Sc. and north. Obs. Forms: α. 4–5 wrenk(e. β. 5–6 wrink(e, wrynk. [Northern var. of WRENCH sb.1 Cf. next.]
1. = WRENCH sb.1 1. Freq. coupled with wile.
c. 1325. Metr. Hom., Prol. 2. Thou filde this gaste sa full of witte … That al bestes er red for man, Sa mani wyle and wrenk he can.
c. 1340. Hampole, Pr. Consc., 1360. Þe world … ledes a man with wrenkes and wyles.
13[?]. Cursor M., 13336 (Gött.). Na wrenkes [other MSS. wrenches] of þe maledight Againes hir sal haue no might.
c. 1440. York Myst., xxx. 67. With wrynkis and with wiles to wend me my weys.
c. 1480. Henryson, Fox, Wolf & Cadger, 37. For euerie wrink, forsuith, thow hes ane wyle.
a. 1500. in Ravis Raving, etc., 3. The deuill wyll cast mony wrenkis of falsait.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, xxx. 42. In me … wes mony wrink and wyle.
a. 1508. Mersar, in Bannatyne MS. (Hunter. Club), 808/19. For every wrynk luk that ye haif a wyle.
2. Trickery, deception; = WRENCH sb.1 2.
1338. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 246. For falshed & for wrenk he forsuore þe land.
