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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.

Theking, Theiking, vbl. n. Also: thekin, -yn(e, theikeing, theikin(e, theyking, theicking, thea(c)king, theakene, theeking, thecking, thikin(g, thick-, thieck-, thy(c)king, thikne, thuik-, thigging, tha(c)k-, thatching, tekyn, tatching. [ME and e.m.E. þecching (Piers Plowman), thechynge (1520), thekin (1617, north.), thatchinge (1641, north.), thatching (1671).]

1. a. The action of roofing or causing to be roofed (a building, etc.); the covering or roofing of a building (with suitable materials). b. The material(s) used for covering or roofing a building; the roof itself. Also, once, thiecking up.a., b. (1) 1394–5 Liber Aberbr. II 43 (see Thek(e v. 1 (2)).
Thekyn 1494 Peebles B. Rec. I 196.
He sal mak the ruf of the turngreys completly al to the thekyn 1496 Treas. Acc. I 291 (see Spule n.² attrib.).
Theking 1504 Treas. Acc. II 440.
Lyme, sclatis, lath, lathbrod, nales, theking 1511 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. I 103.
At the completing [the] theking witht burd and lachting 1532 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 87.
To the … sklateris for beting of the thekin 1539 Treas. Acc. VII 199.
Gevin to Robert Murray, plumber, for his ȝeirlie pencioun for uphalding of the palices of Halyrudehous and Linlithqu, in theiking of leid, xx li. 1558–9 Edinb. Old Acc. I 292.
To the sclatter for twa ruddis … of thekyne 1560 Old Dundee II 186.
To furnish … unto the theiking with sklaits, ane ruif of timmer 1563 Reg. Privy C. I 247.
To uphald and big the wallis of the said parroche kirk, and als the ruif thairof, in leid and uther theking 1579 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 104.
To vphald the said scole … wynd tycht, watter tycht, in thyking, slating [etc.] … and vther necessaris 1649 Dingwall Presb. 144.
Ordaines the kirk theking to be helped 1649 Dingwall Presb. 147.
Enquired why the kirk thacking wes not repaired 1685 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Deeds II 350.
[To build] tua kiple of an sufficient barn reedie to the theeking 16… Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. III 252.
The common and ordinary thacking is of a kind of divet, called by the inhabitants flais, and straw and simmons above the same … some houses are thacked with deals(2) 1473–4 Treas. Acc. I 65.
For the mending and theking of a hous 1504 Treas. Acc. II 424.
Payit to Andro Matheson, for theking of divers houses with thak dowat, for lokkis [etc.] 1506 Aberd. B. Rec. I 76.
[They] assignit ale thar gressoumis of thar fischingis and landis to the bying of led, and thekin of thar queir 1513 Treas. Acc. IV 526.
To Thome, sclatter, for theking of the part of ane rude of the south syde of the cors chalmer 1541 Treas. Acc. VII 474.
Upoun the theking of the dungeoun and kecheing tour in the castell of Blaknes with brume and dovet 1587–8 Lanark B. Rec. 91.
Gewin for stray and theking the scuill this present yeir 1637 Sc. N. & Q. XII 44.
Giffin to the scletter Pa. Maklarin for theking certen breachis in the kirk and queir(b) 1520 Wigtown B. Ct. 107b.
Anent the tekyn of ane loft & all odir materis debatybil be tuix tham(c) 1531 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 115.
Theikine 1535 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 188.
For new theiking with borit lath and Chathnes sclait 1555–6 Edinb. Old Acc. II 55.
For tyrring and theikin of the masoun luge 1563 Dumfries B. Ct. 190.
& theikin rigin and uphaldand the mud vals of the said land ȝeirlie 1600 Ellon Presb. 14.
[As to the roofing and] theiking [or] heddering [of the new kirk] 1608–9 Ayr B. Acc. 240.
Theyking 1611 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 336.
Theikeing 1611 Sharpe Selkirk 118.
The heather which was given and brocht hame for the theiking of the kirk 1678 Craven Ch. in Orkney 77.
It was ordained that the minister and elders should meet together, at the accustomed year of theicking the kirk, and see it sufficiently performed 1681 Glasgow Chart. II 214.
The danger that may ensue from theicking of houses within the towne of Edinburgh with straw, bent, or other combustible matter(d) 1551–2 Ayr Common Good Acc.
For theakene of the kirk sa far as the auld sklait servit 1616 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 21.
For tua thousand stane wecht of lead at xxiiii s. the stane for covering of and theaking of the new wark 1624 Forbes Baron Ct. 218.
The minnett off the forme off the theaking off the laich bigging off Fiddes within the clos. Ilk tennentis pairt quhilk they sould wphald pro rato for ther awin pairtis att Fiddes the fyftein day off Julij 1661 Stirling Common Good 6b.
For … theacking the horse milne … 200 rigging dovatts(e) 1582 Treas. Acc. MS 83.
Thecking(f) 1557–8 Edinb. Old Acc. I 262.
Thyking a1595 Cullen Chron. Aberd. 43.
The beigin and thikin of the rwife of the northt yell of owr parrise kyrk 1620 Dumbarton B. Rec. App. i 6.
Thiking 1626 Elgin Rec. II 196.
Thicking 1653 Sc. N. & Q. I 174.
Thycking(g) 1638 Salmon Borrowstounness 339.
For thigging of the porch and laying on the rigging stone(h) 1697 Foulis Acc. Bk. 215.
For 3 dayes work thaking the coatchhouse(i) c1683 Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. III 6.
Gremsie affordeth only slates for thatching of houses(3) 1639 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 396.
For thiecking up ane coople rowme one ilk syd of the said hous

c. Applying or attaching ((a quantity of) material) to the top of a roof as covering. 1496 Treas. Acc. I 302 (see Spule n.² attrib.).
Theking 1523 Treas. Acc. V 221.
To the sclataris for theking of half ane rude and half ane quartare of new thak on the v cuppillis in the stable 1532 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 71.
To Johne Eleis sklater for thekin of thre rudis new werk apon the kechingis dressoryis 1532 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 72.
To the said Robert for lxvi stanis [lead] melting casting and thuiking upon the said hall 1531–2 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 74.
For the lauboring melting and thekin of the forsaidis xi fuderis of leyd 1555–6 Edinb. B. Rec. II 367.
For the slatters for thikne of iiij rud xxiiij eln new thak 1637 Kirkcaldy Presb. 118.
For thack and dovats, casting and theakeing of them

2. attrib. a. Theking werk, the furnishing of a roof; the roofing so furnished. b. Materials or implements used in conjunction with or as roofing materials.a. 1531–2 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 97.
To Johne Eles sklater for thekin of the armoraris hous … tua rudis and iii quartaris of ane rud of new thekin werk 1535–6 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 188.
For iiii ruid … new theiking work with sclait and lymeb. 1588–9 Glasgow B. Rec. I 130.
Ane lang theiking ledder 1637 Kirkcaldy Presb. 119.
For theaking of the hall, chalmer, and stable thacking dovats, 8 lbs. 1646 Edinb. Test. LXI 270b.
vij staines of theiking threid ȝairne 1697 Foulis Acc. Bk. 214.
2 stane of thaking threid(b) 1636 Edinb. Test. LVII 255b.
Twa tatching hammeris with calkeris