Until the 17th century, Frenchmen had looked upon peas as poor men's rations, to be dried and stored against lean winters.

A rich season meant prosperity enough to carry the town through the lean winter.

Now is when you should be fattening up to survive the lean winter ahead, like a bear.

They crave starchy food, a throw-back behavior from our grazing ancestors who had to live off their fat during the lean winter months.

It would be a cold summer, and a lean winter.

Fish dried to take them through a lean winter, some woven lengths of wool.

At best we've only the prospect of a lean winter, and I fear for the worst if these past months are any indication.

Every detail was seen to with most exacting care, for a spoiled hunt made a lean winter.

Above the Wall, a lean winter is a killing winter.

Indian cornmeal meant survival for many early settlers, who otherwise would have probably starved during the lean winters.