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Dictionary Language resources

assart

Pronunciation: /əˈsɑːt/

British historical

Definition of assart

noun

a piece of land converted from forest to arable use: an assart cut from the woods a few years back
[mass noun] the action of converting forest to arable use: heavy penalties were imposed for waste and assart

verb

[with object]

convert (forest) to arable use: the Earl of Salisbury was convicted of having assarted 2,300 acres of the parks in 1604

Origin:

late Middle English (as a noun): from Old French essarter, from medieval Latin ex(s)artare, based on ex 'out' + sar(r)ire 'to weed'. The verb dates from the early 16th century