wapentake

noun

wa·pen·take ˈwa-pən-ˌtāk

ˈwä-

: a subdivision of some English shires corresponding to a hundred

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English wǣpentæc, from Old Norse vāpnatak act of grasping weapons, from vāpn weapon + tak act of grasping, from taka to take; probably from the brandishing of weapons as an expression of approval when the chief of the wapentake entered upon his office — more at weapon, take entry 1

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of wapentake was before the 12th century

See more words from the same century