Obs. exc. dial. 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 goueth 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. ‘Stephen Oliver’ (W. A. Chatto), Rambles Northumb., 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 “packing-ring” 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].
