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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
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Takin, Taikin(g)(e, Token, n. Also: takyn(e, -en, -in(g)(e, -inn(e, -yng, -one, -n(e, takkin, -yn, tacken, -in, taiken, -eine, -inne, -n(e, -y(i)n, taikkyn, teaken, -in, -yn, tekne, tokin, -ing, -yn, tocken, to(c)kne, toiken, toi(c)kin, toaken, -in, tukne. [ME and e.m.E. tacne (c1175), takenn (Orm), tocne (c1200), tocken(e (c1250), tokne (1297), taken (Cursor M.), token(e (Wyclif), tokyn (c1440), tokyng (1486), OE tácen, tácn, MLG, MDu. teken.]Freq. in collocation with Sign(e n.

1. Something that indicates a state of affairs, etc.; an identifying characteristic, action of (a person, thing, quality, attitude, etc.), that (something is the case), etc.; a sign or symbol.(a) a1400 Leg. S. i 484.
He ma spek, and ga, And othir lifly taknis ma ?1438 Alex. ii 3232.
Be the pointis thare swordis … Thay held ilkane; that takin [F. ce senefioit] is Outher of dede or than mercy c1420 Wynt. ii 1109.
Wytht aulde hose and rywine schone, And mowlyde brede … Be thai taknys to be kend That thai ware off fer landis sende 1456 Hay I 188/30.
Wyne, the quhilk is a takyn of evill will 1456 Hay II 83/29.
Quhen a king absteynis him to tak … the riches of his peple fra thame, that is a takyn that that king is full of vertu c1460 Consail Vys Man 376.
Gret spech is takin of foly 1460 Hay Alex. 462.
Speik honour of all men … heir of nane defame, Ill takin is to gif ane blind man blame a1500 Henr. Fab. 2837.
The face may faill to be the hartis takin [B. taikin] … Thow suld not iuge ane man efter his face 1531 Vaus (1531) 2.
To or till before ane casuale worde is the takyne of the datiue cais 1535 Stewart 28927.
Tha fand thre bodeis … Of similitude … Of forme and figour and equallitie That no man culd, for ony takynis derne, Ane by ane vther … decerne a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 126/25.
To dispare of the reall presens of the … body and bloude of our saluiour to be in the sacrament and to think that it is onely bot ane figure and taken of the Lordes bodye and bloude 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 16.
The takinis of quhilk trecherie, certane blak pimples … brak out ouer his haill body 1579 Atholl Mun. I No. 90.
That he wes present at the death and oppyning of the Erll of Athoill … saw strange and vnnaturall takkynnis in the stomak c1590 Fowler II 55/22.
Thair he find na naturall mouing or takone of life 1596 Highland P. I 156.
To put in wret the hail suspicions and causis thaireof … albeit the saidis takenis and suspicionis be neveir sae licht 1596 Dalr. I 92/29.
Takne 1596–7 Misc. Spald. C. I 100.
Quhilkis things ar ewident takins and demonstratiounis, seyn and knawin to all the wardle, that [etc.] 1622-6 Bisset I 125/31.
That the ressones be … distinct be numeris alsweill … as be takynnis of greit letteres in the begynning of everie ressoun(b) 1533 Gau 109/4, 5.
As Abrahamis circumcisione wesz ane sing (or ane takine) of the richtusnes quhilk he haid throw faith, sua our varkis are bot wtuert singis or taiknis quhilk … declaris … that we ar maid richtus throw faith 1549 Compl. 51/21.
Ve maye see be experiens that quhen the sune rysis at our est orizon than it ascendis … and ther eftir it declynis and passis vndir our vest orizon, quhilk is ane manifest taikyn that the sune gais about al the eird c1560 Craven Ch. in Orkney II 5.
The fatherle cheisteisment and maist speciall signes and evident taikinge of Goddis onedoutted favour 1573 Cath. Tr. 17/5.
The notis and taikines of the trew kirk 1590 Welwod 43.
This smal piece of labour … a taikin of my puire affectioun to that great warke 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I 172.
The Deuill … gaive thé his taikin in thy left hand, withe ane vehement nip c1615 Chron. Kings 110.
In sing of the samin fauour, scho wald delyuer him the grittest taikeine off luiff, quhilk wes hir sone 1622 Melrose P. 477.
A pledge and taikine of youre maiesteis gratious fauour(c) c1400 Troy-bk. ii 3087.
Pollydamas … The token of the cite grete And a kend tokin to thaime gaif 1587 Elgin Rec. II 8.
To continew till there appere sum tokens of repentance in hir 1602 Melvill 551.
Toakines 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 471.
She dyed a good Christian, expressing, during her sickness & at her death, perfect tokins thereof

b. In (into) takin (of, that), as an indication or sign; in witness (of, etc.). 1375 Barb. ix 512.
He gert ay ber … Apon a sper a rede bonet In-to takyn that [etc.] a1400 Leg. S. xli 25.
In takine of weding He erlis thaim with his ryng 1439 Acts II 54/2.
In mare appert takin of traiste and hartlines in tyme cummyng scho has … committit to the said schir Alexanderis keping … hir derrast son 1446 Reg. Episc. Brechin. I 107.
In witnessing and in taikine of consent c1475 Wall. ix 169.
The Rede Reiffar … Held out a gluff in takyn off the trew c1515 Asl. MS I 303/8.
The dow … fand land and in takin thairof retorned with ane branche of olive 1517 Acts XII 38/1.
In takin of this oure consent and oblissing hereintill we … have [affi]xt to thir presentis oure selis 1531 Bell. Boece I 217.
This emprioure causit riche perle … to be set in his schone, in mair taikin of insolence than ony ornament 1542–3 Acts II 419/1.
My said lord governour deliverit to thaim the sceptour … in signe & takin of thar restorance 1546 Blackfriars Perth 212.
That thai remove furnithure … furth of thair houses … in signe and toking of thair removing furth of the samyn [sc. lands] 1565 Reg. Privy C. I 363.
In takin quhairof we haif maid our bodelie aithis 1570 Cal. Sc. P. III 111.
[They sent to her Robert Melvill to assure her thereof,] with ane ryng in spetiell tokne, [which has been shown to the Queen's majesty] a1578 Pitsc. I 23/9.
[He] delyuerit the keyis of the castell in signe and taikin of the randering thairof 1585 Perth B. Ct. 20 June.
With the subscriptioun of the said Williame in takin of his assent 1603 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. II 24.
Tackin 1603 Inverness Rec. II 20.
Toickin 1605 Inverness Rec. II 33.
Toikin 1606 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. II 117.
In signe and tacken thairof gawe to him thair hands 1610 Logie Par. Hist. I 66.
[To his brother, … he leaves] ane piece of gold … in taikin of my guid remembrance 1625 Fraserburgh Kirk S. II 6 July.
Teaken 1651 Lamont Diary 27.
Ther were many beane fyres … in token of ioy ?c1675 J. Gordon Hist. I 115.
Tockne

c. Be takin of, by witness of. 1494 Loutfut MS 3b.
Suere … be takin of the passioun of God [etc.]

2. Written information, a piece of writing; evidence; proof. 1456 Hay II 155/9.
And tharfore to geve thé, Alexander, a generale reule of documentis and takenis of gude condiciounis of baillies quhilkis ar to the prouffitable and honourable and quhilk nocht a1500 Henr. Age & Yowth 68 (M).
That takkin [OUP cedullis] suthlie … O ȝouth be glaid in to thi flouris grene, O ȝouth thy flouris fadis ferlie sone 1539 Exch. R. XVII 663.
All uthire thingis ye sall do as ye think maist expedient nochtwithstanding ony or quhatsumevir oure writtingis or takynnis to be send to yow in the contrare 1565 Misc. Maitl. C. III 181.
Johnne constantlie affirmit his report with diverse takynnis usit in the circumstance of the mater and gaif the same in write subscrivit with his hand 1581 Crim. Trials I ii 115.
Gevin in anent the premisses, with the takinis and probationis produceit 1586 Crim. Trials I ii 149.
For the … verefeing of the said dittay and takinnis thairof 1589 Calderwood V 20.
I have much adoe to moderat the appetite that some Catholick lords have to have the money presentlie for the hope they give of some pretended occasiouns which will never fall out as they promise. The Erle of Huntlie made instance, to have the thrid part of the summe … But he hath not tuiched nor yitt sall … but upon good tokins 1605 Crim. Trials II 470.
The sweiring of the dittay … as lykwyis the taiknis producet, also suorne 1625 Justiciary Cases I 21.
That testament … to be respectit be thame as ane taikin as accordis of the law

b. To the (that) takin, in proof of (something). c1515 Asl. MS I 216/18.
The ȝeire of god I^m iiij^c xliij the x day of Marche Erll James Douglas deit at the castell of Abercorn to the takin thai said he had in him four stane of talch 1563–4 Crim. Trials I i 440.
To the takin … eftir that the said Thomas had put owt certane of the fals lyonis … scho come to the mercate … thairwith 1565 Crim. Trials I i 467.
To the taikinne, the same wes confessit be thaim, in presens of the lordis of counsale 1567 Inverness Rec. I 152.
To the teakin his byknyff was fundin at the said stak a1578 Pitsc. II 81/23.
Quhene he was brunt all fre the waist doune they bad him remember on God and mak ane signe thairof. To that taikin he bend into the fyre [etc.] 1622 Crim. Trials III 512.
To the taikin, the said Margaret … in hir going to the ȝaird that nycht, tynt hir pantoun 1623 Peebles Gleanings 5.
To the taikin [that] the provest … this last nicht tuik him ridhand thairwith

3. A physical mark or indication of some sort. Also fig. a1400 Leg. S. vii 823.
Ilke man one his clethynge A takine fand of new, fresche blud, In al thinge lyk to Cristis rud a1400 Leg. S. xl 456.
A bule … kepare of the catel … one hyme ȝed with fete. & that taknis lestis ȝete, Sene in a stane in that [ilk] stede 1466 (1471) Reg. Great S. 214/2.
Tho. Ogilby [etc.] … has ridding … the auld merchis and landimaris and merkis betuix oure landis … we decidit … that we … sal … kepe the landimaris takinnis and merkis undir wirtin a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 1559.
In his handis and his feit I see All the taikynnis of the nalis threfig. 1490 Irland Mir. III 18/10.
The first effect of this sacrament is impressio caracteris that is a takin in the saule that he that is confermyt is a knycht of Jhesu

4. (An object serving as) an emblem or symbol (of something). 1375 Barb. x 741 (C) (see Takinning vbl. n. 1 e).
Takyne c1420 Wynt. iv Prol. 12.
A garland as a crowne sulde be Wndyrstandyn … A takyn off wyrschype 1456 Hay I 277/16.
Sa that men … of estate suld be knawin be thair armes the quhilkis ar callit thair takenys in armoury a1500 Rauf C. 457.
He bair grauit in gold … Ane tyger ticht to ane tre, ane takin of tene a1500 Coll. St. Salvator 163.
Four gret pillaris with four angelis with takynnys of the passioun befor the he alter 1513 Doug. xiii iv 5.
The Rutilianys … This ded corps … have … laid on a rich beir And with hym … takynnys … Reft from Troianys … helmys, hors, swerdis and other geir 1513 Doug. xiii ix 92.
He, in syng, for hys baner, From Jupiter ressauyt, … The fleand egill … Ane knawyn takyn to pepill Hectorian a1538 Abell 48a.
At in the hecht of castellis & ȝattis of ceteis suld be put the takin of the cros ?a1500 Steel Roy Robert 77.
Till ane takin the hingand stanis Ambrosius set vp … In till ane lestand memoriall At Saxounis had ourset ȝow all a1586 Lindsay MS 9.
That thai put furth bardis, blasowne, or hous of scheild, or takinnis of armes

b. A badge.Some examples may belong in prec. sense. 1503–4 Treas. Acc. II 222.
To Johne Currour, goldsmyth for ane takin of Sanct Johne 1504 Treas. Acc. II 442.
For takinnis of Sanct Niniane, bocht in Quhithirn c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 274.
He … , on his bonnet, vsit to beir Of siluer fyne takinnis of weir c1588 Cath. Tr. 254/30.
The hallouing of the tokens called Agnus Dei 1595 Duncan App. Etym.
Symbolum, a taken, a badge, a lawing in companionrie

5. Something used to identify an individual. 1448 Acts I 351/2.
To tak ane takin of his presoner with him at may be knawin sufficiand c1475 Wall. xi 911.
To sayff the erll, Wallace … Set on his clok a takyn for to se, The lyoun in wax that suld his condet be 1511 Treas. Acc. IV 312.
Be the kingis command, and my lord thesauraris be his takyne thairone, send with Johne Formane to Leith … l li. 1526 Treas. Acc. V 276.
The kingis grace send his ringe in ane takin to deliver Cunninghame, gunnar 1560 Exch. R. XIX 460.
Delyverit to Peter Cokburne, quha come with ane takin fra George Symson, the saidis George lettres 1558-66 Knox I 41.
This prelatt was knowin by his proper tockenes to have bene Priour Patrik Hepburne 1590 Reg. Privy C. IV 553.
[That Coilyeair had delivered to him the keys of the said place] upoun a taikin [from Andro Hering] 1614 Rec. Earld. Orkney 382.
Send to Thomas Kirknes to William with ane of your greifs sons, and his knyf send to me in ane taikin … xij s.

b. An identifying symbol, mark or badge of a craft or craftsman or of another group or class of persons. 1434 Aberd. B. Rec. I 390.
Ilk baxtar sal haf on his lofe his awn takyne that it may be kennyt 1450 Ayr B. Ct. p. 106 (14 April).
That na lepermen na weman entercomon but a cop to a taking 1456 Hay I 281/29.
Gif a maister armoureur … in his werkis had a takyn that his werkis war knawin by 1484 Aberd. B. Rec. I 413.
The … craftismen … sal … beyr thare takyinis of thare craft apon thare breistis [pr. beristis] 1494 Loutfut MS 32a.
Quhen pelegrinys passis in pelerinage … thai mak thair takinnis of thai schellis 1523–4 Aberd. B. Rec. in Mill Mediæv. Plays 122.
He rafusit to pas in the Candilmes processioun with his taikin & sing of his craft c1650 Spalding I 117.
None had entress bot he who had ane taikin of leid, declairing he wes ane covenanter

c. The sign of a shop or inn. 14.. Burgh Laws c. 54 (A).
Ilk broustar sal doo a takyn [B. asigne] of alle without hyr hous thru hyr wndow or the dur at it be sene 14.. Acts I 332/2.
At thai ar nocht redy at the furth puttyn of the takyn for to tast ail c1575 Balfour Pract. 579.
Challenge of fleshouris … That thay sell flesh without ane tokin or signe 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. 50b.
A passinger … seing ane enseigne set out as a takin of vyne to be sauld

d. A beggar's badge or token, giving permission to beg. 1424 Acts (1597) i 6.
That na thigger be thoiled to begge … but they be seene be the councell … that they may not win their liuing vtherwaies. And they that sa beis founden haue a certaine takinne to landwart of the schireffes and in burrowes of alder-men and baillies 1502–3 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 97.
That thair sall be made a certane leidin taiknis to be gevin to the pure failyeit folks … that … beggaris nocht haiffand thir taikins sall devoyde the towne 1535 Acts II 347/2.
That the hedismen of ilk parochine mak taikynnis and geve to the beggaris tharof 1546 Aberd. B. Rec. I 235.
The bailȝeis … to … vesy all the begaris within the burgh … and … to gif thame the tounis takyn 1579 Acts III 139/2.
Teakynis 1585 Reg. Privy C. IV 6.
Permissioun to seik almous with the takynnis 1601 Elgin Rec. II 91.
The eldaris to compeir … for designyng and marking of the townis puir folkis by delyuering to ilk ane of thame ane tokin of lead on thair breistis 1620 Cramond Ch. Aberdour 19.
Ordour taken with their own puir and toakens given unto them 1661 Elgin Rec. II 293.
That the poor sall wear ther tokens

e. In the post-Reformation church: A communion token, allowing an individual to receive communion. 1581–2 Perth Kirk S. in Spottiswoode Misc. 242.
They who are not communicants, and received not tokens 1590 St. A. Kirk S. 672.
Ironis for streking of the takynnis to the communioun 1590 Dumfr. & Galloway Soc. XIII 45.
For twa thowsand taikins to the communion, ten merkis 1591–2 Edinb. B. Rec. V 57.
To provyde ane stayne wecht of taikins to the communioun 1597 Elgin Rec. II 49.
Thair sall a man await for the ressait of the taikinnis 1597 Elgin Rec. II 62.
The south east quarter that ar alredie catecheisit to be summondit agane eftir none to ressaue thair taikyins 1696 Cramond Ch. Aberdour 32.
An kirk box and leaden tokens

6. Something given as a sign of affection, favour or recognition; a (small) gift; a legacy. Also a takin of luf.See also Lufe-taking n. 1503 Treas. Acc. II 226.
For thre smal gold ringis to the king for takinnis 1525 Douglas Corr. 102.
To caus the kingis hienes … to send soim litill thingis for tokynnys to the king my maister 1549 Corr. M. Lorraine 297.
Be her hand writ … to tak the said erle in mariage, hir taiking deliverit to him thairupoun a1560 Corr. M. Lorraine 440.
[His request, therefore, is] that I may have your graces taikyn in rememberance of my sobir service done at that tyme 1568 Q. Mary in Ellis Orig. Lett. II (1824) 254.
Y wil send ȝou letle tekne to rember ȝou off the gud hop y heuu in ȝou 1568 Anderson Collect. Mary IV 85.
Sent Robert Melwile to her Hienes with ane ring and toikenis, counselling hir Majestie to subscryve sic wreitingis 1570 Leslie 79.
The king of England send … horssis … And … the king of Scotland … certane propper Scottis horssis … with a greit number of … halkeis to the king of Ingland, so that be sic mutuall taikinnis and propoynes; the love and hartly kindnes [etc.] a1578 Pitsc. I 360/3.
Money great taikins gevin and taine be the said king … ringis tablattis dayamondis [etc.] 1582 Declar. Causis 8/9.
Sum takinnis & presentis was … send … to … his hienes 1586 Edinb. Test. XVI 343, -4.
To … hir sone of law hir turkes ring in ane taikin … ane ring of gold in ane takin 1596 Cal. Sc. P. XII 414.
He thinks meet that Argyll and MacLean have some tokens … thereby to make them readier for her Majesty's service 1610 Edinb. Test. XLVI 177.
I freith him the wther fyve hundreth merkis for ane taikin of luif 1627 Paterson Ayr & Wigton II 260.
A small taiken of my love to him 1633 Justiciary Cases I 215.
Procuret frome him … certane … poysonable and inchaintit taikynes of love speciallie ane jewall of gold [etc.]

7. a. A gesture of greeting, etc., esp. the sign of the Cross. b. A signal. c. An indication granting permission.a., b. a1400 Leg. S. xviii 1400.
The lyone … mad hyme fawnynge, & takine of pece with beknynge a1400 Leg. S. xix 69.
The king can ma The takine of the croice … Sir, tellis me quhy Ȝe sik takinge sa oft has mad a1400 Leg. S. xlvii 87.
A takine … ves, as he suld knok withine [etc.] 1455 Acts II 44/1.
The quhilkis … sall mak takynnis be balys birnyng & fyre c1475 Wall. xi 92.
Owt his suerd he drew; The buschement brak, quhen he that takyn schew 1494 Loutfut MS 3b.
That we sal nocht do nor say na schaw takin chere nor semblance in nokin maner that may help or noy ony of the parteis 1494 Loutfut MS 9a.
Quhill he mak him a takin to cum nere him ?a1500 Remembr. Passion 340.
Think how Pilot schew him scurgit and crownit with thorne … O Lord Jesu, that tholit tobe schawin be Pilot with taikynnis of scorne: Grant me to leif takynnis of wanglore 1513 Doug. iii iv 61.
Mysenus … with his trumpet thame a takyn maid 1570 Leslie 194.
Pat up ane taikin on a speir pointt a1605 Birrel Diary 49.
The boy gaif hes m^r ane token … be the schaw or waiff of hes hand-curchec. 1621 Perth Kirk S. MS 10 Dec.
He … waild nocht do it befoir that he reportit the ministeris taikin that he licentiat him to do the same The minister declairit he gaif na licence nor taikin to brek the Lordis Saboth 1633 Monteith Stewartry Ct. 6 June.
Money borrowit … vpoun the said Williame Buchannanis takine and at his comand

8. a. Something viewed as presaging future events, a sign or portent, an omen. b. An act serving to demonstrate divine power.a., b. a1400 Leg. S. xxxvi 94.
Quod he ‘Fore thu trewis nocht … Thu sal be dume til that thu se Thi barne. This takine I gyf thé' c1400 Troy-bk. ii 203 (C).
A ferly token [L. mirabile signum] of the heven c1420 Wynt. iv 2336.
Or Julyus deid … In Rome wncouth taknys felle a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 702 (Harl.).
Tayknys 1513 Doug. iii viii 63.
I saw … A fatale takyn, fowr horssis quhite as snaw 1513 Doug. vii i 120 (Sm.).
Takyng c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matth. xvi 1.
The Phariseis … prayit him to schaw thame a takin fra heuen 1533 Bell. Livy I 118/12.
Quhen the foulis be auguriis had schewin thare evident takynnys [etc.] a1538 Abell 5b.
Israel passit out of Egip … eftir maruellus takenis and mirakillis 1549 Compl. 36/13.
The singis & taikkyns that precedis the daye of iugement c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4238.
This warld … is drawand to ane end. Tokynnis of darth, hunger, and pestilence [etc.] a1578 Pitsc. II 219/26.
Gret taikins seine in the firmament 1596 Dalr. II 5/8.
This victorie with the Scotis was estemet … a … gud tukne of … succes to follow

9. A vestige, trace; remains.Some examples, esp. those in negative consts., may belong in 1 above. c1420 Wynt. vi Prol. 14.
Nowthyre remanys off thame lynage, Na nakyn takyn off thare langage c1409-1436 Kingis Q. § 41.
Of manace There was no takyn in hir suete face 1533 Boece 123b.
All evanyst sa clene that quhare the batell was sene na takin remanit 1535 Stewart 13759.
Of that same wall greit pairtis lang and hie With greit takynis quhair strang touris hes bene 1596 Dalr. I 87/20.
Quhat cuntreyes saevir the Peychtes haue occupiet … the same to this day stil sume taknes reteines in quhilkes sume certane forme of the Peychtis name & thair glore ȝit appeiris

10. A sign or division of the Zodiac. c1420 Wynt. i 1580.
To be rygnand a planete Hys cours haldande … In ilkane off the taknys [C. tokynnys] twelve, Sex moneth and twa yhere 1456 Hay II 113/28.
This party is callit astrology that is the science of the signes and takenis of the firmament