the female hemp, soonest ripe and fittest for spinning, but is not worth half so much as the carle with its seed. Ess. and Suss. The fimble to spin, and the carle for his seed. Tusser.
·- Light summer hemp, that bears no seed. ...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
; female hemp, is that which is chiefly used for domestic purposes, and therefore falls to the care ...
The Sailor's Word-Book