wapentake

[ wop-uhn-teyk, wap- ]

noun

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

wapentake

/ ˈwæp-; ˈwɒpənˌteɪk /

noun

1. 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 History and Origins

Origin of wapentake¹

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; take

Word History and Origins

Origin of wapentake¹

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

Example Sentences

Each tree is covered with the coats of arms of the great families of that time in the wapentake.

From Project Gutenberg

"I am a man of the north country, from the town of Beverley and the wapentake of Holderness," he answered.

From Project Gutenberg

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.

From Project Gutenberg

In Martinesleie Wapentake there is a hundred in which there are 12 carucates for geld and there can be 48 teams.

From Project Gutenberg

The wapentake of Bulmer is, as respects minute and accurate information, part of the terra incognita of Yorkshire.

From Project Gutenberg