Obs. Also 5 wanlas(e, wenlace, 5–6 wanles(s; and see WINDLASS sb.1 [a. AF. wanelace, wenelaz (12–13th c.), recorded in the fig. sense ‘deception, fraudulent device.’ As the word does not occur in continental Fr., it is not unlikely that it may be a Norman mispronunciation of some native English word. In the 16th c. wanlace was superseded by WINDLASS sb.1, but it is not clear whether this was a survival of the native form or an etymologizing alteration of the AF. word. Latinized forms of the word, in the original hunting sense, are wenelacia and wanlassum (in Du Cange erroneously waulassus). The phrase fugare wanlassum was used for ‘to drive back the game.’]
1. Hunting. A circuit made by a portion of a hunting party for the purpose of intercepting and heading back the game. Hence, an appointed station in hunting, TRIST sb.2, TRISTRE, med.L. stabulum.
c. 1400. Master of Game (MS. Digby 182), xvii. Neuerthelesse þer beth somme þat falleth to be berselettes, and also to brynge wele and faste a wanlas aboute.
c. 1420. Wyntoun, Cron., III. iii. 520 (MS. W.). Quhen he wes xv ȝeris of cass He slew his fader at þe wanless. Ibid., VII. iv. 446 (MS. Cott.). A knycht hym [sc. William Rufus] slew þar at wanles.
2. transf. An intercepting movement; an ambush. Phrase, at the wanlace.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 12860. Bytwyxt þem [sc. the opposing armies] were many chaces, ffele turnynges & fele wanlaces.
1456. Sir G. Haye, Law Arms (S.T.S.), 164. Men may … barate thair inymyes … and se quhen thay ar in disaray, and wate thame at the wanlas.
1596. Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot. (S.T.S.), II. 192. Quhen we war gatherit, we waytet thame at the wanles.
3. fig. A crafty device, a plot.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 4375. Where þat he [a tax-gatherer] myght make a wanlace, And any þyng to þe kyng purchace, He ne lette for no fals othe. Ibid., 1208. Þat he [sc. God] wulde … brynge þe aȝen to his grace Þat þou lostest with þy wanlace.
c. 1400. Beryn, 2874. By þat tyme I have I-made al my wanlase.
1481. Botoner, Tulle of Old Age (Caxton). And all such corrupt untrue werkis which ben nevir mevid nor undirtakyn but by the insolence and wantonness and wenlacys of flesshely delectacyon.
