n.
Pronunciation: ' wa-p ə n- ˌ t ā k, ' wä-
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English w ǣ pentæc, from Old Norse v ā pnatak act of grasping weapons, from v ā pn weapon + tak act of grasping, from taka to take; probably from the brandishing of weapons as an expression of approval when the chief of the wapentake entered upon his office ― more at WEAPON , TAKE
Date: before 12th century
: a subdivision of some English shires corresponding to a hundred