Wapentake

Wapentake, n. [AS. wpengec, wpentāc, 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 præfecturam 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 fWæpnu enim arma sonat; tac, tactus est -- hac de causa totus ille conventus dicitur Wapentac, eo quod per tactum armorum suorum ad invicem confL L. Edward Confessor, 33. D. Wilkins.].