A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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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.
Taskman, n. Also: -mane. [Task(e n.] a. A workman engaged on piece-work. (Task(e n. b.) b. A journeyman.a. 1511 Treas. Acc. IV 282.
And for all expensis maid be him one the Castele of Striveling by taskwerk and taskmenb. 1521 Dundee B. Ct. I 53a (30 Oct.).
For the stoppyng of certane taskmen to mak seruice to hym of the craft 1568 Edinb. B. Rec. III 251.
The hale dekynnis … to convene thair craftis, bayth maister, taskman, prentise and seruand 1583 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 278.
The greitt multitude of jurnaymen or taskmen of the craftis ar na thing ellis bot idill vagabund persouns 1587 Dundee B. Laws 481.
That na maister off the craft … ressewe in his howse or bwith ony persone to wirk thairin without that thai be serwand, taskman, fie man, or prenteis 1592 Dundee B. Laws 533.
Lyk as thei … obleises thame … to content and thankfullie pay for ilk taskmane that sall happin thame to haiff … fortie schellingis 1614 Inverness Rec. II 127.
It is statut that all prenteissis, taskmen, and buith halders salbe revisit and in tym cuming admittit be the counsal 1652 Dunferm. Weavers 76.
[It is fixed] for all time coming [that] every taskman who shall be fied shall pay twenty shillings to the box, and that they be fied yearly though they stay with the same master, under the pain of three pounds not forgiven
