local (now Sussex). [OE. wisc, corresp. to OLG. wisc (in place-names), (M)LG. wisch(e, wisk(e, repr. OTeut. *wīsko-, f. wais-: wīs-, whence OE. wás OOZE, G. wiese meadow.] A piece of meadow, now of marshy meadow; a piece of flat ground lying in the bend of a river and thus liable to be flooded.

1

898.  in Birch, Cart. Sax., II. 219. Concedo … terram … in loco qui dicitur Fearnleaʓ & an miclan wisce vi æceres mæde.

2

c. 1150.  in Kemble, Cod. Dipl., III. 175. To stucan wisc æt ðæne mearcbeorh.

3

1516–17.  Ledger Bk. Battle Abbey, in Trans. Philol. Soc., 1895–8, 542. Menewyssh … Borderswyssh … Hodisdaliswyssh.

4

a. 1600.  in Sussex Archæol. Collect. (1851), IV. 306. A true & certeine note how ye Drinker dooth faule to everymans lande or yard wishe in the parishe of Kingston, nigh Lewis, at ye time of trading of ye wishe. Ibid. (1651), (1872), XXIV. 282. Lands settled vpon her by the name of Marshland, called Castle Wish als Colbrands lying within the parish of Westham. Ibid. (1696–7), (1849), II. 121. Ye two acres croppe in ye Northwish. Ibid. (1850), IV. 305. In both these parishes [sc. Lewes and Southease] were particular brooks [i.e., marshes] called Wishes, and in each also there was a small piece of brookland called the Drinker. Ibid. (1857), IX. 156. ‘The Wish’ in East Bourn, close to the sea.

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