Forms: 6–7 wer-, wiroance, wiroans, 7 wyroaunce, -ance, wyroun(n)ce, 7–9 werowance. [Amer.-Indian.] A chief of the Indians of Virginia and Maryland in old colonial days.
1588. Harriot, Brief Rep. Virginia, E 2. One onely towne belongeth to the gouernment of a Wiroans or chiefe Lorde. Ibid., E 3 b. What subtilty soeuer be in the Wiroances and Priestes, this opinion worketh so much [etc.].
a. 1589. R. Lane, in Hakluyt’s Voy., 738. There be sundry Kings, whom they call Weroances.
c. 1608. E. M. Wingfield, Discourse Virginia, in Capt. J. Smith’s Wks. (Arb.), I. p. lxxvi. Both these wyroaunces haue euer since remayned in peace and trade with vs.
1612. Capt. J. Smith, Map Virginia, Wks. (Arb.), I. 81. This word Werowance which we call and conster for a king, is a common worde whereby they call all commanders.
1635. Relat. Maryland, 26. Their Government is Monarchicall, he that governes in chiefe, is called the Werowance.
1705. Beverley, Hist. Virginia, III. xi. (1722), 194. A Werowance is a Military Officer, who of Course takes upon him the Command of all Parties.
1893. Mary A. Owen, Old Rabbit, etc., i. 3. She was accepted as a child of the Werowances.
1899. Atlantic Monthly, June, 725/2. The canoe of the Nansemond werowance.
