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.
Jakman, Jackman, n. [Of uncertain derivation. Only Sc.It is not clear that, as conjectured by Scott, Jamieson and other modern commentators and editors, the first element is Jak n.2]
An attendant or retainer kept by a person of rank.a1538 Abell 70 b.
The jakmen at laubouris leist faris best in nobilis howsis1567 G. Ball. 197.
Preistis, leif ȝour pryde, … Ȝour hors and mulis costlie coft And jakmen be ȝour syde 1558-66 Knox I. 37.
The Bischop of Brechin, having his placeboes and jackmen in the toun a1570-86 Maitl. F. xxxiv. 66.
Sen hunger gois now wp and down And na gwd for the jakmen The lairdis and lordis rydis of the toun For feir of hungrit bakmen 1596 Bk. Univ. Kirk III. 873.
Of prayer and of reiding of the Word … for the maist part abused and profanit be cuiks, stewarts, jackmen, and sicklyke 1600-1610 Melvill 247.
He penned an excommunication, and in a bischoplie maner send out a boy with ane or twa of his jakmen, and red the sam in the kirk 1746 J. Row Sermon 8.
When ye come to a foord, the jackman must venter over first npon his weak weary naig ?a1648 Polemo-Mid. 72.
Jackmannum, hyremannos, pleughdryv'sters atque plenghmannos 1652 Ellon Presb. 431.
George Spence, the lairds jackman [16..] Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. III. 205.
[He] did divide the property amongst his jackmen for the greater part of it, into several tenements, bearing the name of the first occupants
