wain meaning (archaic): definition, etymology and quotations

wain

noun

US, UK /weɪn/

Etymology From Middle English wayn, from Old English wæġn, from Proto-West Germanic *wagn, from Proto-Germanic *wagnaz, from Proto-Indo-European *woǵʰnos, from *weǵʰ- (“to bring, transport”). Doublet of wagon, borrowed from Middle Dutch. Cognates Cognate with West Frisian wein, Dutch wagen, German Wagen, Danish vogn, Norwegian vogn, Swedish vagn.

Archaic, Literary A wagon; a four-wheeled cart for hauling loads, usually pulled by horses or oxen.

"The Hay Wain" is a famous painting by John Constable.
Many roads and tracks crossed the green fields, and there was much coming and going: wains moving in lines towards the Great Gate, and others passing out.1955 October 20, J[ohn] R[onald] R[euel] Tolkien, “Minas Tirith”, in The Return of the King: Being the Third Part of The Lord of the Rings […], New York, N.Y.: Ballantine Books, published December 1978, →ISBN, book V, page 40:

Communications, Human sciences, Journalism, Literature, Media, Mysticism, Mythology, Philosophy, Poetry, Publishing, Sciences, Writing Archaic A chariot or similar stately carriage.

And the hill-king spake to his footpages twain. Time with me goes slow. — "Put ye the gray pacers now unto the wain," But that grief is heavy I know.1828, Thomas Keightley, The Fairy Mythology, volume I, London: William Harrison Ainsworth, page 175:

Derived terms: Charles' Wain, Conestoga wain, hay wain, horse-wain, wainwright

wain

verb

Rare To carry.