field n OED ~ 12 b (1813, 1818) for sense 1; DC field ice (1850-) for comb in sense 3.
   1 Esp in phr field of ice: an extensive area of floating ice, usu stretching farther than the eye can see; a large ice-floe.
   1774 [LA TROBE] 18 After sailing three days, they were stopt by a field of ice, which extended beyond the bounds of their sight, and were obliged to run with contrary wind, and in a storm, into the bay Notre-Dame. 1832 MCGREGOR i, 222 It is little more than thirty years since the first vessels ventured among those formidable fields of ice that float from the northern regions, during the months of March, April, and May, down to the coast of Newfoundland. 1887 Colonist Christmas No 12 In a short time we reach a field of ice, like a polished mirror. 1909 BERNIER 7 ~ A large body of ice that may be seen around. 1957 Nfld & Lab Pilot Supplement No 2, p. 6 ~ Area of pack-ice/drift ice, consisting of any size of floes, of such extent that its limits cannot be seen from the crow's nest.
   2 Occas in name of underwater feature or shoal.
   1953 Nfld & Lab Pilot ii, 225 Several shoals, with depths of from 10 to 20 fathoms over them ... lie ... in order from east to west, The Field, Gull Island ground, Friday ledge, and Gruffy ground.
   3 Comb field-bunk: in the bunk-house of fishing premises, a large platform running the length of the building, on which the men slept (C 75-19).
   field-ice: see field of ice above; ice from such a field.
   [1766] 1971 BANKS 119 [The island of ice] is accompanied by several small flat Pieces of Ice which the seamen call field Ice which drives very near us & is Easily seen by its white appearance not unlike the Breaking of a wave into foam. 1832 MCGREGOR i, 223 The vessels then proceed to the field ice, pushing their way through the openings, or working to windward of it, until they meet with the herds of seals that accompany the ice. 1846 TOCQUE 67 In the month of March the field ice passes along the northern and eastern shores of Newfoundland. 1887 BOND 28 We could see nothing but open water all around us, as far as the eye could reach, with here and there a bit of field ice floating about; no sign of the main body of ice anywhere to be seen. 1924 ENGLAND 70 We made the field ice, now; got down to the reg'lar sheet ice, now, an' no more slob.

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