Obs. Forms: α. 1–2 wrenc; 2–6 wrench, 3–6 wrenche. β. 6 wrinch(e. [OE. wrenc, corresponding in form to OHG. renki twist, sprain (G. ränke bend, hollow), and in sense to MHG. and G. rank bending, turning, trick, artifice. Cf. WRENK sb. and WRENCH v.]
1. A crooked, cunning or wily action or device; a trick, wile or artifice. Freq. coupled with wile.
α. c. 888. Ælfred, Boeth., iv. § 1. Nauht ne dereʓað monnum mane aþas, ne þæt lease lot þe beoð mid þam wrencum bewriʓen.
a. 1050. Liber Scintill., xxxvii. (1889), 136. On swa hwylcum wrence worda æniʓ sweriʓe.
a. 1122. O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 1003. Ða sceolde … Ælfric lædan þa fyrde ac he teah forð þa his ealdan wrenceas.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 67. He fondede god solf mid his wrenche.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 270. Auh þis heie sacrament … ouer alle oðer þinges unwrihð his wrenches, & brekeð his strencðes.
a. 1250. Prov. Ælfred, 163. Monymon weneþ þat he wene ne þarf, longes lyues, ac him lyeþ þe wrench.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 7711. He dredde hym of sum wykked wrenche.
1387. Trevisa, Higden, I. 347. At þe laste Turgesius deide by gileful wyles and wrenches.
14[?]. Sir Beues (E.), 2753 + 32. Þe dragoun cowde soo many a wrenche.
a. 1450. Medit. Life & Passion of Christ, 1650. Þere ne shal … No wrenches ne no fendes wyle Make þat swetnesse away to gon.
1519. Horman, Vulg., 23 b. All those thynges were wroughte by wrenches of wyked spyrittis.
1579. E. Hake, Newes out of Powles (1872), To Rdr. A iiij b. The wrenches and wyles … that the lewde sorte of this people … doe vse to gette money with.
β. 1530. Palsgr., 290/2. Wrinches or wyles, chariuaris.
1534. Ld. Berners, Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1546), A a vij. If we take not hede to prepare against his wrinches, it wyll ouerthrow vs.
1547. Bk. Marchauntes, e ij. God knoweth what wily wrinches … they do commit fro day to day.
2. Without article: Trickery, deceit, guile; fraud.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 2924. Or is luþer wrenche … Four hondred & four score mid treson he slou þere.
c. 1300. Beket (Percy Soc.), 44. He was stronge adrad ȝut of wommanes wrenche.
13[?]. Seuyn Sages (W.), 438. She schette the dore, and set him on benche. Wil ye nou i-here of wommannes wrenche?
1566. Sternhold & H., Ps. xxvi. 10. Their right hand with wrenche and wile for bribes doth plucke and pull.
