Fal″low, n. [So called from the fallow, or somewhat yellow, color of naked ground; or perh. akin to E. felly, n., cf. MHG. valgen to plow up, OHG. felga felly, harrow.] 1. Plowed land.
Who... pricketh his blind horse over the fallows. Chaucer.
2. Land that has lain a year or more untilled or unseeded; land plowed without being sowed for the season.
The plowing of fallows is a benefit to land. Mortimer.
3. The plowing or tilling of land, without sowing it for a season; as, summer fallow, properly conducted, has ever been found a sure method of destroying weeds.
Be a complete summer fallow, land is rendered tender and mellow. The fallow gives it a better tilth than can be given by a fallow crop. Sinclair.
Fallow crop, the crop taken from a green fallow. — Green fallow, fallow whereby land is rendered mellow and clean from weeds, by cultivating some green crop, as turnips, potatoes, etc.