a. (sb.) Obs. Forms: 1–4 wlanc, 1–3 wlonc, 2 wlong, 3–6 wlonk, 4 wlanck, vlanck, wlanke, wlaunk, wlonke, 4–5 wlank. [OE. wlanc, wlonc = OS. wlank: cf. WLENCH v.]
1. Proud, haughty.
Beowulf, 341. Ellenrof … wlanc Wedera leod … heard under helme.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 35. He wes prud & wlonc.
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 844. Nawt wið wit ah wið wind of ane wlonke wordes.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 6397. Þir Iuus þat o will war wlanck, Þai cund him ai ful litell thanck.
2. Rich, splendid, fine, magnificent: in later use esp. as a conventional epithet in alliterative verse.
Beowulf, 2833. Maðmæhta wlonc.
a. 1000. Phœnix, 100. Fuʓel feþrum wlonc.
c. 1230. Hali Meid. (1922), 43. & tine wide wahes wlonke & welefulle.
a. 1250. Owl & Night., 489. Sumeres tide is alto wlonc.
c. 1325. Song of Merci, 3, in E. E. P. (1862), 118. Wlanke deor on grounde gan glide.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 1634. A while wol i stinte of þis wlonke murþe.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., A. 122. Wod & water & wlonk playnez. Ibid., 903. I schulde not tempte þy wyt so wlonc.
a. 1400–50. Wars Alex., 5089. A worthi wedow & a wlonk.
c. 1400. Anturs Arth., 347. Wlonkest in wede.
c. 1450. Holland, Howlat, 553. Archebald the honorable … Weddit that wlonk wicht.
15[?]. Tayis Bank, 118 (Bann. MS.). Joy wes within and joy without, Vnder that wlonkest waw.
b. Rich in moisture or sap; rank; lush.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XI. xi. (Tollem. MS.). Snow … norischeþ and fedeþ good herbes and makeþ hem wlonke [orig. impinguit; ed. 1495 cranke; ed. 1535 ranke].
c. 1440. Pallad. on Husb., III. 449. The potters cley, the wlonk [uliginosa], or sondy lene,… nys nought.
B. as sb. A fair or beautiful one.
a. 1400[?]. Morte Arth., 3338. I went to that wlonke, and wynly hire gretis.
a. 1508. Dunbar, Tua Mariit Wemen, 36. Of thir fair wlonkes,… Ane wes ane wedow. Ibid., 150. The wedo to the tothir wlonk warpit ther wordis.
