DCHP-2

slashing DCHP-1 (pre-1967)

• 1a n. — Hist.

  See quotes.

  See also: slash ((v.))   

  • 1834  A mode of chopping is in use hereabouts, termed slashing. It consists in merely prostrating the trees, without any further operation for a season, and then at leisure consuming the whole by fire. It is a cheap method, and may be done for four dollars an acre, instead of twelve; but its success depends upon the kind and condition of the wood.
  • 1899  There were three ways by which the first settlers cleared the land. The first was called "slashing." The farmer slashed the trees down in winnows, and let them thus lie on the ground for three or four years. Then in dry weather he would set fire to the winnows, and soon the whole slashing of ten or twelve acres would be a great mass of smoke and flame.
  • 1963  Another easy and cheap method was "slashing" . . . felling the trees and allowing them to stay where they fell for a season or two.

• 1b n. — Hist.

  a tract of land prepared for clearing in this way.

  See also: slash ((n.))  (def. 1a)  

  • 1905  In order to hasten the clearing of the land, and save labor, the farmer would often convert part of his woods into a "slashing," by chopping the trees down, and allowing them to remain for a few years in this fallen condition, to be acted upon by decay.
  • 1912  At the "slashing" the wagon ruts faded out and the road narrowed to a single cow path. . . .

• 1c n. — Hist.

  the felled trees, brush, etc. on a piece of land in process of being cleared.

  See also: slash ((n.))  (def. 1b)  

  • 1957  The men had waited for a day when the wind blew away from the buildings to fire our slashings.

• 2 n.

  downed timber and other debris left in a forest by wind and storm.

  See also: slash ((n.))  (def. 2)  

  • 1928  Mountain Bluebird. Not uncommon in the burnt spruce and slashings, but scarce elsewhere.

• 3 n. — Lumbering

  the debris left after a logging operation.

  See also: slash ((n.))  (def. 3b)  

  • 1964  Another small fire was burning in slashing on the west side of Reef Point.

• 4 n.

  the operation of clearing away brush and trees, as in making way for a road, power line, etc.

  • 1955  Two Nazko Indian friends of mine from Trout Lake country, and Peter were willing to contract the slashing job for a hundred dollars.
  • 1960  The slashing had been completed from Quesnel to Telegraph Creek, but by 1898 would be of questionable character.
  • 1965  Bob had . . . run a slashing crew . . . and had been a mine manager.

• 5 n. — Hockey or Lacrosse

  the illegal action of striking or swinging at an opposing player with the stick.

  • 1958  Bryan McCurdy . . . and Bill Oakford . . . went off together for roughing and slashing at the 18:55 mark.
  • 1965  He dismissed Shack for a two-minute sin of slashing, rather than a five-minute sentence for spearing. . . .
  • 1966  Finegan [was] upset by a slashing call in the second period. . . .