jan 1, 1630 - bigg

Description:

The four-rowed barley, an inferior but hardier variety of the six-rowed or winter barley (OED). It was more suited to the climate and soil in northern counties, as Leland noted: <i>c.</i>1540 <i>Arkengarth dale liith most up North and bereth sum Bygge and Otys</i> (YAJ10/467). The word occurred commonly from that time: 1558 <i>I wyll that the pore folkes of the churche rawe be mended with bygge</i>, Sedbergh (SS26/122); 1630 <i>a garth of bigg</i>, Abbotside (YRS130/52).

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