1880 T. A. Spalding 129 The sparsely populated country sides.
1882 E. O'Donovan I. 330 Sparsely-sprinkled gardens..tremble in the mirage.
1895 J. G. Millais ix. 203 We all knew the country—a great sparsely-bushed plain.
1897 M. Kingsley 587 A clump of gnarled sparsely-foliaged trees.