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 1609. Shakspeare, Pericles, ii. 1. 17. Come away, or I'll fetch thee with a wannion.

1611. Beaumont, Kn. of Burn. Pestle, ii. 1. I'll tell Ralph a tale in his ear, shall fetch him again with a wanion, I'll warrant him.

1663. Dryden, Wild Gallant, iii. I'll teach you to take place of tradesmen's wives, with a wannion to you.

1694. Motteux, Rabelais, iv. xlvii. Ho, clod-pate, where art thou? Come out with a vengeance, come out with a wannion.

1820. Scott, Abbot. I sent him out of my company with a wanion. Ibid. (1822), Fort, of Nigel. Bide down with a mischief to you—bide down with a wanion.

Wanker, subs. (Felsted School).—A bloater. [A master supplies: 'From stinker—stwanker—wanker.']

1892. Felstedian, Oct., 105. My name it is wanker; a leaner or lanker, Salter or ranker fish never swam. Ibid. (1897), June, 100. He sniffs. 'Eugh, wankers again.

Wanky, adj. (printers').—Spurious, bad, wrong: e.g. a wanky tanner =a snide (q.v.) sixpence.

Want. See Know.

Wa'n't, verb (colloquial).—Was not: also WARNT.

1699. Vanbrugh, False Friend. Wa'n't.

Wantage, subs. (American).—A deficiency; a shortage.

1888-9. New York Prod. Exch. Rept., 256. Inspectors and gaugers should make a detailed return of the gauge, wantage, proof, and number of proof gallons.

Wanted, ppl. adj. (euphemistic).—'Wanted' by the police. (Grose).

1885. D. Teleg., 19 Dec. Two men supposed to be on board of a vessel which was loading at Hebburn Coal staithes, were wanted in Germany for murder.

1883. Greenwood, Tag, Rag, & Co. The police, on their part, caused it to be understood that until he was really wanted on a specific charge, a thief should in no case be interfered with.

Wanter, subs. (old colloquial).—1. A person in need of anything: cf. Haves and Have-nots. Also (2) spec. = an unmarried person, 'one in want of a mate' (Halliwell).

1611. Davies, Scourge of Folly, 21. The wanters are despised of God and men.

Want-grace, subs. phr. (old).—A reprobate.

1603. Davies, Microcosmos, 57. And rather than they should not die by force, Or want a want-grace to performe the deede, Their Vncle and Protector must perforce Their crowne from head, and head from life diuorce.

Wap, verb (Old Cant).—1. To copulate: see Greens and Ride. Hence wapping-mort (or dell) = a harlot: see Tart; wappened = (1) deflowered, (2) wanton, and (3) foundered. [The uncertainty on the part of Shakspearean editors as to 'wappened' and 'wappered' would seem to be elucidated by the canting use of wap and its obvious popularity as instanced by the quotations.—J.S.F.]

1609. Shakspeare, Timon of Athens, iv. 3. [Gold] makes the wappen'd widow wed again: She, whom the spital-house and ulcerous sores Would cast the gorge at, this embalms and spices To the April day again.

1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all, 39 (H. Club's Rept., 1874). Nigling, company keeping with a woman: this word is not used now, but wapping, and thereof comes the name wapping morts, Whoores.