ASSART

I. əˈsärt intransitive verb

also es·sart ə̇ˈ-

( -ed/-ing/-s )

Etymology: Middle French essarter, from Old French, from essart

English law : to grub up trees and bushes to make land arable

II. noun

also essart “

( -s )

Etymology: Middle French essart, from Old French, from Late Latin exartum, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin exsartum, neuter of exsartus, past participle of exsarire to weed out, from Latin ex out + sarire to hoe, weed; akin to Old High German sarf sharp, Latin sarpere to prune, Greek harpagē hook, rake, Sanskrit sṛṇī sickle — more at ex-

1. English law : act of grubbing up trees or bushes usually in converting forest land into arable land

2. English law : a piece of land cleared