Now Hist. Forms: 5 whyneherd, whyneard, 6 whynarde, whinyeard, winniard, 7 whineyard, -yeard, whineard, whyniard, whinniard, 7–8 whiniard, 6– whinyard. [Of obscure origin; cf. WHINGER sb.1] A short-sword, a hanger.
1478. Nottingham Rec., II. 296. Cum quodam armicudio vulgariter nuncupato Anglice ‘a whyneherd.’
1499. Will of Love (Somerset Ho.). A whyneard with a chape of siluer.
a. 1529. Skelton, Bouge of Court, 363. And by his syde his whynarde and his pouche.
1653. Gataker, Vind. Annot. Jer., 136. We shall not need to borrow great Alexanders whiniard to cut this Gordian knot.
1663. Butler, Hud., I. III. 480. His Pistol next he cockt anew, And out his nut-brown Whiniard drew.
1719. D’Urfey, Pills, III. 320. Who wav’d his Whinyard o’er her Loyn, as if he’d gone to Knight him.
1810. Scott, Lady of L., I. viii. The hunter … For the death-wound … Muster’d his breath, his whinyard drew.
1856–9. R. Buchanan, Trag. Dramas, Wallace, I. viii.
| I’d liefer | |
| Plunge this Scots whinyard in thy felon breast, | |
| Than in the heart of Turk or Saracen. |
† b. ? A subtle ‘blade.’ Obs. nonce-use.
1611. Chapman, May-Day, I. i. Lor. It is not Hector but Paris, not the full armefull, but the sweet handfull that Ladies delight in. Ang. O notable old whyniard.
