Venie, Brave venie, merry vein, jovial humour. {399}
Wan, Wonnynge wan, dwelling-place.
Wan, got.
Warden-pies. Wardens are a species of large pears. In Shakespeare’s Winter’s Tale, the clown, enumerating the articles he had to provide for the sheep-shearing feast, says he “must have saffron to colour the warden-pies.”
Warse, worse.
Was, wash. “And afterward the justices arise and wasse, and geffe thanks unto the new serjaunts forther gode dyner” (Origines Juridiciales, p. 116). This ceremony, which, in former times, was constantly practised as well before as after meat, seems to have fallen into disuse on the introduction of forks, about the year 1620: as before that period our ancestors supplyed the place of this necessary utensil with their fingers.
Watchman, a probable mistake for Waithman, outlaw. See Notes, &c., p. lxxiii.
Wed, Wedde, pawn, pledge, or deposit. To wedde, in mortgage. Lay my life to wedde, pawn my life.
Weele, well.
Welt, Welt them at his wyll, did as he pleased with them, used them at his pleasure.