from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Fallow \Fal"low\, n. [So called from the fallow, or somewhat
yellow, color of naked ground; or perh. akin to E. felly, n.,
cf. MHG. valgen to plow up, OHG. felga felly, harrow.]
1. Plowed land. [Obs.]
[1913 Webster]
Who . . . pricketh his blind horse over the fallows.
--Chaucer.
[1913 Webster]
2. Land that has lain a year or more untilled or unseeded;
land plowed without being sowed for the season.
[1913 Webster]
The plowing of fallows is a benefit to land.
--Mortimer.
[1913 Webster]
3. The plowing or tilling of land, without sowing it for a
season; as, summer fallow, properly conducted, has ever
been found a sure method of destroying weeds.
[1913 Webster]
Be a complete summer fallow, land is rendered tender
and mellow. The fallow gives it a better tilth than
can be given by a fallow crop. --Sinclair.
[1913 Webster]
{Fallow crop}, the crop taken from a green fallow. [Eng.]
{Green fallow}, fallow whereby land is rendered mellow and
clean from weeds, by cultivating some green crop, as
turnips, potatoes, etc. [Eng.]
[1913 Webster]