wankle, a. Obs. exc. dial.
(ˈwæŋk(ə)l)
Forms: 1 wancol, 3 wankel, 4 -kyll, 4–5 -kill(e, 7, 9 wancle, wankle.
[OE. wancol = OS. wankol, MDu., Du. wankel, OHG. wanchal, MHG., G. (obs.) wankel; cf. OHG. wankôn (MHG., mod.G. wanken), to waver, totter.]
Unsteady, insecure; changeable, unsettled, precarious; inconstant, wavering. Also, weak in health, delicate, sickly.
| c 888 ælfred Boeth. vii. §2 Nu ðu hæfst onᵹiten ða wanclan truwa þæs blindan lustes. Ibid. xx, Hio hit ᵹecyð self mid hire hwurfulnesse þæt hio bið swiðe wancol. c 1220 Bestiary 566 in O.E. Misc. 18 Ðis wunder wuneð in wankel stede, ðer ðe water sinkeð. 13.. Gosp. Nicod. 340 (Addit. MS.) If my kyngdome..Within þis wankill worlde nowe were. 14.. Thomas of Erceldonne 494 (Camb. MS.) Þe worlde is wondur wankill. 1674 Ray N.C. Words, Wankle, limber, flaccid, ticklish, fickle, wavering. 1683 Yorke-sh. Dial. 7 Here's wancle weather for gittinge of our Hay. 1686 G. Stuart Joco-ser. Discourse 50 Your Wankle Leggs canno' support ye. 1790 Grose Provinc. Gloss. (ed. 2), Wankle, weak, unstable, not to be depended on; as a wankle seat; wankle weather. N. a 1825 Forby Voc. E. Anglia, Wancle, wanky, weak; pliant. 1869 J. P. Morris Furness Gloss. 107 That barne's terble wankle on its legs. 1888 Fenn Dick o' the Fens 381 He don't wear as I should like to see un. He's wankle. |