Sc. Forms: α. 6–7, 9 wap(p)ins(c)haw, 7 waponeschawe, 9 wap(p)ens(c)haw; β. semi-modernized weapons(c)haw. [f. wapin WEAPON + schaw SHOW sb. Prob. orig. a shortening of the older WAPPENSCHAWING.
Both words are used Hist. by Scott; the official edition of the Statutes of Scotland (1814), has only wapinschaw in the index, though the actual text of the Acts has wapinschawing exc. in 1503 (see below).
Cf. G. waffenschau, given by Adelung as an obsolete HG. word, but prob. a mere 18th-c. adaptation of Du. wappenschouwing = next.]
1. Hist. = WAPPENS(C)HAWING.
α. 1503. Sc. Acts Jas. IV. (1814), II. 243/2. Item þt all scotland mak ȝerely þair wapinschawis apon thurisday in witsonday wolk. Ibid., 251/2. Þt all scotland mak þair wappinschawis [etc.].
1609. Skene, Reg. Maj., Stat. Will., c. xxiii. § 6. It is statute, that wapinschaw sal be keiped & haldin.
1627. in Cramond, Ann. Banff (1891), I. 56. To the effect they may be the better prepared agane the xxiij of this instant qlk is the principall waponeschawe day.
1816. Scott, Old Mort., ii. [The Calvinists] discouraged, as far as lay in their power, even the ancient wappen-schaws, as they were termed, when the feudal array of the county was called out, and each crown-vassal was required to appear with such muster of men and armour as he was bound to make by his fief.
1905. G. Wilson, Ann. Glover Incorporat. Perth, 13. Other and more rational forms of amusements became popular with our Craft … such as wappenschaws, football, quoits, golf, archery, etc.
β. 1776. Herd’s Sc. Songs, II. 122. When we went to the field of war, And to the Weaponshaw, Willie.
1805. Scott, Last Minstrel, IV. xxviii. Already on dark Ruberslaw The Douglas holds his weapon-schaw. Ibid. (1830), Doom of Devorgoil, I. i. Godden, good yeoman. Come you from the Weaponshaw? Ibid. (1830), Demonol., i. 14. The majority … had considered the heavenly phenomenon as a supernatural weapon-schaw for the purpose of a sign and warning of civil wars to come.
2. A volunteer rifle-meeting.
1868. Morning Star, 9 Jan. At Edinburgh, on New Year’s Day, the Wappinschaw was celebrated. Years ago this, we believe, was a gathering at which the country side shot, with homely smooth-bore pieces, for hams and cheeses, but until revived in 1866 the custom had long fallen into disuse. In that year the Wappinschaw was rehabilitated by the local volunteers.
1869. Pall Mall Gaz., 2 July, 6. The Aberdeen Volunteer wapinschaw was held yesterday. The chief prize … was won by Ensign Niven.
b. South Africa. Used to render Du. wappenschouwing (see next), applied by the Boers to a rifle-shooting competition.
1899. Daily News, 23 June, 5/4. The Boers never drill, and it is thought that the scene witnessed was probably an ordinary season’s wapenshaw. Ibid., 13 Oct., 5/5. The local Dutch have decided to postpone their wappenschaw (rifle meeting) at the request of the magistrate.
