▪ I. wase Obs. exc. dial.
(weɪz)
Also 6 wayse, 6–7, 9 waze, 9 weize, weise, weese, wais, waese, etc. (see Eng. Dial. Dict.).
[Found in various Teut. langs.: MSw. vasi wk. masc., Sw., Da., Norw. vase bundle of straw, fascine, etc., MLG. (whence mod.G. dial. and technical) wase faggot, fascine, pad worn on the head for carrying burdens, MDu. wase torch, NFris. waas, pad inside a horse-collar. It is doubtful whether the Eng. word is adopted from Scandinavian, or represents an OE. *wasa. See wrase, which appears to be a variant.]
1. A wisp or bundle of straw or reeds; in early examples with reference to its use as a torch.
| c 1375 Cursor M. 8878 (Fairf.) Out of þat tree brast a blase þat brinde ham alle as a wase. [Other texts differently.] c 1400 Beryn 2351 He..goith a-bout þe wallis with a brennyng wase. c 1400 Laud Troy Bk. 18147 Thei bad thanne..of stre gete him a wase And make on the walles ther-of a blase. 14.. Metr. Voc. in Wr.-Wülcker 627/23 Wase, stupa. 1565 Harding Confut. Apol. iv. xv. 206 b, He geueth him [sc. his ‘man of straw’] a waze of strawe in his hande. 1602 Carew Cornwall 28 b, One standeth watching..while another maketh a light with a waze of reed. 1888 Berksh. Gloss., Waze, a wisp of straw for rubbing down a horse. |
2. ‘A pad of straw, cloth, etc., worn on the head to relieve the pressure of a burden carried on it’ (Eng. Dial. Dict.).
| 1548 Elyot's Dict., Arculum, a roll that women do weare on their heades, to beare water or milk easily, a wase. 1556 Withals Dict. (1562) 43 b/1 A wase or wreath to be layed vnder the vessell, that is borne vpon the head, as women vse, cesticillus vel arculus. 1570 Levins Manip. 36/41 A Wase, circus. Ibid. 203/13 A Wayse, cirrus, i, cesticillus, i. 1824 Carr Craven Gloss., Wais, Wase, a wreath of straw or cloth on the head, to relieve the pressure of burthens. 1825 Brockett N.C. Gloss., Weeze. 1835 Chatto Rambles Northumbld. 106 note, A weise is a circular pad, commonly made of an old stocking, but sometimes merely a wreath of straw or grass, to save the head from the pressure of the pail. 1851 Cumberld. Gloss., Waze. |
3. ‘A washer or {oqq}packing-ring{cqq} for making pipe-joints watertight’ (Eng. Dial. Dict.).
| 1851 Greenwell Coal-trade Terms Northumb. & Durh. 26 Before the bolts are put in, weizes, made of rope or spun⁓yarn, or of lead, are put between the flanches [flanges of the pump]. |
▪ II. wase
obs. form of ooze n.3
| 1483 Cath. Angl. 409/2 A Wase (v.r. Wayse), alga. |
▪ III. wase
obs. form of was (see be v.), whoso.