wappenshaw

[ wop-uhn-shaw, wap- ]

noun

1. a periodic muster or review of troops or persons under arms, formerly held in certain districts of Scotland to satisfy military chiefs that their men were properly armed and faithful to the local lord or chieftain.

wappenshaw

/ ˈwɒp-; ˈwæpənʃɔː /

noun

1. (formerly) a muster of men in a particular area in Scotland to show that they were properly armed

Word History and Origins

Origin of wappenshaw¹

1495–1505; short for wappenshawing (Scots), equivalent to wappen ( Old English wǣpna, genitive plural of wǣp ( e ) n weapon ) + shawing showing ( show, -ing ¹ ); compare Dutch wapenschouwing

Word History and Origins

Origin of wappenshaw¹

C16: from Northern English wapen, from Old Norse vápn weapon + schaw show

Example Sentences

Presently, soon after the arrival of the cavalcade, the great wappenshaw was set in array, and forming up company by company the long double line extended as far as the eye could reach from north to south along the side of the broad and sluggish-moving river.

From Project Gutenberg

This night of the wappenshaw the lofty grey walls were hung with gaily coloured tapestries draped from the overhanging gallery of wood which ran round the top of the castle.

From Project Gutenberg

"And I also won the swording prize at the last wappenshaw on the moot hill of Urr," said Sholto, taking courage, and being resolved that if his fortune stood not now on tiptoe, it should not be on account of any superfluity of modesty on his own part.

From Project Gutenberg

It was a week or two after the date of the great wappenshaw and tourneying at the Castle of Thrieve, that in the midmost golden haze of a summer's afternoon four men sat talking together about a table in a room of the royal palace of Stirling.

From Project Gutenberg

The sports of the first day of the great wappenshaw were over.

From Project Gutenberg