Obs. [WELSH a.] A bill-hook; a weapon of this form. Cf. WELSH BILL.
a. 1593. Marlowe, Edw. II., IV. vi. [2nd Stage dir.] Enter with Welch hookes, Rice ap Howell, a Mower, and the Earle of Leicester.
1596. Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., II. iv. 372. Hee of Wales, that … swore the Deuill his true Liege-man vpon the Crosse of a Welch-hooke.
1599. G. Silver, Paradoxes Def., 31. The Welch hooke or Forrest bill, hath aduantage against all maner of weapons whatsoeuer.
1611. Cotgr., Riveran,… a Welsh hooke, or hedging bill made with a hooke at the end.
1617. J. Swetnam, Sch. Sci. Defence, 143. When you encounter with any man that hath a Staffe, a Welch-hooke, or a Halbert.
1618. J. Taylor (Water P.), Penniless Pilgr., B 4 b. A Watch-mans bill, or a Welch-hooke falles not halfe so heauy vpon a man.
a. 1637. B. Jonson, Masque, For Honour of Wales, Wks. (1641), 33. Owen Glendower, with a Welse hooke, and a Goats skinne on his backe.
1694. Motteux, Rabelais, V. vii. 25. Their Claws … grow as crooked as a Welch Hook, or a Hedging Bill.
