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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Jak, Jack, n.² Also: jacke, jake. [ME. iacke, iakke (1375), OF. jaque.]

1. A jerkin or doublet of defence, with or without sleeves, usually of leather lined or padded, and in the 16th c. sometimes iron-plated or faced with mail. Also attrib. with plet (= plate) and taill.See also Blak jak.(a) 1456 Acts II. 45/2.
At ilk man … be bodyn … with ane jak with slevys to the hande or ellis a payr of splentis 1473 Treas. Acc. I. 224.
ij ellis of Rissillis blak, to be a coit aboune his jak 1481 Acts II. 132/2.
That thai ger make thare jakkis syde to the knee thai that wantis leg harnes 1500 Acta Conc. II. 468.
To restore … ane jak with ane fald of mailye 1503 Treas. Acc. II. 232.
For iij skinnis of ledder to the said jak fra the waist doun 1504 Ib. 451.
For tua hidis to be jakkis 1540 Acts II. 362/2.
That all utheris of lawer rent … haif jak of plait, halkrek or brigitanis 1549 Compl. 163/25.
That ȝe change ȝour sperutual habitis … in steil iakkis and in cotis of mailȝe a1568 Bann. MS. 138 a/51.
I haif … fyve fidder of raggis to stuff ane jak 1561 Prestwick B. Rec. 66.
Ryden geyr, wyz. ane sadyl, brydyll, gak, steyl bannot [etc.] c1650 Spalding I. 16.
Petcaple lovpis on about 30 hors in jak and speirattrib. 1580 Edinb. Test. VIII. 143.
Fyftene hundreth sleiff plettis … , aucht hundreth jak plettis(b) 1552 Reg. Privy C. I. 136.
That the said fittmen may be the mair … substantiouslie accomptirit with jack and plait 1596 Dalr. I. 90/25.
They war harnest with jacks al wouen throuch with yrne huikes 1640-1 Kirkcudbr. Min. Bk. 50.
Ane sufficient … hors and man, appointit with jack and lance, or with pistolles and carabine 1662 Crim. Trials III. 607.
If thay twitch … it will kill, tho' they haid an jack wpon themattrib. a1605 Birrel Diary 20.
Ane unhappy fellow lifted upe his jack taill and shot him through the body(c) 1571 Bann. Memor. 145.
Armed with jake, speir, steilbonet, sword, and whinger, being the order of Scottis armoure a1578 Pitsc. I. 205/11.
Ane thowsand gentill men weill horssit, jake and speir Ib. 282/3.
Quhen Mr Gawin … persaiffit the plaittis of his jake clattering 1644 Edinb. Test. LX. 379.
Ane auld stand of horsmen airmes, pistollis, steil bonnettis, jakes, swoordes & gantelattis

b. Comb. in jakmakar. (e.m.E. jackmaker (1575).) 1541 Treas. Acc. VII. 471.
To Johnne Clerk, jakmakar, for ane jak … couerit with veluet 1542 Reg. Privy S. II. 708/1.
Ane lettre maid to Johnne Clerk, makand him principale jak-makkar to oure soverane lord 1593 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. 291.
[To] Cuthbert Reddik jakmaker for ane pair of plait slewis

2. An upper garment worn by a knight over his armour, a surcoat. (Only in Hay.) 1456 Hay II. 50/14.
Jakkis [F. cote ou paleto[t]] war ordanit to knychtis, thai tymes of ȝeris that war of grete solempnitee, of sylk, abone all thair harnais Ib. /17.
For rycht as the jakkis are abone the hauberkis and ordanyt nerest bathe wynd and rayn [etc.]