wapentake

[ wop-uh n-teyk, wap- ]

/ ˈwɒp ənˌteɪk, ˈwæp- /

noun

(formerly in N England and the Midlands) a subdivision of a shire or county corresponding to a hundred.

Nearby words

wanton, wanxian, wany, wap, wapatoo, wapentake, wapiti, wappenshaw, wapperjaw, wapsipinicon, war

Origin of wapentake

before 1000; Middle English < Old Norse vāpnatak (compare Old English wǣpen-getæc) show of weapons at public voting, equivalent to vāpna (genitive plural of vāpn weapon) + tak taking; see take

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for wapentake

We believe that even the word "wapentake" has changed its meaning.
The Man Who Laughs|Victor Hugo
This fourth was the wapentake, clearly visible in the light of the torch.
The Man Who Laughs|Victor Hugo
But a short time ago, the wapentake, now the justice of the quorum.
The Man Who Laughs|Victor Hugo
On a sign from the sheriff, the justice of the quorum and the wapentake advanced.
The Man Who Laughs|Victor Hugo

Then again, in several cases we find that the land-lord or land-rca shares the proceeds of a fine with the hundred or wapentake.
Domesday Book and Beyond|Frederic William Maitland

British Dictionary definitions for wapentake

wapentake

/ (ˈwɒpənˌteɪk, ˈwæp-) /

noun

English legal history a subdivision of certain shires or counties, esp in the Midlands and North of England, corresponding to the hundred in other shires

Word Origin for wapentake

Old English wǣpen (ge) tæc, from Old Norse vāpnatak, from vápn weapon + tak take

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012