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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.

Takar, -er(e, n. Also: -are, -air, -arr-, -err-, -or, takkar, tackar, -er, taikar, -air, -er. [ME and e.m.E. taker (a1325); Ta(k v.¹]

1. One who seizes or captures (Ta(k v.¹ 1), specif. a. One who captures a prisoner (for ransom); a ship (as a prize); land, etc. in the course of battle; also one who apprehends a criminal, stolen goods, etc. b. One who or that which seizes (something) more generally; a thief.a. 1448 Acts I 351/1.
Sall pay his ransome til his taker 1456 Hay I 121/23.
Fra a prisounare be tane, the takare may do with him quhat ever him lykis 1488 Treas. Acc. I 83.
xxiiij li. … gevin agane to the takaris of hym 1512 Crim. Trials I i 80.
It sall nocht be lafull to the … taker of him … to sla him 1513 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 2.
At the personis takaris and intromittaris with the saidis howsis be summond to comper befor the king 1535 Stewart 56882.
The tane men als the takaris did exceid 1548 Melville Chart. 89.
Sumter of Ochtermoinese sayes he … payit his taker quhen the army lay in Leith 1550 Treas. Acc. IX 420.
Thair collegis, quartar maisterris of the schippis of the takerris of ane Inglische prys 1550 Reg. Privy C. I 99.
That all sik personis … salbe reput … lanchfull presoneris, and that thair takar sall nocht … incur ony … skayth 1567 Acts III 32/1.
Our said souerane lordis … subiectis quhilkis heirefter sall happin to tak and apprehend ony of the saidis theuis … present thame befoir the justice … gif thair takeris … iustifie thame not to deith thame selfis 1558-66 Knox I 87.
The sea was filling, and so the watter maid great stope; but the fear was such as happy was hie that mycht gett a tackar a1578 Pitsc. I 319/24.
Takoris 1590 Crail B. Ct. 6 Oct.
The awneris of the saidis bestiall sall pey the vnlawis following … the ane half thairof to be bestowit vpon the taker and apprehender off the said bestiall and the wther half to the bailleis 1607 Highland P. III 98.
Takair 1622-6 Bisset II 222/17.
The saidis takeris to schaw the cartar pairtie of theme quhais schip is takin(b) 1533 Boece 599.
The king … with his gluf of plait straik his taiker … in the face 1607 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 102.
Taikair(c) 1543 Treas. Acc. VIII 189.
To the takkaris of … presouneris 1549 Compl. 177/3.
Munitius persauand that ane feu nummer … var in purpos to tak that hil [etc.] … cam vitht the remanent of his armye contrar the hil takkarisb. a1400 Leg. S. xxxi 512.
Quhen hir qwhelpis ar tan hir fra, To chas the takaris 1492–3 Acta Conc. I 266/1.
That the said Alexander … sall … pay [etc.] … in assithment for all … the gudis spuilȝeit & takin fra [etc.] … except alanerly the money takin fra Lowry Ȝoung to be takin of the principale takare c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 211/38.
Grit men for taking and oppressioun Ar sett full famous at the sessioun, And peur takaris [M. takarris] ar hangit hie c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 154/131.
Stomok steillaris and clayth takkaris 1519 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 50.
The said Adam denyit that the takar of the said hors was his servand c1575 Balfour Pract. 27.
The takaris and intromettaris with the landis, teindis [etc.] … of halie kirk without tak or assedatioun

2. A collector (of taxes, etc.). (Ta(k v.¹ 11.) 1551 Hamilton Cat. 11.
Takaris of ouir mekil mail or farme to the herschipe of the tenentis 1607 Glasgow B. Rec. I 265.
Thair is ane greter yeirlie dewtie promeisit for the custome of the laidill be James Greinleis, taker thairof for this yeir to cwme

3. One who leases (land); the possessor of a lease. (Ta(k v.¹ 12 with influence from Tak n.¹) 1449–50 Acts II 35/2.
Thai … that has takyn … landis … fra lordis & has termes & ȝeris tharof that suppos the lordis sel … thai landis that the takaris sall remayn with thare takis on to the ische of thare termes 1560 Grey Friars II 88.
The provost and bailies set a tack to John Abirnethy … alsua … to Johne Aytoun [etc.] … and the takaris foresaidis to remove na stanis nor growand treis of the grund 1614 Lanark B. Rec. 120.
The gers … to be set … on speciall conditionis following … that the takeris sall [etc.] 1636 Dumbarton B. Rec. 49.
The muir to be ropit … to him qua will geve maist thairfor … as the toun and the takkar sall agrie

4. One who swears (an oath). (Ta(k v.¹ 16.) ?c1675 J. Gordon Hist. II 114.
This oathe obleidgeth not the now tackers therof furder then it did the first tackers therof

5. The person to whom an oath is sworn. (Cf. Ta(k v.¹ 16 and 25 b.) 1456 Hay I 178/35.
That all ath … suld be tane in the fassoun … that he that ressavis it understandis it, that is to say, he that it is maid to … than quhethir this athe suld be understandin be the entencioun of the makare or of the takare

6. One who receives or accepts something. (Ta(k v.¹ 23 and 26.) 1456 Hay I 28/30.
He gert geve all benificis till all that wald mak cost [pr. coft] thareon, tak and have, and lukit nocht to the gude clerkis … for thai that ar takaris of beneficis fra the said Bartilmewe [etc.] c1490 Porteous Noblenes 181/27 (A).
Larges … proffettis the takere and delytis the gevare c1490 Porteous Noblenes 182/7 (A).
The reward takin oblissis the takere and acquytis the giffare of his bounte c1554 Black Bk. Taymouth 165.
Be not the takaris of na wrangus geir, Nor in youre hous be na way recept it 1603 Shetland Sheriff Ct. (ed.) 85.
Alexander Fidlair is tryit to have sclanderit Grigerous … to be ane bud takar without ony likliness or probatioun

7. One who takes responsibility for something. (Ta(k v.¹ 48.) 1583 Reg. Privy C. III 579.
That thai sall compeir befoir the said justice … [being] repute … gilty of the said treasonable cryme, and as taikaris of the same upoun thame

8. Takar away, = Away-takar n. (Ta(k v.¹ 63.) a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 143/15.
On[der]standand in that haly table to be the lame of Gode takar avay the synnes of the vardle

9. Takar up. a. One who collects (rents, etc.). (Ta(k v.¹ 73 j.) b. One who leads the psalms in a church service, a precentor. (Ta(k v.¹ 73 s.)a. 1516 Wigtown B. Ct. 56a.
The vrangus haldin fra him of v cronys as he that vas thesaurar and takerwp of the borow malis 1587 Acts III 464/2.
The takaris vp and payaris of blak meill a1649 Drummond Wks. (1711) 50.
Taker up of the rents of that earldomb. 1581 Bk. Univ. Kirk II 510.
Officiaris of the kirk, sic as clerkis of assemblies, takaris vp of the psalmes, beddales [etc.] 1593 Edinb. B. Rec. V 106.
[Mr. Jhonn Chalmer to be … ] taiker up of the psalmes within the hie … Kirk 1609 Edinb. B. Rec. VI 50.
The offices of redar, taker up of the psalmes … and maister of the sang schole