Obs. Forms: 3–4 wef, 4–5 weef(e, 4–6 weffe. [Of obscure etymology; represented later by weft WAFT sb.1 1.]

1

  1.  A (foul or unsavory) scent or odor: = WAFT sb.1 1 b. Cf. WHIFF sb.1 3.

2

a. 1300.  Body & Soul (Laud MS.), in Map’s Poems (Camden), 335. And nouȝ so lodly thouȝ list grenne, fro the comeþ a wikke wef. Ibid. (13[?]), (Vernon MS.), 342. A wikked weef.

3

13[?].  Metr. Hom. (Vernon MS.), in Archiv Stud. neu. Sprach. LVII. 288. Wondur him þouȝt Þat of þat bodi [= corpse] wef hedde he nouȝt.

4

c. 1440.  Promp. Parv., 520/1 (MS. K.). Weffe, vapor.

5

  2.  Flavor, taste; ill-savor: = WAFT sb.1 1 a. Cf. WHIFF sb.1 3 b.

6

c. 1440.  Promp. Parv., 520/1. Weef [Winch. MS. Weefe], or summe what semynge to badnesse, inclinacio ad malum.

7

1530.  Palsgr., 287/2. Weffe tast, goust. Ibid., 475/1. I can nat awaye with this ale, it hath a weffe:… elle est de mauluays goust.

8