close seasonn.
/ˈkləʊs ˌsiːzn/, /ˈkləʊz ˌsiːzn/, U.S. /ˈkloʊs ˌsiz(ə)n/, /ˈkloʊz ˌsiz(ə)n/ 1. The period of the year when hunting (of a particular variety of game) or fishing is prohibited. Cf. close adj. 10, open season n. 1.
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the world > food and drink > hunting > hunting time > [noun] > close-time
fermison?a1400
fence-month1594
time of gracea1610
fencer-month1699
close season1843
closed season1878
sanctuary1898
close-time-
1843 Times 4 Jan. 7/3 John McDonald..was brought before Sheriff Cameron..for having in his possession seven muirfowl during the close season.
1888 in E. E. Morris Austral Eng. (1898) 229/1 The months of December, January, and February in each year are here prescribed a close season for the fish of the species of the mugil known as mullet or kanae.
1939 W. Westrup in Outspan (Bloemfontein) 18 Aug. 87/1 I don't interfere if a man wants a bit o' meat in the close season, but I reckon he didn't oughter kill sorter promiscuous.
1999 M. Shoard Right to Roam viii. 344 The close season for salmon runs from November until January.
2. British. In professional sport: the period of the year when a particular sport is not played.
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1890 Times 17 Sept. 5/2 Proposed by the Rev. F. Marshall... No [rugby] football contest of any character, either for charity or otherwise, where gate money is taken, be allowed during the close season.
1973 P. Arnold & C. Davis Hamlyn Bk. World Soccer 77/1 Derby County were on a close-season tour abroad when they learned..that their rivals had failed and they were the Champions.
2004 Daily Record (Glasgow) (Nexis) 14 Oct. 62 The ex-St Johnstone playmaker had been told during the close season his six-month deal would be extended if he proved his worth.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, June 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1843