[fal.low] adj [ME falow, fr. OE fealu; akin to OHG falo pale, fallow, L pallere to be pale, Gk polios gray] (bef. 12c): of a light yellowish brown color
[2]fallow n [ME falwe, falow, fr. OE fealg--more at felly] (bef. 12c) 1: usu. cultivated land that is allowed to lie idle during the growing season
2. obs: plowed land
3: the state or period of being fallow
4: the tilling of land without sowing it for a season [3]fallow vt (15c): to plow, harrow, and break up (land) without seeding to destroy weeds and conserve soil moisture [4]fallow adj (15c) 1: left untilled or unsown after plowing
2: dormant, inactive--used esp. in the phrase to lie fallow "at this very moment there are probably important inventions lying ~ --Harper's" -- fal.low.ness n