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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Tak, Take, n.¹ Also: takk, tack(e, talk, tact, taik(e. Pl. also tax. [North. ME and chiefly north. e.m.E. tak (Cursor M.), take (1511), tacke (1523), takk (1526), tayke (1599), ON tak.]

1. A lease granting tenancy of land or property, the right to carry out some function, etc. Also fig. or in fig. context.Const. of (anent, to) the thing leased or with the thing leased in attributive use.Also in consts. referring to the duration of the lease. For lifrent tak, see Liferent n. 1 e (4).Also in collocation with Assedatioun n.(1) 1392 Lennox Mun. 46.
The saydis [etc.] … haftis set and to ferme latyn … al thair forsayde landis … for al maner of exactioune [etc.] … that may be askyt [etc.] … duyrand the tyme of the forsayde tak … and the sayde erill sal discharge the saydis [etc.] … of al maner of seruys of the forsayde landis avcht duyrande the terme of the forsayde take 1443 (1450) Reg. Great S. 85/2.
In witnes of the condiciounes and takkis beforesaide my sele is to hungin 1470 Morison Dict. Decis. VII 5407.
Gif it happin the said tenant to deceis befoir the ische of the tak 1480 Acta Conc. I 52/2.
That the said Andro sall broik … the said tak … efter the forme of a transumpt be ane actentik instrument and the originale lettrez vnder William Achinlekkis sele 1482–3 Acta Aud. in Acta Conc. II ci.
Landis … pertenand to the said [gap in text] be reson of tak of our soverane Lord be his letters under his prive sele 1495 Aberd. B. Rec. I 56.
The money resauit fra the personis that happinnis to haue takis of the tone at the next assedatioun sal be allouit in thar gersomis 1496 Acta Conc. II 4.
To keip and defend Robert … in the tak … in sic like possessione as he was in 1508 Mill Mediæv. Plays 137.
[Defaulters] sall nocht breuk nor jois tak fischeing nor land of the said burgh 1564 Reg. Privy C. I 295.
The said James Ogilvy to mak … to the saidis Margaret and Alexander infeftmentis of the saidis landis conforme to the auld takand of thame, likwyise reversionis conforme to the auld reversionis in all pointis without takkis, the saidis Margaret, [etc.] … payand the rest of the fyve yeris proffeit to the said James; and further he sall use thame as guid tennentis thaireftir 1582 Misc. Stair Soc. I 104.
The auld tak quhilk is trew is registrat in the register of Sanctandros 1587 Prot. Bk. J. Inglis 20 Aug.
Ane letter of inhibitione … rasit at the instance of Mr. Thomas Mengȝes … assignay … in & to ane lettir of tak & assedatione … & thair the said Andro messinger foirsaid be opin proclamatione, inhibeit & forbaid, all & sindry the fewaris [etc.] … that thai … away take ony of the teindis … without speciall lescience tak or tollerance of the said Mr. Thomes 1587 Orkney & Shetl. Rec. 211.
As they presentlay possess it and conforme to the principall tak 1590 Edinb. Test. XXII 60b.
He leiffis Bessy Carnagie his wife heid to the tak(b) 1498 Reg. Privy S. I 34/2.
Tackis, malingis, corne, katell a1650 Row 171.
That all beneficed persons … doe … interdyte themselves publictlie from setting of any tacks without the advise of the Assemblie 1660 Glasgow B. Rec. II 442.
That their removeall fra the said hous or manufactorie … shall not be quhill the terme of Witsonday in the last year of the said tack 1662 Burnett Fam. P. MS.
Ther entrie therto being (be vertue of the said eikit tack … immediatlie after the expyring of the said first tack 1675 Aberd. Council Lett. V 470.
He wes losser upon the said tacks 1685 Decis. Lords F. 73.
The tack not being yet quarrelled nor reduced … they would not allow them to quarrel their own tack 1686 Stitchill Baron Ct. 101.
Wher ther is no written tack that all the tennents shall enact themselves in the masters court-book or in the towns court books 1698 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 326.
The touns bellman is much slighted … by peoples not imploying him to goe throw the toun for ther deceast relations, to the hurt and prejudice of his tack(c) pl. a1578 Pitsc. I 322/21.
He dressit the said bischope … for certaine teindis and tax that the bischope gaif him witht wther commoditieis(d) 1392 Lennox Mun. 46 (see (1) above).
Take 1551 Banff Ann. II 381.
Thair taike to waik and the tovn to dispone thairupoun 1632 Cullen B. Ct. 21 Dec.
To tyn thair fredome & frie taikis for non residence and not payment of thair few dewtie a1633 Hope Major Pract. II 188.
The tenants that deforce ther lord's officer forfault their takes and moveable goods 1662 Decree Arbitral Earl of Rothes 21 July.
The setting of fewes or ony manner of takes attour the yeirlie rouping upon Martinmas evine 1688 Galloway P.
To seight the samen [houses] both att the begineing and expyreing of this take(2) 1423 Edinb. Chart. 56.
Dene Johne sal warand acquit [and de]fende the saide tak [of the said mil]lis til the [said Alderm]ene 1440 Cop. St. A. 201.
That the said Androis wif … joyis the tak of the said landis 1474 Fam. Innes 82.
The forsaid James … interand to the said tak and assedatione of the saidis landis at the terme of Witsonday next 1477 Charter (Reg. H.) C.O. No. 68.
Al and haill the said tak and sett of the said landis of Craik 1510–1 Reg. Privy S. I 337/2.
The tak of the grete custumis 1512 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 19.
Patrik Welkesone geiff our his tak in Jhone Scottis hand anent the wost myll 1520 Wemyss Chart. 144.
The said tak … of the cole, colehewis, canesalt, and pan malis of the Wester Wemys 1529 Misc. Abbotsf. C. 8.
The peciabill brouking … of the saidis landis and lordschip of Kilmernok during his takkis thairof 1539–40 Reg. Privy S. II 513.
Ane tak of the teynd schavis of the personage of the Kirk of Kilbirny 1555 Reg. Cupar A. II 120.
The saidis takkis to our corn miln of Kethik 1563 Dumfries B. Ct. 207a.
The tak & let of the hous and tenement 1596 Boyd Fam. P. No. 84 (15 Dec.).
Our tak richt and kindnes quhilk we have to the lands of Davidhillis 1615 Crim. Trials III 109.
Captane Mason … purchased a yeere tak of the assyise-hering of the Northe Ylles 1636 Elgin Rec. II 231.
Hir tak of the teyndis 1641 Acts V 676/2.
The towne of Wigtoune … tackis of everie stallange or brewing hous … ane merk Scotts money(b) 1539–40 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 485.
Thaim to have rycht, entires and talkis to ryne of our landis of Cokburnespeth(c) a1651 Calderwood V 433.
An act … tuiching the renewing of the tacks of tithes to the present tacksmen(d) pl. 1648 Kirkcaldy Presb. 320.
He hes sett tax of the teyths of Dysert(e) 1489 Wemyss Chart. 114.
That hie sal nocht mak no forthere take for no tyme to cum … of the said landis 1633 Elgin Rec. II 227.
Johne Chalmber … who hes the take of the Chanerie kirkyarde 1652 Lamont Diary 40.
The younge laird tooke a take for a yeare of the English of Lundie and the rest of the sequest. lands(3) 1473 Reg. Cupar A. I 189.
He sal put bath husband tak and ȝard tak til al possibil polyci 1518 Exch. R. XIV 605.
Le milltak et corstak de Ketnis 1561 Inverness Rec. I 69.
That na vnfre man sall … possaid ony of the commond tackis of our burgh 1578–9 Reg. Privy C. III 83.
The haill proffeittis of the kirkis of Watstirkar, Stabil-Gortoun [etc.] … my kyndlie takis 1598 Aberd. B. Rec. II 161.
The … entres syluer of the fischingis and land tackis 1657 Misc. Hist. Soc. VII 20.
Went to Edinbrugh and registrate my coal tacke(4) 1443 (1450) Reg. Great S. 85/2.
The said William … enterand to the said takis of nynetene yeris at Witsonday 1471–2 Acta Aud. 19/1.
The landis … to be broukit … be the said Agnes to the ische of the fyve ȝeris tak 1498 Acta Conc. II 165.
The sade xix yeris takk … of the watter and landis 1508 Reg. Privy S. I 253/1.
Alienatioun thairof in … lang takis forthir than thre ȝeris 1563 Reg. Privy S. V i 415/1.
That the samin extend to the heretage or long takkis of the foirsaid Alestar 1565 Chart. Coupar A. II 214.
To set fewis rentallis lang or schort takis for the weile of the place 1622 Argyll Rentals I.
For ane nynteine ȝeiris tak of the teindis of Juray(b) 1655 Lamont Diary 94.
The Earle of Weyms … took a 15 yeare tacke of the towne of Enderkythen(c) 1665–7 Lauder Jrnl. 107.
The ordinar tyme of the take is 5 or 7 year … being wiser than we with our 19 and doubled 19 year takes(5) fig. 1633 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 89.
Christ got a charter of Scotland from His Father; and who will … put our Redeemer out of His mailing, until His tack be run out? a1652 Dickson Psalms I 12.
Not his by a short tack, or lease for some few years, but a lasting inheritance 1661 A. Jaffray Diary 37.
I having that day got again, as it were, a new take of my life for this end to hold it upon a new account, of the Lord, and for him

b. Letter of tak (letter tak), a document or written agreement setting out the terms of a lease.(1) 1483–4 Acta Aud. *132/1.
To be broikit … efter the forme of the letter of tak 1494 Acta Aud. 202/1.
The lettrez of tak maid to thaim … in the ȝere … j^m iiij^c lxxxx for five ȝeris immediat tharefter 1496–7 Acta Conc. II 45.
The sade west quarter of the landis … to be broikit … be Thomas Rogersone for al the dayis of his lif, as is contenit in his letter of tak 1501 Acta Conc. III 75.
The wrangus postponyng and differing to sele and deliver til the sade Marione ane lettir of tak and assedacione of thair five merkis worth of land 1501 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 638.
And als deliueris with the said soom a letter of take of the said five markis worth of the … landis 1501–2 Reg. Privy S. I 112/2.
A letter of tak made in perpetuall ekin of our soverane lordis renntale 1502–8 Exch. R. XII 658.
That thai bring with thaim thar lettrez of tak gife thai ony have 1507–8 Reg. Privy S. I 231/1.
A lettre of tak … of the assis hering … payand ȝeirelie four lastis of hering 1508–9 Reg. Privy S. I 279/1.
A lettre of tak made to Alexander Erle of Huntlie … with court playnt, hereȝeld, merchete, and with commoun pasture 1520 Reg. Panmure II 295.
To put the said soum … with the said letter of tak … in the comoun kyst 1531 Boyd Fam. P. No. 7 (1 Oct.).
I sall resaif the said soume … with the said letters of tax for the space of thre ȝeres eftir the lowsing of the said lands 1532 Wigtownshire Chart. 29.
That ye pas to the saidis landis and geif stait and sesyng and possessioune to the said William … efter the forme of our letter of tack 1540 Reg. Cupar A. II 8.
The said abbot … bindis and oblissis us and our successouris to acquiet, warand and defend thairto oure said letter of tak and assedatione aganis all deidlye, in safar as law will 1545 Prot. Bk. Sir Wm. Corbet 6.
We haiff subscriuit our namys … to hyr letter of tack selit with our cowmon seill 1555 Reg. Cupar A. II 123.
Nochtwithstanding ony letter of tak or vther vretting maid in the contrar a1579 Prot. Bk. W. Douglas 308a.
Reseruand alwayis to me my airs and assignayis the forsaid lettre of taik and kindnes 1587 Prot. Bk. J. Inglis 20 Aug. (see (1) above).
Tak(2) 1546 Reg. Cupar A. II 35.
We will at this letter tak be of nane awale … but sall waik frelye in our handis 1567 Kirkcaldy B. Rec. 313.
Tak

c. (To have) tak of. 1472 Reg. Cupar A. I 164.
Ane quarter of our toun … the quhilk … Thom Cant elder has tak of to certan termys 1498 Acta Conc. II 165.
The sade umquhile Andro … had tak of the sadis landis and fisching 1499 Exch. R. XI 435.
The landis in Murray that the lard of Innes allegis tak of 1505–6 Peebles Chart. 33.
The wrangwis occupatioun … of thair commoun landis of Caidmur, without tak or licens of thame

d. (To have, set, etc.) in (at) tak (tackis). 1490 Misc. Spald. C. V 31.
Hes in tak of you a certane fischinge of the watter of Done 1507 Edinb. B. Ct. Bk. 5.
It was assignit til Thomas Brisone to haf previt … that he had the buthe in tak of him 1512–13 Reg. Privy S. I 378/2.
Scho brukit the sammyn of the king in tak 1556 Reg. Cupar A. II 171.
The half landis of Crwnane, quhilk the said Jonet … had in tak … of before in lyfrent 1557 Inverness Rec. I 11.
He pays hyme nocht the sowme of xxj merkis mayll for his kyll, malt hows and twa barnis he hed in takis 1566–7 Cart. S. Giles 270.
Thai sett to the said lord Oliphant in tak and assedatioun all and syndrie the teynd schaves of the kirk of Dumbarnye 1568 Haddington Corr. 271.
Our castell of Dumbartane, his kyndlie hous, pertenyng to him in tak 1592 Boyd Fam. P. No. 76 (7 March).
Adame to set the lands at tak to me … for payment of 24 pounds 1628 Glasgow B. Rec. I 368.
The haill mylnes [which] belongis to the toun heritablie and in tak to be servit be ane myller 1632 Cullen B. Ct. 15 April.
The haill counsall … hes set and in tak lattis to Johne Duff [etc.] … all and haill thair common bankis girs and brais 1648 Banff Field C. (1908-9) 88.
Mr. George Chalmer … had spoken thes vho had charge of the Saturdayes mercat at Rynie, and desyred them to change the same, for the better observing of the Lordis day … but these vho had it in tak ver loath to doe it, … seing they peyed so much for the same

2. Land that has been leased; a farm; farmland.Some examples may belong in 1 above. 1439 Charter (Reg. H.) C.O. No. 49.
A pece land … the quhilk was sumtyme Will of Jonstonis tak 1442 Raine N. Durham App. 21.
Wyt vs til haue taken vnder our spetiale mantenance protection defens and saufegarde our louede chapellanys … thair men [etc.] … takkis & malyngis [etc.] 1462 Newburgh B. Ct. 7b.
He that telse nocht the hyll suld dyk it & he at dykit it nocht suld tyne hes tak 1464–5 Reg. Episc. Aberd. II 165.
Item in le tak in parte dextra vij vchis et le pendace 1471 Newburgh B. Ct. 48b.
Quhat sum ever that commys nocht that day his takkis sall be vakant a1500 Henr. Fab. 2741.
How durst thow tak on hand … To put him fra his tak? 1476 Acta Aud. 43/2.
The chapell landis of Drumry clamit be the said Thomas to be his tak set to him be Wilȝam of Levingstoun 1502 Treas. Acc. II 345.
To by oxin to ane tak 1507 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. I 77.
The wranguiss and mastirfull occupatioun and laboring of his tak of thre oxin gang a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 365.
Thou has a tome purs, I have stedis and takkis 1508 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II 333.
To haf maid … my broder of law … my … bailye of my landis and tak callit the Vodend of Fyve 1525 Armstrong Hist. Liddesdale I 223.
Oppinly … thair takkis and landis laid waist 1543 Reg. Cupar A. II 24.
The said Besse Turnbill … sall be in the tak and haue hyr lewing thairof 1549 Compl. 123/29.
I am exilit fra my takkis and fra my steddyngis 1571 Inverness Rec. I 203.
The … cornis that beis sawin in thair maisteris tackis 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Iter.
Tackes(b) 1568–9 Inverness Rec. I 173.
Callit … to the samyn wacant tact for intrusing thame selff thairin

3. The document in which a lease is engrossed. = Letter of tak (see 1 b above).The Sat. P. quot. may belong in 1 above. 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 66.
He … come againe … bringand with him the foirsaid chairtore and take 1584 Sempill in Sat. P. xlv 491.
Gif ye knew his duble tackis Amonges the countrie men he mackis, With feinyeit seillis and antideatis a1700 Hay Geneal. Sainteclaires 43.
The seal is white wax, the tak parchement

4. attrib. and possess. a. Tak dewtie, the rent paid for property leased or for the farming of customs. b. Tak dews, fund, maillis, the moneys derived from such rents. c. Takmart, fische, peetes, etc., rents paid in kind. d. Tak landis, leased land. e. Tacksmaster, = Tak(k)isman n.a. 1626 Argyll Rentals I.
Allowit to the bischope of Lismoir for the tak dewtie of the kirk of Donnone 1628 Aberd. Council Lett. I 288.
A warrand of the … lord thesaurar to Thomas Nicolsone customar of Aberdeen to pay to us the said sowme … out of the first end of his tack dewties of our customes 1629 M. P. Brown Suppl. Decis. I 65.
The sheriff pursuing his own tacksman, to find caution to pay the tack-duty, or else to remove a1633 Hope Major Pract. I 123.
Take-dewties of wodsett lands falls not within the compas of the act of Parliament 1621 1639 Aberd. Council Lett. II 117.
The present tackismen payes … 5500 merkis scottis money yeerlie quhilk tack duetie [etc.] 1639 Aberd. B. Rec. III 185.
Thay … pray … that your Maiestie wilbe … pleasit to grant wnto thame … impost of wynes … at leist ane assignatioun to the tack dewtie thairof 1642 Ch. in Orkney 253.
Patrick Smith disponed the vicarage of Sandwicke to a sone of mine … the tak-duetie is 40 merks 1649 Aberd. Council Lett. III 162.
That the … power of collectorie of the customes of all merchandice … conteined in thair tak and impost of wynes grantit to George Cullen … was now expyred, thought it necessar to proceid to ane electione of ane new collector … and to ane condiscendance … for regulating the collectione … quhairunto the collector … sould be lyable … The collector sall be obleidgit to pey such stages of the tak dewtie to the generall takisman [etc.] 1661 Decis. Lords G. 2.
Mr. Robert Herries … having … set to Lockerbie a tack of the tiends, charges him for the tack-duty 1661 Aberd. Council Lett. IV 147.
We ar noways lyable for the tack duetie the tack not being perfittit 1677 Aberd. Council Lett. VI 95.
The expiration of the back tack is also called quherin we have procured a commissione for takeing ther oathes upon your haveing receivit the back tack dewtyb. 1676 Inverness Rec. II 267.
The magistrats to bestow money theron, and tack the samen from the tackfund of the Comon Good 1678 Kirkcaldy B. Rec. MS 21 Oct.
The head of the peir that is fallen to be repaired … upon the tak dews of the hearbour this yeirc. 1474 Exch. R. VIII 223.
Et de j marta dicta takmart de Uddinstone 1557 Reg. Great S. 273/1.
Lie tak turris 1561 Reg. Episc. Morav. App. 404.
Reservatis piscibus captabilibus lye tak fische, computando 20 lie haddokis seu quhytings 1572 (1586) Reg. Great S. 365/1.
Lie tak-fische de Ernehill 1598 Reg. Great S. 255/1.
Reddendo … bollam avenarum custumalium (lie tak-aittis) 1614 Crim. Trials III 295.
To remayne in the cuntrey to vplift the tak maillis whilk he alledgeit wes dew 1617 (1623) Reg. Great S. 139/2.
32 onera lie tak-peetes 1617 (1623) Reg. Great S. 140/1.
60 onera lie custome-turves, 4 onera lie tak-turves — 1653 Retours I Inq. Spec. Elgin et Forres (95).
The yeard and palace roumes with the port called Scotisfauld, and takfishes of Darnhill … perteining to the landis of Newtound. 1579 Reg. Privy C. III 225.
The said Patrik … fauchit the ley land of the said Gilbertis tak landise. 1676 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. IV 566.
Sir Patrick … attained … a nyne years tack of the tounes common good … and below the worth, the tacksmaster now giving tuenty one thowsand … more then the said Sir Patrick gave