Obs. Forms: 1 hwæt, 3 hwat, whæt, wat. [OE. hwæt = OS. hwat keen, bold, OHG. hwaʓ, waʓ sharp, rough, severe, ON. hvatr bold, vigorous: related to WHET v., q.v.] Quick, active; stout, brave.
Beowulf, 1601. Næs ofʓeafon hwate Scyldingas.
a. 1000. Bi Monna Cræftum, 81. Sum biþ to horse hwæt.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 183. To gode þu ware slau and let; and to euele spac and hwat.
c. 1205. Lay., 7137. Þer weoren eorles swiðe whæte [c. 1275 wate] and leiden þene king bi ane ȝate.
