עָזַק

עָזַק(b. h. Pi.; cmp. חָזַק) (to press, 1) to break clods and level the ground; to break ground; to till. Men.85b היה עוֹזֵק תחת זיתיו (cmp. בָּלַש; Yalk. Deut. 962 עוסק; Yalk. Prov. 950 מוסק) was hacking and levelling the ground under his olive trees. Ohol. XVIII, 5 העוזק בית הפרס he who breaks a field suspected of containing human bones (v. פְּרָס). Tosef. ib. XVII, 9 עֲזָקוֹ אין לך בדיקהוכ׳ if he broke the ground, there is no better way of examining than this. Y.R. Hash. II, 58a top (ref. to בית יעזק, v. יַעְזֵק) ששם היו עוֹזְקִין את ההלכה for there they cultivated (levelled) the law; a. e. 2) to hold fast. Ḥull.94a עוזק אחת בפיווכ׳ holding one piece in his mouth and two in his hands.