to break up land

Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.

To plough up land that has lain long as a meadow, is the sense as understood in the United States. In England, according to Grose, land that has long lain fallow or in sheep-walks, is so called during the first year after the alteration.


Where peasen ye had, and a fallow thereon,

Sow wheat ye may well, without dung thereupon:

New broken up land, or with water opprest,

Or overmuch dunged, for wheat is not best.--Tasser, Husbandry.

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