ˈburn-beat, v.
Also -bait, -bate.
[f. burn v. + beat n.3 or v.2: the latter part is inflected; pr. pple. burnbeating pa. pple. burnbeat.]
trans. To pare off and burn the rough turf or sod of moorland or fallow ground in order to improve it. Hence ˈburn-baited ppl. a.; ˈburnbeating vbl. n.
| 1669 Worlidge Syst. Agric. (1681) 37 The best way..to improve and reduce these Lands into Tillage, is to Burn-Beat, or Denshire them. 1676 ― Cider (1691) 74 The ground being turfie..may be burn-beat in June or July. 1681 ― Kal. Rust. Nov., Wheat may yet be sown..especially on burn-baited Land. 1727 Abp. Boulter Lett. I. 221 The tenant shall not be able to burnbeat any ground in virtue of this act. 1808 J. Walker Hist. Hebrides & Highl. Scotl. I. 176 The practice of..Burnbaiting, or sod burning. |