glean

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   To collect (fruit, grain, or other produce) from a field, an orchard, etc., after the…

   To collect (fruit, grain, or other produce) from a field, an orchard, etc., after the main gathering or harvest.

   • So holy, and ſo perfect is my loue, / And I in ſuch a pouerty of grace, / That I ſhall thinke it a moſt plenteous crop / To gleane the broken eares after the man / That the maine harueſt reapes: […]
   • And thou ſhalt not gleane thy vineyard, neither ſhalt thou gather euery grape of thy vineyard; thou ſhalt leaue them for the poore and ſtranger: I am the Lord your God.
   • And Ruth the Moabiteſſe ſaide vnto Naomi, Let me now goe to the field, and gleane eares of corne after him, in whoſe ſight I ſhall finde grace.
2. 2

   To gather (something, now chiefly something intangible such as experience or information)…

   To gather (something, now chiefly something intangible such as experience or information) in small amounts over a period of time, often with some difficulty; to scrape together.

   • [Ferdinand] Magellan ſoone after ſailes yet more South, and paſſes that Fretum or ſtrait, vvith more reaſon called Magellan, a hundred others haue ſince that gleaned ſeueral additions of Titles and nevv names their diſtributed.
   • It is entertaining to obſerve hovv the ſeveral little Springs and Rills, that break out of the Sides of the Mountain, are glean'd up, and convey'd thro' little cover'd Channels into the main Hollovv of the Aqueduct.
3. 3

   To take away (someone's) possessions

   To take away (someone's) possessions; to strip (someone) bare.

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   1. 4

      Of an animal, especially a bat or a bird

      Of an animal, especially a bat or a bird: to feed by picking up or plucking (prey, mainly arthropods such as insects) from various places.

      • Seen traveling and foraging in noisy flocks of 5 to 30 or more birds, gleaning insects, eggs, and larvae from shrubs and trees.
   2. 5

      To collect or gather (things) into one mass.

      • Such ſlender arguments be gleaneth together agaynſt vs, ſeeking bye matters. But what ſhould he do? elſe ſhould he haue nought to furniſhe his counterblaſt withall.
      • Yes, that goodneſſe / Of gleaning all the Lands vvealth into one, / Into your ovvne hands (Card'nall) by Extortion: […]
   3. 6

      To cut off (straggling soldiers separated from their units) during a conflict

      To cut off (straggling soldiers separated from their units) during a conflict; to isolate.

      • And they turned and fled toward the wilderneſſe vnto the rocke of Rimmon: and they gleaned of them in the high wayes fiue thouſand men: and purſued hard after them vnto Gidom, and ſlew two thouſand men of them.
   4. 7

      To collect fruit, grain, or other produce after the main gathering or harvest.

      • Put nat your horſes in to the corne felde yet for my folkes haue nat gleaned there yet: […]
      • In harvest tyme, whilest she myght goo and glyne; / And wher stoore was stroyed with the flodd / Then well awaye! for she undone was clene.
      • And ſhe [Ruth] ſaid, I pray you, let mee gleane and gather after the reapers amongſt the ſheaues: […]
   5. 8

      A collection of something made by gleaning.

      • But late at Night, vvith vveary Pinions come / The lab'ring Youth, and heavy laden home. / Plains, Meads, and Orchards all the day he plies, / The gleans of yellovv Thime diſtend his Thighs: […]
   6. 9

      The afterbirth or placenta of an animal, especially a cow or sheep.

      • The gleane of a covv hauing nevvly calved, taken vvhiles it is moiſt and ſo applied, is good for any ulcers of the viſage.
      • This Method of giving VVater to a nevv-calved Covv, vvherein Aſhes are thus put, is conſtantly practiſed by ſome to cleanſe her, and bring avvay her Glean.
   7. 10

      Of an animal, especially a cow or sheep

      Of an animal, especially a cow or sheep: to deliver its afterbirth or placenta.

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