▪ I. † ˈwitship1 Obs. rare.
In 1–2 witscipe, 3 Orm. wittshipe.
[OE. (ᵹe)witscipe = OFris. witskipe, OS. giwitscepi (MLG. gewitschap), OHG. giwiȥscaf: see iwit and -ship.]
Witness, testimony; knowledge.
| c 900 tr. Bæda's Hist. i. xxvii. (1890) 72 Þa þe æt biscopes halᵹunge in witscipe [v.r. ᵹewitscype] stonde[n]. c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 25 Gif he hit deð in his witscipe. c 1200 Ormin 5709 Þatt all þin herrte beo þwerrt ut att tin wittshipe clene. |
▪ II. ˈwitship2
[f. wit n. + -ship.]
With possessive pron. used as a fanciful title for a witty person.
| 1636 Davenant Wits iv. i. H 2, A little to Increase your witships allowance of aire. |