1670, John Evelyn, Sylva, or A Discourse of Forest-Trees and the Propagation of Timber, London, Chapter 3, Of the Oak, pp. 16-17,
What improvement the stirring of the ground about the roots of Oaks is to the Trees I have already hinted; and yet in Copses where they stand warm, and so thickn’d with the under wood, as this culture cannot be practis’d, they prove in time to be goodly Trees.

[…] the Country near the Sea-side, and some few Miles further is full of short Under-wood, and thorny Shrubs, which tore our Cloaths to Rags […]

But tenants may cut underwood, and take wood sufficient to repair the pales, hedges, and fences, and what is called by law plough-bote, fire-bote, and other house-bote.

In cutting coppices the usual plan is to leave what is termed plashers where the underwoods are thin and require new wood; a far better plan is to plant young stuff, which is not only cheaper but makes much better underwoods.

Underwood

Meaning

Noun

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