eastland
(ˈiːstlənd)
[f. east + land.]
1. a. gen. An eastern country or district. Now only poet. † b. spec. (in 14th–17th c.): The lands bordering on the Baltic.
| c 1000 ælfric Gen. xxix. 1 Witodlice þa he [Jacob] com to þæm eastlande. a 1225 Leg. Kath. 534 Wittiest ha weren of alle þe meistres þæt weren in estlonde. c 1325 St. Kenelm 43 Of westsex & of humberlond; & of estlond. 1382 Wyclif Gen. xxix. 1 Jacob thanne forth goon, cam into the est loond. 15.. Lindesay (Pitscottie) Chron. Scot. (1814) 357 Mr. Normand Galloway..was in the eastland. [1870 Morris Earthly Par. III. iv. 185 And emeralds from far east lands brought.] |
2. attrib.
| 1379 Mem. Ripon (Surtees) III. 102 Et in iiij Estlandborde [i.e. planks from Norway] emp. ad ponend. subtus le Table..12d. 1580 Invent. (1815) 301 (Jam.) Item, in the chalmer of deis ane stand bed of eistland tymmer with ruf and pannell of the same. a 1618 Raleigh Inv. Shipping 10 South part of the Baltick, or Eastland Sea. 1668 Child Disc. Trade (ed. 4) 127 The Eastland and Norway Merchants, who affirm..their Trade is much declined since the passing the Act of Navigation. 1691 T. H[ale] Acc. New Invent. p. xix, Would..send a great deal of Money for Eastland Firr. 1703 Lond. Gaz. No. 3880/4 Two of the Convoys to our homeward-bound Eastland Fleet. 1727 W. Mather Yng. Man's Comp. 410 The Eastland Company..enjoying by their charter..the Trade of..Norway, Sweedland, Poland. 1734 Watts Reliq. Juv. (1789) 184 Phronimus, a considerable east-land merchant. 1870 Morris Earthly Par. iii. 408 How goes it then, With him—thy kinsman, mid the Eastland men? |
Hence † ˈeastlandish a., obs.
| 1605 Verstegan Dec. Intell. Ep. Ded., High, Low, and Eastlandish Teutonicke. |