Middle English Dictionary Entry
weif n.
Entry Info
| Forms | weif n. Also waif(e, wafe, (early) waive, waiph; pl. weifs, etc. & weives, waiffes. |
| Etymology | AF waif, waiffe, waive, weif, vars. of OF guaif n.; also cp. ML waivium, AL waifum, weivium. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Law (a) Property, including livestock, app. ownerless and hence subject to seizure and forfeiture, abandoned goods; ~ and strai;
(b) a piece of such property, a stray domestic animal; weifs and (or) straies, weifs and straifs (estraies);
(c) the right to seize unclaimed property found on one’s manor; also, the revenues obtained from such seizure; ~ and strai (straif); bello ~, a customary rent of some kind, perh. a rent paid for the right to claim stray animals [1st element may be L belua].
Associated quotations
a
- (1230) Chart.R.PRO1.127 : [The bishop shall have all cattle called] Wayve.
- (1252) Close R.Hen.III84 : Animalia que dicuntur Wayph.
- (1293) RParl.1.115a : Johannes Rex Scotie…habeant omnia Animalia que dicuntur Wayf inventa in predictis terris, nisi aliquis ea secutus fuerit qui possit…probare quod sua sint.
- (?c1375) Rec.of Carnarvon (1838) [OD col.]205 : Quod animalia que dicuntur Waife inuenta in feodo Hospitalis sint ipsorum fratrum, [etc.].
- (1385) Chart.R.PRO5.297 : [Animals called] wayf [found in the fee of the said hospital shall fall to the said brethren, unless anyone have followed them, who will and can prove ownership…they…shall have all animals called] stray [as well as all animals called] wayf.
- (1405-6) Liber Cust.Lond.in RS 12.2434 : Concessimus…eisdem Majori et…successoribus suis, omnimoda bona et catalla vocata Wayf et Strays.
- (1411) RParl.3.654b : Quod…Magister & Collegium…imperpetuum habeant…omnia catalla confiscata & confiscanda, & catalla vocata wayf & stray.
- (?a1500) Doc.in Bateson B.Cust.161 : If that ony come with bests or other catalx and men have suspeccyoun that they ben stolen, the baylle…shall…arrest the goods…and yif no man come at that day, the goods shalbe forfayted to the king as weyff.
b
- (1355) Reg.Edw.Blk.Pr.4.174 : [Order to William Wacelyn…to drive the said wastes at suitable times for strange cattle that are not properly agisted there for the princes’s use, and for] weifs [and] strais, [which the prince ought rightfully to have].
- (1360) Reg.Edw.Blk.Pr.4.367 : [The prince ought to remove his hand from the two horses which were lately seized…in his name, since they are] weifs [and belong to Sir Bartholomew de Burgherssh].
- (1362) Reg.Edw.Blk.Pr.4.448 : [Order…to enquire…whether the] weifs [and] estrayes [taken at Pynlee belong to the prince or to the complainants].
- (1394) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)6.24 : [They have had chattels of felons…with] wayves [and] strayes, sok [and] sak, tol [and] tem.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)prol.94 : Somme seruen þe kyng…In cheker, and in chancerye chalengen his dettes Of wardes and wardmotes, weyues and streyues.
- (1415) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)7.295 : [The miners have had…all cattle called] waifs [and] straifs [found in the moor].
- (1444) RParl.5.126b : It ys assented…that all maner Wayffes and Strayes, and othur godes forfeted within the…Toun…be solde bi the Baillifs.
- (?a1450) Oath Bk.Colchester3 : If ther hath be any weiffs or streis com into this towne…as hors, nete, schepe, swyne, swannes, or any other thyng…ye schal do us to wete…a weiff, that is if any man hath stolen ony gode or catell, whether it be hors, nete, or schepe, or any oder goods, and for dredde of or bewreying flyith from the same, that is a weiff.
- (1475) RParl.6.166b : The Kyng…hath yoven…to his moost dere…Brother George Duke of Clarence…all Knyghtes Fees…Piscaryes, Fre Customes, Rightes, Waifes, Strayes, Catall of Felons and Fugityves…to the forseide Manoyres…in eny maner wise perteignyng.
c
- (1228) Mem.Ripon in Sur.Soc.7452 : Idem capitulum ex concessione Regis…habeat…wrek, weyf, stray, merchet, lecherwyt, blodewyt.
- (1285-6) Cart.Ramsey in RS 79.2292 : Clamat habere weyff et stray, quo waranto, nescimus.
- (?a1300) Chronicon Petrob.in Camd.47 (Antq 60)44 : Clamat habere in manerio suo de F. furcas, visum franci plegii, et wayf; Et quo warento clamat habere in manerio suo de S. weyf.
- a1315 Legal Gloss.Glb.(Glb E.4)p.208 : Weyf: Auer chatel que home weyue par defaute de garaunt ou kemelyng.
- (1330) Cart.Ramsey in RS 79.392 : Abbas de Rameseye…clamat habere…in praedictis terris, weyf et stray.
- (a1377) Cust.Rent in OSSLH 2184 : Quod idem Abbas et predecessores sui seisiti fuerunt de praedictis visubus libera warennam, infangthef, weyf et stray.
- (1388) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)5.53 : [There is… a rent of] Bellowafe [worth 16 s. 2 d. yearly].
- (1388) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)5.72 : [The lord has…] infangtheef, outefangtheef, wayf, stray [and other liberties].
- (1400) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)7.33 : [The wapentake of Ollerton with] wayf [and] stray…[and that of Plumtree with] wayf [and] stray…[were…taken into the king’s hand].
- (1447-8) Shillingford99 : The…Bisshop saieth that he and his predecessours have…and have had view of Frank Plegge, weif and straif, and all other profits longing to a viewe.