sweet a Cp OED ~ adj 3 'free from taint or noxious matter' for comb in sense 3.
1 In the names of sweet-flavoured baked foods, often prepared with molasses, raisins or 'figs,' esp those prepared for Christmas or other special occasions: sweet bread, ~ cake, ~ loaf [see also LOAF].
1875 Maritime Mo i, 443 Oh, what a sad Christmas Eve and Christmas Day it is for me! I think I can see you making the sweet-bread and preparing everything comfortable for to-morrow. 1893 Christmas Review 5 Now the table is set with jugs, glasses, and decanters, and plates of 'sweet bread,' apples and oranges. 1931 BYRNES104 ... heaping plates of home made 'sweet bread' were passed around. T 74/5-64 I can picture [her], he says, makin' the sweet-breads for Christmas. 1971 NOSEWORTHY 252 Sweet bread: A type of bread made of flour, salt, yeast, butter, molasses and raisins, which is mixed with water. 1866 WILSON 355 [Funerals] were always attended by large bodies of people... Spirits and sweet-cake were given at the house. [1886] LLOYD 88 Plum puddings, which are known as 'figgy pudden,' are in great demand, as is also what is called 'sweetcake,' a concoction of flour, yeast, and molasses. [1904] 1927 DOYLE (ed) 5 "Wedding in Renews": They'll have sweet cake and turnip tops. T 50/3-64 Oh well, come in an' dance. Dance an' sing an' ask for sweet cake an' sweet bread an' bigar after beer! 1972 MURRAY 227 Usually too there was raisin bread and many people tried to have 'sweet cake' (layer cake, jam tart, etc.) to provide a finish to the meal. 1893 Christmas Greeting 17 ... while rosy cheeked maidens with deft and nimble fingers busied themselves in decorating the interiors of their homes, and providing the 'sweet loaf' and other Christmas necessaries.
2 In the names of sweet-scented or sweet-flavoured plants: sweet flower, ~ leaf [see also SWEETIE], ~ pea, ~ more [see also MORE n, ~ root, ~ sally [see also SALLY2], ~ william.
1956 ROULEAU 38 Sweet-flower: Moneses uniflora. 1956 ibid 38 Sweet-leaf: Rumex Acetosella. 1975 SCOTT 15 Most children in Newfoundland have enjoyed the refreshing taste of the Sheep Sorrel and it is too bad that this habit is lost with childhood. The Sheep Sorrel is known as Sweet Leaf or Laddie Suckers or Sally Suckers. 1956 ROULEAU 35 Sweet Pea: Lathvrus japonicus. C 75-132 To cure a lost appetite a tonic was made from helder berries, juniper bush, beaver roots, bog beans, sweet mores, sassparella roots and Indian tea, all steeped together. The person would take two spoonfuls before each meal. 1956 ROULEAU 38 Sweetroot: Sanguisorba canadensis. P 148-63 Sweet Sally: Rumex Acetosella. 1956 ROULEAU 38 Sweet William: Sisyrinchium angustifolium.
3 In comb sweet seal oil: processed seal oil free from odour; cp PALE SEAL OIL (1883 Fish Exhibit Cat4 173).
