wap

n. A blow or beating; a whap. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) The American hawk owl. See under Hawk. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Bot.) The edible tuber of a species of arrowhead (Sagittaria variabilis); -- so called by the Indians of Oregon. [ Written also wappato. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Prov. E. wape pale, v., to stupefy, akin to wap to beat. Cf. Whap, and Wappened. ] Cast down; crushed by misery; dejected. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. w&unr_;penge&unr_;&unr_;c, w&unr_;pentāc, from Icel. vāpnatāk, literally, a weapon taking or weapon touching, hence an expression of assent (“si displicuit sententia fremitu aspernantur; sin placuit frameas concutiunt.” Tacitus, “Germania, ” xi.). See Weapon, and Take. This name had its origin in a custom of touching lances or spears when the hundreder, or chief, entered on his office. “Cum quis accipiebat praefecturam wapentachii, die statuto in loco ubi consueverant congregari, omnes majores natu contra eum conveniebant, et descendente eo de equo suo, omnes assurgebant ei. Ipse vero, erecta lancea sua, ab omnibus secundum morem fœdus accipiebat; omnes enim quot-quot venissent cum lanceis suis ipsius hastam tangebant, et ita se confirmabant per contactum armorum, pace palam concessa. Waepnu enim arma sonat; tac, tactus est -- hac de causa totus ille conventus dicitur Wapentac, eo quod per tactum armorum suorum ad invicem confœderati sunt.” L L. Edward Confessor, 33. D. Wilkins. ] In some northern counties of England, a division, or district, answering to the hundred in other counties. Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire are divided into wapentakes, instead of hundreds. [ Written also wapentac. ] Selden. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Scot. See Weapon, and Show. ] An exhibition of arms. according to the rank of the individual, by all persons bearing arms; -- formerly made at certain seasons in each district. [ Scot. ] Jamieson. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Probably the Iroquois name. Bartlett. ] (Zool.) The American elk (Cervus Canadensis). It is closely related to the European red deer, which it somewhat exceeds in size. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ By some writers it is thought to be a variety of the red deer, but it is considered a distinct species by others. It is noted for the large, branching antlers of the male. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ CF. Prov. E. wap to wrap up. ] (Naut.) (a) A fair-leader. (b) A rope with wall knots in it with which the shrouds are set taut. [ 1913 Webster ]