Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

wapentake

American  
[wop-uhn-teyk, wap-] / ˈwɒp ənˌteɪk, ˈwæp- /

noun

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


wapentake British  
/ 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

"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

Etymology

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

When Gwynplaine was seated, the justice of the quorum and the wapentake retired a few steps, and stood upright and motionless, behind the seat.

From The Man Who Laughs by Hugo, Victor

South-East div division pa parish wap wapentake S.W.

From Curiosities of Great Britain: England and Wales Delineated Vol.1-11 Historical, Entertaining & Commercial; Alphabetically Arranged. 11 Volume set. by Dugdale, Thomas Cantrell

"The wapentake touches you with the iron weapon?"

From The Man Who Laughs by Hugo, Victor

He was knighted in 1786 when he presented a congratulatory address from the wapentake of Wirksworth to George III., on his escape from the attempt on his life by Margaret Nicholson.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 5 "Arculf" to "Armour, Philip" by Various

However, he took his resolution heroically, and decided to brave the law, and to follow the wapentake, so anxious was he concerning the fate of Gwynplaine.

From The Man Who Laughs by Hugo, Victor