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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.

Tak, v.² Also: takk-, tack, tackl-. [ME and e.m.E. takke(n (Trevisa), tack(e (c1400); Tak n.³]

1. tr. To fasten, attach; nail (one thing to another). 1515 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 159.
Small theft or pykrie pvnist be being had to the trone and thair his lug to be takket thairto 1515 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 159.
Takkit 1553 Haddington B. Rec. (Robb) 24 April.
The juges … decernis Walter Andersone's lug to be takkit to the trone c1586 Peebles Gleanings 199.
The precept is takkit to the seising, the seising is daitit 11th March 1586

b. fig. Of the tongue: To be immobilised, hence, unable to speak, as if by being nailed. Cf. Toung n. 5 d. 1635 Dickson Wr. 148.
When their tongues are tacked, and speak nothing—so straitly frozen, that they cannot stir

2. intr. To alter course at sea by tacking.(a) a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xlviii 140.
Tak on ȝour babert luif abuird 1701 Brand Orkney & Shetl. 7.
One of the boatmasters … advised us to tack about, and endeavour to fetch Calf-Sound again(b) 1632 Lithgow Trav. (1906) 288.
Seven weekes crossed with northerly windes, ever tackling and boarding from the Affricke coast to the Carminian shoare