Middle English Dictionary Entry
wrek n.
Entry Info
| Forms | wrek n. Also wrek(k)e, wrecke, (chiefly early) wrec, (early) wrech & (?error) werk-. |
| Etymology | AF wrek, wrec, wre(c)ke, werec & AL wreccum, wreckum, wercum; also cp. ON: cp. OI reki (from earlier *vreki) a thing drifted ashore. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. wrak n.(1).
1.
(a) Law That which washes ashore from the sea, esp. from a wrecked ship; also, the right to take that which washes up on a certain stretch of seashore; ?also, a wrecked ship, a shipwreck [quot. c1410]; ~ of the se, ship ~; gone to ~, of a ship: wrecked;
(b) ~ fre, exempt from the forfeiture of wrecked ships and goods which wash up on a certain stretch of shore;
(c) swampgrass, sedge; also, seaweed; ~ of the se;
(d) glossing L ledo: a tide of some kind; ~ of the se.
Associated quotations
a
- (1109-11) Cart.Ramsey in RS 79.1241 : Sciatis me…concessisse…ecclesiæ Sancti Benedicti de Rameseia…blodwite et murdre et wrec maris et omnes libertates…ad coronam meam pertinentia apud Bramcestre.
- (1159) in Pipe R.Soc.142 : Vic. Redd. Comp. de xxi s. & x d. veteris Monete de Wrec.
- (1175-6) in Pipe R.Soc.25 ()83 : Idem vicecomes redd. comp. de iiij m de misericordia Schitebroch quia accepit wrech regis.
- (1178) Cart.Ramsey in RS 79.2 ()136 : Ringstede…cum omni maris ejectu, quod wrec nominatur.
- (1200) Chart.R.Tower ()51b : De ewagio, de wrec et lagan, et de omnibus aliis consuetudinibus.
- (1228) Mem.Ripon in Sur.Soc.7452 : Wrek, weyf, stray, merchet, lecherwyt, blodewyt.
- c1250 Legal Gloss.Jul.(Jul D.7)33 : Wrec: Truvure de mer.
- a1300 Chart.in Kemble Codex Dipl.4.112 : Habeat…wrek in mari et in litore maris et in portibus maris.
- (1379) in Madox Firma Burgi (1726)9 : Reservatis Regi pisce Regali, Wrek, et Lagan.
- a1400 Chart.in Kemble Codex Dipl.()4.145 : Brancestrei cum omnibus ad se pertinentibus, et cum omni maris proiectu, quod nos Anglice shipwrec appellamus.
- (1405) Doc.in Flasdieck Origurk.37 : Ȝif ony wrek falle vp on his soyle…than thei shul haue it wyth outen ony thyng paiyng.
- (1405) Doc.in Flasdieck Origurk.40 : No maner of wrek…shal no[t] be caryed ne born a way out of the place.
- c1410 Chaucer CT.ML.(Cmb Dd.4.24)B.513 : The Constable of the Castel doun is fare To sen his wrek, and al the ship he sought.
- (1420) Stonor1.32 : Þe wreke is parcel of þe enheritance of Ermyngton and is fre.
- (1455) RParl.5.311b : Markettes, Feires, Wrecke of the See, Weyves, Estrayes.
- (1463-4) RParl.5.507a : Yf eny of the forseid Wares…come into this Reame or Wales by wey of wrek that they in no wise be comprised within this Acte.
- (1473) RParl.6.75b : Hospitalles, Wrekkes of the See, Liberties, Fraunchises.
- (1477) Paston2.421 : There is a grete chyppe go to wrekke be-for Wynterton.
- (1477) Paston2.422 : Remembir youre ryth of youre wreke at Wynterton.
- (1477) Paston2.423 : Thesse arn þe menys namys…þat caryid of youre seuerel grownd xxij carte ful of stuffe, viijxx bowestauis, iijxx and vij waynescottys…and gret plente of wreke of…þe schyppe þat is worth meche mony.
- (1482) RParl.6.205a : The same Duc shall have…Wrekke of the See, Tresour founde.
- ?a1500 Cart.Ramsey in RS 79.1 ()278 : Idem abbas habet ibidem wrekes maris et maris ejectum, quod Sevpwerke appellatur.
b
- (1205) Chart.R.Tower ()153b : Cum socca & sacca & thol & theam & infangeneth & wrecfri & witefri & lestagefri & locofri.
- (1252) Chart.B.Borough259 : Werkfri, witefri, lestagefri, et locoffri.
- (1278) Chart.B.Borough260 : Quod sint wrecfry, wittefry, lestagefry, et lovecopfry.
- (1401) Doc.in HMC Rep.5 App.454a : Quod sint wrecfry, et wittefry, et lestagefry, et lonecopfry [read: lovecopfry].
- (1423-4) RParl.()5.405a : Quod sint Wrecfry & Witefry, Lestagefry & Lunatofry.
c
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)533 : Wreke, of þe see: Alga, norga.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)533 : Wrek, of a dyke, or a fenne, or stondynge watyr: Ulva.
- a1500 Add.37075 Gloss (Add 37075)52/283a : Vlna [read: Vlua]: wreke.
d
- a1500 Add.37075 Gloss (Add 37075)69/307a : Ledo: wreke of þe see.