Wap"a*cut (?), n. (Zoöl.) The American hawk owl. See under Hawk.
Wap"a*too` (?), n. (Bot.) The edible tuber of a species of arrowhead
(Sagittaria variabilis); — so called by the Indians of Oregon. [Written
also wappato.]
Waped (?), a. [Prov. E. wape pale, v., to stupefy, akin to wap to beat.
Cf. Whap, and Wappened.] Cast down; crushed by misery; dejected. [Obs.]
Wap"en*take (?; 277), n. [AS. w&?;penge&?;&?;c, w&?;pentc, from Icel.
vpnatk, literally, a weapon taking or weapon touching, hence an
expression of assent ("si displicuit sententia fremitu aspernantur; sin
placuit frameas concutiunt." Tacitus, "Germania," xi.). See Weapon, and
Take. This name had its origin in a custom of touching lances or spears
when the hundreder, or chief, entered on his office. "Cum quis
accipiebat præfecturam wapentachii, die statuto in loco ubi
consueverant congregari, omnes majores natu contra eum conveniebant, et
descendente eo de equo suo, omnes assurgebant ei. Ipse vero, erecta
lancea sua, ab omnibus secundum morem fœdus accipiebat; omnes enim
quot-quot venissent cum lanceis suis ipsius hastam tangebant, et ita se
confirmabant per contactum armorum, pace palam concessa. Wæpnu enim
arma sonat; tac, tactus est — hac de causa totus ille conventus dicitur
Wapentac, eo quod per tactum armorum suorum ad invicem confœderati
sunt." L L. Edward Confessor, 33. D. Wilkins.] In some northern
counties of England, a division, or district, answering to the hundred
in other counties. Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire are
divided into wapentakes, instead of hundreds. [Written also wapentac.]
Selden. Blackstone.
Wap"in*schaw (?), n. [Scot. See Weapon, and Show.] An exhibition of
arms. according to the rank of the individual, by all persons bearing
arms; — formerly made at certain seasons in each district. [Scot.]
Jamieson. Sir W. Scott.
Wap"i*ti (?), n. [Probably the Iroquois name. Bartlett.] (Zoöl.) The
American elk (Cervus Canadensis). It is closely related to the European
red deer, which it somewhat exceeds in size.
By some writers it is thought to be a variety of the red deer, but it
is considered a distinct species by others. It is noted for the large,
branching antlers of the male.
Wapp (?), n. [CF. Prov. E. wap to wrap up.] (Naut.) (a) A fair-leader.
(b) A rope with wall knots in it with which the shrouds are set taut.
Wap"pa*to (?), n. (Bot.) See Wapatoo.
Wap"pened (?), a. [Cf. Waped, Wapper.] A word of doubtful meaning used
once by Shakespeare.