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wapentake

(wäp′ən tāk′, wap′-)

noun

Historical in England,

a subdivision of certain northern counties originally under Norse domination, corresponding to the hundred in other counties
a law court in such a subdivision

Origin: ME < OE wapentac < ON vapnatak, lit., a weapon-taking (< vapn, weapon + tak, a taking, commandeering < taka, to take): prob. used territorially from ceremony in which vassals touched the raised spear of the lord with their own as token of submission

See wapentake in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

A historical subdivision of some northern counties in England, corresponding roughly to the hundred in other shires.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Old English wǽpengetǽc (translation of Old Norse vāpnatak, act of taking weapons to indicate assent in an assembly)

Origin: : wǽpen, weapon

Origin: + -getǽc, act of taking (from tacan, to take; see take)

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