wanlace ballot

[eLLioTT morEton]

Ranjit, Linda, David, Judith, Pierre, Eric, Jean-Joseph, James, Fran, and 
Aussie -- ten mighty champions had risen to the occasion.  Or was it, to 
the bait?  (And maybe it was eleven champions; he had never been quite 
confident that he understood the full significance of Jean-Joseph's 
hyphen).  A shadow of concern flitted briefly across his face before a 
happier thought put it to flight:  Whatever uncertainty *he* might face, 
it was nothing compared to that which now loomed up before the Fictionary 
voters.  Eleven definitions, but only one was right, and each voter had 
only a two-point vote in the left hand and a one-point vote in the right. 
Let them give awards and write verses as they pleased, only the actual 
votes would count.  And time was short:  They had until 5 p.m. EST 
Wednesday.  He wound his calendar with a firm hand, and it began to tick: 
Heh, heh, heh, heh, ....

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wanlace -- (n.)  (obs.) A mooring right on an inland navigable waterway. 
Wanlace was not an inherent riparian right, but could be granted to the 
adjoining landowner by the sovereign. Once granted, wanlace was  freely 
alienable.

wanlace -- (n.)  A decorative cording used on wainscoting, made of carved 
wood or twisted fibers soaked in lac resin.

wanlace -- (n.)  Soft jadeite stone, a variety of actinolite.

wanlace -- (n.)  1.  A circuit made by members of a hunting party to 
intercept the quarry and drive it back.  2.  An ambush.  3.  A crafty 
scheme or stratagem.

wanlace -- (n.) A form of extortion in which the victim is compelled to 
bid against multiple adverse interests for the possession of embarrassing 
or discrediting information.

wanlace -- (n.)  A Hungarian turnover, usually stuffed with raisins, and 
served for dessert.

wanlace -- (n.)  A small herb, Kitaibelia corsicana, of the cotton family, 
which is a favorite food of the grasshopper Tilipirex sardius.

wanlace -- (n.)  Omission or inaction by an officer or owner of a vessel, 
leading to death or injury to any person (excepting officers or crew of 
that vessel while engaged in their duties aboard the vessel).

wanlace -- (n.)  The first menstrual period following a pregnancy.

wanlace -- (n.)  a pale pink dye made from celandine, with ashes used as 
the mordant.

wanlace -- (n.) (fr. med. Fr., Evaine laissez) --  1.  In medieval and 
early modern English law, to bring suit claiming clerical immunity from 
prosecution in secular courts; the precedent was confirmed by Henry II, 
while residing in the town of Evaine, Normandy.  2.  In Oxford and 
Cambridge regulations, a request by students to be judged by college 
discipline for an offense in the town or county.  3.  (Oxbridge slang) a 
tavern brawl.