burn, verb transitive and intransitive
- Origin:
- EnglishShow more Special sense of general English.
To eradicate old grass from the open countryside by controlled burning, usually once a year after the first spring rainfall, as part of an overall system of grazing management. See also brand sense 2 a, veld burning (veld sense 5).
- Note:
- In Australian , N.Z. , and North American English, ‘burn off’.
1812 A. Plumptre tr. of H. Lichtenstein’s Trav. in Sn Afr. (1928) I. 185It is common to burn the lands every year, by which means they are manured, and the foundation laid for a wholesome vegetation.
1937 Handbk for Farmers (Dept of Agric. & Forestry) 397If the veld is burned when the grass is in an active state of growth deterioration is certain to result.
To eradicate old grass from the open countryside by controlled burning, usually once a year after the first spring rainfall, as part of an overall system of grazing management.
- Derivatives:
- Hence burn noun, burning verbal noun, controlled burning; also attributive.1965 D. Howell in Farmer’s Weekly 8 Dec. 31The pattern of treatment which today is recommended..is a season’s rest prior to burning and a swift sharp burn which should take place after the first effective spring rains of an inch.1993 D. & P. Irwin Field Guide to Natal Drakensberg 2.5Research..has included the monitoring of grassland species composition under a variety of different burning schemes. The results have been used to formulate the burning programmes which are currently in practice.
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