Wed (wĕd), n. [AS. wedd; akin to OFries. wed, OD. wedde, OHG, wetti, G. wette a wager, Icel. veð a pledge, Sw. vad a wager, an appeal, Goth. wadi a pledge, Lith. vadůti to redeem (a pledge), LL. vadium, L. vas, vadis, bail, security, vadimonium security, and Gr. �, � a prize. Cf. Athlete, Gage a pledge, Wage.] A pledge; a pawn. Gower. Piers Plowman.
Let him be ware, his neck lieth to wed [i.e., for a security]. Chaucer.