FALLOW

I. adjective Etymology: Middle English falow, from Old English fealu; akin to Old High German falo pale, ~, Latin pallēre to be pale, Greek polios gray Date: before 12th century of a light yellowish-brown color, II. noun see: felly Date: before 12th century usually cultivated land that is allowed to lie idle during the growing season, plowed land, the state or period of being ~, the tilling of land without sowing it for a season, III. transitive verb Date: 15th century to plow, harrow, and break up (land) without seeding to destroy weeds and conserve soil moisture, IV. adjective Date: 15th century left untilled or unsown after plowing, dormant , inactive , ~ness noun