wapentake

English

Etymology

From Middle English wapentake, wepentake, wapentache, wapentac, from Old English wǣpenġetæc, from Old Norse vápnatak, from vápn (“weapon”) + taka (“take”), equivalent to weapon +‎ take.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈwɒp.ən.teɪk/

Noun

wapentake (plural wapentakes)

1. An administrative subdivision in northern English counties, developed under Norse influence, and corresponding to hundreds in the rest of England.
   • 1599, [Thomas] Nashe, Nashes Lenten Stuffe, […], London: […] [Thomas Judson and Valentine Simmes] for N[icholas] L[ing] and C[uthbert] B[urby] […], →OCLC, page 6:

     Hollanders, Zelanders, Scots, French, Weſterne men, Northren men, beſides all the hundreds and wapentakes nine miles compaſſe, fetch the beſt of their viands and mangery from her market.

Derived terms

• wapentakal

See also

• hundred
• rape (Etymology 2)

Anagrams

• taken a pew