Hist. [OE. wic-, wiceweorc, f. wic(u) WEEK + weorc WORK sb. Cf. OS. wekewerk.] In Old English Law, work done for the lord by the tenant so many days a week. Also attrib. in † weekwork-silver (cf. week-silver, WEEK sb. 7).
c. 1000. Rectitudines, in Thorpe, Laws, I. 434. On sumen lande is þæt he [sc. the ʓebûr] sceal wyrcan to wicweorce .ii. daʓas swilc weorc swile him man tæcð ofer ʓeares fyrst ælcre wucan, and on hærfest .iii. daʓas to wicweorce [etc.].
1050[?]. in Kemble, Cod. Dipl., No. 461. III. 450. Consuetudines in Dyddanhamme … Se ʓebur sceal his riht don; he sceal erian healfne æcer to wiceweorce.
1355. MS. Rental of Winchcombe Abbey, Glos., Toto homagio pro Wikewerkselver xi s. xi d.
1883. Seebohm, Engl. Village Comm., ii. 78. Week-work—i. e. work for the lord for so many days a week, mostly three days.
1916. Edin. Rev., July, 73. A feature which reminds us of the week-works of the villein under our own manorial system.
