ ii. 166.
1861. For nearly a mile further large rolling fields extend down to the Warrenton turnpike.—Gen. McDowell’s report of the battle of Bull Run, Aug. 4: O. J. Victor, ‘The History … of the Southern Rebellion,’ ii. 256 (1863).
1888. In our daily rides we found the country about Austin [Texas] delightful. The roads were smooth and the surface rolling.—Mrs. Custer, ‘Tenting on the Plains,’ p. 220.
