Middle English Dictionary Entry
wap n.
Entry Info
| Forms | wap n. Also wap(p)e, whap. |
| Etymology | Prob. from wappen v.(1); cp. MnE dial. whap a blow, an instant. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. swap n.
1.
(a) A blow, stroke; ~ of the wind, ?wind of a ~, a gust of wind; at a ~ on, with a single blow;
(b) at a (the) ~, in an instant, all at once; for the ~, for wappis, ?for the present.
Associated quotations
a
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)2249 : Þou wypped of my hede at a wap one.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)9338 : On smytes his felawe thorow the pap, And he ȝeues him a sori wap.
- a1450(c1400) Wor.Serm.(Wor F.10)78/925 : Hi hil Olimpe…with a litel erþe-quake, with a litel whap o þe wynd was kast heuedlyng.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)326/199 : For a whapp so he whyned and whesid And ȝitt no lasshe to þe lurdan was lente.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)408 : His wynges sprad wer abrode, boun forto flee With belles bordored a-boute…Redy whan ouȝte runnen to rynge ful loude With wynde of a wap [vr. ilke a wape of the wynde] þat to þe wynges sprongyn.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)6405 : Ector for þat od dynt ournyt in hert, Wode for the wap as a wild lyon.
b
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)499 : Þou art waxen so wroth for þy wod-bynde, & trauayledez neuer to tent hit þe tyme of an howre, Bot at a wap hit here wax and away at an oþer.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)514 : Þei ben feyn[t] at þe fiȝt…& wel wenen at a wap alle þey wold quelle.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)1283 : Þey wrouȝten at þe wal…Tille alle þe cyte was serched & souȝt al aboute, Maden wast at þe wappe þer þe walle stode.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)5318 : All þe welthe of þe werd…witis a-way at a wapp as þe wynd turnes.
- (1469) Paston (EETS)1.548 : Dell corteysly wyth the Qwen and þat felawshep and wyth Mastras Anne Hawte for wappys, tyll I spek wyth yow.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)289/314 : Assay now I shall, As I wold at a wap wyn all at ones.
- c1613(1464) Plumpton Let.14 : Sir Henry Vavasor was gone hence or I wist, so that I might not speak to him for the wapp.