_Wraxen._--Probably analogous to the Northumbrian "_wrax_, wraxing,
wraxed," signifying to stretch or (sometimes) to sprain.
A peasant leaving overworked himself, would say he had _wraxed_ himself;
after sitting, would walk to _wrax_ his legs. Falling on the ice would have
_wraxed_ his arm; and of a rope that has stretched considerably, he would
say it had _wraxed a gay feck_.
It may possibly have come, as a corruption, from the verb _wax_, to grow.
It is a useful and very expressive word, although not recognised in polite
language.