grass-cock

plural grass-cocks

1. datedagricultureA cock (small pile) of grass (cut, gathered, and piled).

   Near-synonyms: haycock, hay-cock (broadly synonymous)

   3 more examples

   Grass-cock (s. in husbandry) A small heap of mown grass laid to dry the first day.

   1775, John Ash, The New And Complete Dictionary Of The English Language, In Which All The Words are Introduced ... To Which Is Prefixed, A Comprehensive Grammar; In Two Volumes, volume I

   Case 56. Tithes of hay ought to be paid in grass-cocks. S. C. 2. Eq. Ab. 733. Carth. 264. Smithson and Others against Dodson. THIS was a bill brought by the parishioners of Gargrave, in Yorkshire, against the defendant, their VICAR, to produce an ancient terrier in his custody, which shews the method of payment of tithes in that parish, which they suggest to be a modus, VIZ. for hay the vicar is to have the tenth grass-cock (a), and three half-pence for every milch-cow, and a penny for every swarm of bees, and sixpence for every orchard.

   1795, Modern Reports; or Select Cases Adjudged in the Courts of King's Bench, Chancery, Common Pleas, and Exchequer, volume 9, London, England

   "When, says he, the crops of clover are large and heavy, it is necessary that the swaths should be turned over at the making, the stalks of this grass being very replete with juices. This may be done the next day after the mowing, or the second day after, as the weather is more or less farourable, observing that, as the chief virtue of this hay resides in the leaf and blossom, the less they are disturbed, the more valuable will be the fodder: on which account the tedding of this hay abroad, as is practised by some people, cannot fail to be of the greatest injury. From the windrows, it should be made up into grass-cocks, which, having enjoyed the influence of the sun and air for a day or two, may be thrown into large cocks for carting. But, if wet weather prevail during the season for making this hay, it causes an infinite deal of trouble to the farmer; and the clover, from having been frequently shaken abroad, is deprived of its most nutritious particles, namely, the blossom and the leaf."

   1807, Mr. Banister, quotee, “Hay”, in The Complete Farmer; Or, General Dictionary of Agriculture and Husbandry: Comprehending the Most Improved Methods of Cultivation; the Different Modes of Raising Timber, Fruit, and Other Trees; and the Modern Management of Live-stock: with Descriptions of the Most Approved Implements, Machinery, and Farm-buildings, 5 edition, volume I, London, England

   Synonyms: haycock, hay-cock[Appendix:Glossary