Obs. Also 4 wefle, 4–5 wyfle, 5 wyfele. [OE. wifel, f. OTeut. stem wiƀ- (cf. ON. vifr sword):—Indo-eur. wip- to wave, swing, shake (cf. Skr. vip switch, rod, shaft of an arrow): see WAIVE v.2
Parallels to the formation with the suffix -il- are found in MDu., MLG. weifelen to sway, wobble, waver, early mod.G. weibeln, OHG. weibil (MHG. weibel) apparitor, summoner, ON. vifl cudgel, bat.]
A dart, javelin, spear; a battle-axe.
c. 1000. Gloss., in Haupt’s Zeitschrift, IX. 432. Spiculo, gare vel wifele.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 4383. Wyþ wyfles strike, wyþ axes hewe.
c. 1365. in Hudson & Tingey, Rec. Norwich (1906), I. 396. Roger servant or William de … sword, coutel, wefle.
c. 1400. Sowdone Bab., 2650. With Wifles, Fauchons, Gauylokes and Dartes.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 526/2. Wyfle, wepene…, bipennis.
1449. Paston Lett., Suppl. (1901), 24. That she shuld make here men to leue here wyfeles and here jackes.
c. 1460. Invent. Sir J. Fastolfe, in Archæologia, XXI. 272. Item, j Borespere. Item, vj Wifles.
