Lewis & Short

nŏvālis, e, adj. [novus], in agriculture,

  1. I. that is ploughed anew or for the first time: ager restibilis, qui restituitur ac reseritur quotquot annis: contra qui intermittitur, a novando novalis, Varr. L. L. 5, § 39 Müll.; cf. id. ib. 6, § 59; Paul. ex Fest. p. 174 Müll.
    Hence,
  2. II. Subst.: nŏvālis, is, f. (sc. terra), and nŏvāle, is, n. (sc. solum).
      1. 1. Fallow land: alternis idem tonsas cessare novales, Verg. G. 1, 71: quae numquam vacuo solita est cessare novalise nescit humus, Ov. P. 1, 4, 13; Pall. 1, 6; 2, 10: novale est, quod alternis annis seritur, Plin. 18, 19, 49, § 176; Col. 2, 2, 14: pabula fesso praebere novali, id. poët. 10, 84.
      2. 2. A field that has been ploughed for the first time: talis fere est in novalibus, caesā vetere silvā, Plin. 17, 5, 3, § 39; Dig. 47, 21, 3: novalis (dicitur), ubi fuit satum antequam secunda aratione renovetur, Varr. R. R. 1, 29, 1.
        Hence,
    1. B. Transf.
      1. 1. Unploughed land, meadow-land: ille subacto et puro solo gaudet, hic novali graminosoque gaudet, Col. 6, praef. 1.
      2. 2. A cultivated field (poet.): impius haec tam culta novalia miles habebit? Verg. E. 1, 71: dira novalia Cadmi, Stat. Th. 3, 644.
      3. 3. The standing crops: nec prius inde domum quam tota novalia saevos In ventres abeant (boum), Juv. 14, 148.