† vecke Obs.
Also 5 vekke, wekke.
[app. ad. It. vecchia, fem. of vecchio old.]
An old woman.
As direct adoption from Italian would be remarkable in the 14th cent., it is possible that the word existed in OF. colloquial use.
| 1390 Gower Conf. I. 98 This olde wyht him hath awaited..: Florent his wofull heved uplefte And syh this vecke wher sche sat. c 1400 Rom. Rose 4495 A rympled vekke, ferre ronne in age, Frownyng and yelowe in hir visage. 1412–20 Lydg. Chron. Troy i. 2795 Sche cleped anoon vn-to hir presence An aged vekke, fer in ȝeris ronne. 1426 ― De Guil. Pilgr. 12752 An olde wekke a-noon I mette. 1430–40 ― Bochas i. xx. (1554) 36 b, Whan these veckes, ferre yronne in age, Within them selfe hath vaine glory and delite For to farce and poppe their visage. |