Wanty

Forms: α. (4 waynte), 5 wanteye, 6–8 wantey (6 wantie, wante, 7 wantyghe, waunty), 7–9 wantye, (8 wamtye), 6– wanty; β. Sc. and north. 6 wantow, 6–7 wanton (6 wantoun, wyanton), 7 wantoe, (9 wanteau). For mod. dial. forms see Eng. Dial. Dict. [Apparently two synonymous words (ultimately identical in etymology) have been confused. the β forms represent the later phonetic development of WAME-TOW. The α forms seem to presuppose an original *wametie, in which TOW sb.² (a. ON. taug) has been replaced by the etymologically equivalent TIE sb. (:-OE. téaʓ). But since in some dialects the unstressed -tow would regularly become -ty, the two words cannot be distinguished with certainty.]

  † 1.  A rope or band used to fasten the pack on a pack-saddle or a load on the back of a horse. Obs.

  α.  1390.  Earl Derby’s Exped. (Camden), 48. Pro ij girthes ij wayntes et ij hokes pro les paniers pro pullis, ij s. j d. st.

1434.  Maldon (Essex) Court Rolls, Bundle 20, No. 2. Per 1 equum nigrum cum paksadel et wanteye.

1573–80.  Tusser, Husb. (1878), 36. A panel and wantey, packsaddle and ped.

1587.  Mascall, Govt. Cattle, Horses (1596), 119. Harnaises … and all things belonging thereunto: as haltars,… wanties, packsaddels, backwanties and belly wanties.

1607.  Topsell, Four-f. Beasts, 58. They carry also great burthens or loads tyed to their backs with ropes and wantyghtes [? read wantyghes].

1618–9.  Maldon (Essex) Deeds, Bundle 477 (MS.). At severall tymes hath gone ouer Fulbridge with his horse and pack and refuseth to paye the duty for his wantye.

1713.  Lond. Gaz., No. 5140/4. Lost … a … Gelding, with Hair-cloth and Wanty.

1793.  Jrnls. Ho. Comm., 28 March, 535/2. Toll … for every Horse tied with a Wantye or Wamtye, 2d. that shall pass through Stratford Langthorn.

1813.  A. Young, Agric. Essex, I. 108. 3 belly wanties, at 2^s. 6^d.

1886.  W. Somerset Work-bk., Wantye, the belt or strap of raw hide which used to pass over the pack-saddle and round the belly of the horse.

  β.  1503.  Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot., II. 404. Item, for ane collair to him and ane wantoun for the weschale, xiiij d. Ibid. (1545–6), VIII. 441. Item, for ane bridill with the bit,… ane collar with bellis, and ane wanton.

1549.  Inv. Brisse (Somerset Ho.). Hackney saddill, stirropes, & garthes and other wantowes.

1577.  Inv. Airaie (Somerset Ho.). Wanton sadle and girth.

1828.  [Carr], Craven Gloss., s.v., A wanteau was generally made of hemp, to which was attached an iron hoop, to fasten sacks on pack-saddles.

1837.  Thornber, Blackpool, 310. Grain … was conveyed to Preston on the back of pack-horses, the load being tied on a wooden saddle, with a girth named a ‘wantah.’

  2.  The belly-band of a shaft-horse. dial.

1854.  Miss A. E. Baker, Northampt. Gloss., Wanty,… the name is still preserved in the hempen cord or leather strap which passes under the horse, and is secured to both shafts, to prevent the cart rising up when heavily laden.

  3.  attrib., as † wanty bottom, † rope, † shaft.

1583.  Shuttleworth’s Acc. (Chetham Soc.), 6. Fyve *wyantones boddomes, xij^d. Ibid. (1612), 204. Wanton bothomes, x^d.

1569.  Bury Wills (Camden), 155. Item I gyue to my brother … my best pack sadell withe a newe wante and *wantyrop withe the best girt.

1624.  Toke (Kent) Estate Acc. (MS.), fol. 66. 2 wanty rops.

1611–2.  Shuttleworths’ Acc. (Chetham Soc.), 199. Foure *wanton shaffes and a paire of tresses, xviij^d. Ibid. (1617), 226. 4 wantoe shaftes, xij^d.