husbandry

Noun

husbandry (countable and uncountable, plural husbandries)

1. The occupation or work of a husbandman or farmer; the cultivation of crops and the raising of livestock; agriculture.
   • If the Church be God's Huſbandry, then, thoſe that be imployed in Miniſterial work, ought to be men of great judgment and experience in ſoul affairs; for theſe are the labourers whom God, the myſtical Huſbandman imploys and entruſts about his ſpiritual Huſbandry.1669, John Flavell [i.e., John Flavel], “The Proem”, in Husbandry Spiritualized or The Heavenly Use of Earthly Things. […], London: Printed and are to be sold by Robert Boulter, […], →OCLC, page 14
   • The number of perſons required to cultivate the land in farms, would not be the whole increaſe that incloſure would promote; for there would be many more required to make and repair all ſorts of utenſils for huſbandry and houſhold-furniture, and alſo artificers for building, and their clothing...1760, Thomas Hitt, A Treatise of Husbandry on the Improvement of Dry and Barren Lands. […], London: Printed for the author, and sold by J. Richardson […], and J. Webb, […], →OCLC, page 43

   Synonyms:

   agronomy

2. The prudent management or conservation of resources.
   • There's Husbandry in Heauen, / Their Candles are all out: […]c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount...
   • As to Perſons of Quality, they give Security to appropriate a certain Sum for each Child, ſuitable to their Condition; and theſe Funds are always managed with good Husbandry and the moſt exact Juſtice.1726 October 28, [Jonathan Swift], “Of the Inhabitants of Lilliput; […]”, in Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. […] [Gulliver’s Travels], volume I, London: […] Benj[amin] Motte, […]...

   Synonyms:

   economy, frugality, thrift

3. Administration or management of day-to-day matters.
   • The underwater ship husbandry discharge is composed of materials discharged during the inspection, maintenance, cleaning, and repair of hulls and hull appendages performed while the vessel is waterborne. Underwater ship husbandry includes activities such as hull cleaning, fiberglass repair...1999 April, “Phase I Discharge Determinations”, in Technical Development Document for Phase I Uniform National Discharge Standards for Vessels of the Armed Forces (EPA 821-R-99-001), Arlington, Va....
4. (obsolete) Agricultural or cultivated land.
   • [H]ow carefull God had beene in providing Tithes and Oblations for the Prieſt under the Law, giving him not Lands and Huſbandries amongſt the other Tribes, ut in nulla re avocaretur, that hee might have no occaſion to be withdrawne from the Altar; […]1641, William Prynne, “Comprising the Several Treasons, Comspiracies, Rebellions, Contumacies, Disloyalties, Warres, Dissentions, and State-schismes of the Bishops of London, Winchester, Durham...
5. Techniques of animal care.
   • Dr. Durfy was asked in his written cross-examination why it was his opinion that poor husbandry led to the conditions seen in all of the tortoises if he did not observe their habitat. Dr. Durfy replied "…The abnormalities and illnesses seen in the tortoises, especially when you consider that all of...2020 April 17, Lyndra Griffith, “Kamstra et al. v. Animal Welfare Services, 2020 ONACRB 2”, in CanLII, retrieved 18 May 2022