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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.

Talk, v. Also: talke, tawk, tak(e. P.p. also takkit, taulkit. [ME and e.m.E. talk- (Layamon), talke (Piers Plowman), taulke (a1555); Talk n.]

1. intr. To exchange ideas or thoughts in speech; to converse, make conversation. Also const. with (a person), till (each other).(1) a1500 K. Hart 849.
Richt as thir two ware talkand in feir Ane hiddous ost thai saw 1535 Stewart 11638.
Talkand thai raid togidder to the toun 1560 Rolland Seven S. 3837.
We twa alone mon talk ane lytill space a1578 Pitsc. I 91/11.
Ȝe sall dyne and we sall talk together at lenth(2) ?1438 Alex. ii 3463.
To talk with ȝow me sall be leif 1523 Mar & Kellie MSS 13.
That all uther personis except the lordis befoir nemmit … intercommoun nor talk nocht with his Grace … to persuaid him to ony … vices c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 961.
He hint hir in his armes, And talkit with hir on the flure 1584 Gowrie P. 27.
You, hauinge a place to take in privie with the king, might open uppe the simple trueth unto him 1629 Justiciary Cases I 136.
It is notourlie knawin that ane persone may be witchet be thame thay nevir saw nor talkit with(3) a1540 Freiris Berw. 169 (B).
Than in hett luve thay talkit vderis till

2. To speak, generally; to say things.(a) a1500 Henr. Robene & M. 61.
My huny, Robene, talk ane quhyll Gif thow will do na mair c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 246.
Now tydis me for to talk, my taill it is nixt c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 303.
I wald ryght tuichandly talk be I wes tuyse maryit 1658 R. Moray Lett. 225.
You say I talk lyke a brides maiden(b) 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 1131.
Adew, brether, … To talking more I haue no tyme to tarye

b. To talk of, to speak of or about (something). Also passive, in impersonal construction.(1) a1500 Henr. Orph. 385.
And on thai went, talkand of play and sport c1475 Wall. i 389.
As now of thi delyng We will nocht talk [McD. tak] c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 38.
Thai talkit [OUP talk] at the tabill of mony taill sindry 1562-3 Winȝet II 36/15.
Bot this thing treulie to the mater of the quhilk we now talk pertenis nocht 1566 Anderson Collect. Mary I 47.
The names of the personis is … oppinlie taulkit of 1609 Crim. Trials II 595.
Talke 1665–7 Lauder Jrnl. 39.
Talkt(b) c1475 Wall. i 295.
Furth tawkand thus of materis that was wrocht 1535 Stewart 23822.
Thai culd tak and tell of mony thing Quhairthrow thai gat sic quentance of the king

c. ? To speak one's mind, have one's say.(1) c1570 Breadalbane Lett. (Reg. H.).
My lord desyris ane abstinens to be haid at the lard, that freindis may talk in mater betuix the lard and his contrapairtye(2) 1596 Dalr. II 332/22.
Albeit in the beginning was mekle taket and a hauie questioune of the restoreng of the shipis [L. tametsi … quæstio multa & acris agitata est]

3. tr. To say, express (something) in speech. Also with clause object.(1) 1560 Rolland Seven S. 9579.
He sall incur my blame … That sic thing talkis of ȝow in ony time 1561 Carte Northberwic 80.
That it suld be … forgeving by hym nor never reproche repreiff nor in ony vord takkit to hyr of the samyn a1568 Bann. MS 159a/102.
He will talk mekle thing & nevir be confest(2) 1560 Rolland Seven S. 9488.
Gif scho was blyith it neidis not for to talk

b. To discuss, converse about. 1596 Dalr. I 346/14.
Quhen the samyn battell he wann … was reasont, doubtet, and talket with monie

4. passive. To be said or asserted (to be something). a1676 Guthry Mem. 36.
The reason of Lorn's haste was talked to be a counsel