† ˈgrassman Sc. and north. dial. Obs.
Forms: see grass n.1
1. = cottier 1. [So MSw. grässäte.]
| [c 1150 in Chalmers Caledonia (1807) I. 720 De Hurdmannis, et Bondis, et Gresmannis.] 1461 Will in Ripon Ch. Acts 100 Item lego cuilibet husbandman de Nid, xijd. Item cuilibet gresman de eadem, vjd. 1521 Test. Ebor. (Surtees) V. 134 Item I will that every house of gresse men w{supt}in the towne of Besynby have ijd. a pece. 1607 N. Riding Rec. (1883) I. 94 Rich. Taylor, grasseman presented for using the trade of a badger. 1663 Spalding Troub. Chas. I (1792) II. 187 There was not a lock, key, band, nor window left unbroken down daily to the tenants, cottars and grassmen. 1825–80 Jamieson, Grass-man..This word has now fallen into disuse, but is still perfectly intelligible to elderly people, Aberd., who recollect the time when Girseman and Cottar were used as quite synon[ymous]. |
2. A man who took charge of the common lands of a parish.
| 1597 Mem. St. Giles's, Durham (Surtees) 9 Expenses for this present yere 1579 beeing gyrsmen John Taylor & Robert Hudspethe. 1646 Vestry Bks. (Surtees) 192–3 Itt is ordered by the 24{supt}{supi}⊇ thatt the Grasemen for the yeares 1644 and 1645 shall make accompt of all receipts and disbursements to the new elected Grasemen. 1737 Durham MS. Bk., Grassmen for y⊇ Year. 1846 Brockett N.C. Words (ed. 3), Grassmen, officers of great antiquity in the borough of Gateshead, whose duty was to look after the herbage or grass. 1893 in Northumbld. Gloss. |