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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Rekning, Rakning, -yn(g)(e, vbl. n. Also: rec(k)n-, rackn-, reikn-, raikn-; rek(k)-, rec(k)-, rak(k)-, rackyn(n)-, rackane-, -in(n)-, -ing-, -en-, -on(n)(e)-; reackon, reakn- and -ying, -eing, -ene, -ein, -eyn, -an; recknone-, reockning; Rikin. [ME and e.m.E. recning (a 1300), reknyng; reckining (Cursor M.), recon- (1568); rakning (c 1481); also riken- (a 1375), f. Rekkin v. Cf. Du. rekening, MLG rekeninge.] (A) reckoning, in various usual senses.There is some ambiguity between senses 1, 3 and 4.

1. The action of reckoning, in various senses of Rekkin v.; calculation; computation; enumeration.To come to rekning, to amount to, come to.Also in fig. context.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xii 266.
Of thre hundir the teynd … cumys be raknyne to thretty c1420 Wynt. viii 3158.
And that, before all othir thyng, Alowyd suld be in till [W. in his] reknyng The nest [compt] Ib. 3629.
The bodyis … Nowmeryd full and sowmyd syne In reknyn, passyd thre thowsand 1447 Rec. Earld. Orkney 189.
Be it made kende … me … till haff bene at kownt and reknyng … off all my faddir eritage c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) 133/6.
For rekkyning of my rentis and roumes, Ȝe neid not for to tyre ȝour thowmes 1514 Facs. Nat. MSS III xi.
And all that wauntis be rycht compt and reknyng the said Alexandir sall mak payment c1590 Fowler II 25/37.
To compt the sorows quhilk I sustenit, and reakning the pleagues quhilk I receuit, … wald rather breid an admiratioun, then an beleif 1588 King Cat. Sig. I iij.
Seing the præcise reconing of his [sc. the sun's] inæqual or trew motion do varie euery ȝere 1591 M. Napier Mem. J. Napier 232.
It mervelis me quhou Merchinstone can have onie ground or fundament of his rakning 1589–1600 Skipper's Acc. (Morton) 39b.
Auend me … mar nor I haue gotene to make rekingene of as your [? count] cane schaw 1602 Shetland Sheriff Ct. (ed.) 4.
Everie ane … to mak payment of thair saidis debtis … upoun just compt and rakning befoir the fold 1624 Huntar Weights & Measures 2.
The manner of the compt and reckening whereof is not knowne to many(2) 1586 Conv. Burghs I 225.
And sall pay ȝeirlie … [£4000] … quhidder the saidis customes, after compt and rekning, extend to mair or les 1660 Melrose Reg. Rec. I 282.
Efter compt and reckining … all clages and clames wes quyt be Thomas Caldclewch(b) 1670 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS 2 April.
They find efter compt and reikning … that shoe is awing to the burgh [etc.](c) 1665 Rothesay B. Rec. 96.
That the said eliven marks is justlie awand efter compt and recknoneing maid betwix them theranent(3) 1589–1600 Skipper's Acc. (Morton) 40b.
Ȝour part of ȝour salt comes to rekingene ine crouns l^c iiii scor xiii crounsfig. 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1822) 35.
I know your counts are many, and will take telling and laying and reckoning betwixt you and your Lord

b. A mode or method of computation or numbering. a1400 Leg. S. xxxi 943.
Be the reknyne of Rome … Fra God tuk flesch … Twa hundir ȝere sex & fyfty c1420 Wynt. i 295.
Thai [sc. Hebrews] oysyd to cownt in thare reknyng Than fra the warldys begynnyng c1520-c1535 Nisbet I 114 marg.
Legioun efter sum mens rekenynge is a noumbre of sex thousand sex hundreth lxvi c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1735.
Be this raknyng, it is full rycht Sax mylis and ane half in hycht 1622-6 Bisset II 157/9.
Bot the uthir rakning abonespecifiit appeiris to be the best and suirest be the computatioun of the choronologie of Scottis kingis tymes 1628 Goudie Shetl. Antiq. 178.
Anent the weychtis measuris and rekningis of the dewties of Yetland

2. A particular instance of counting, enumerating or calculating; a computation; an account; also, the result of this. = Rekkin n. a.c1420 Wynt. viii 2946 (W) (see 1 (1) above). 1523 Prot. Bk. J. Foular III 134.
Uthir expens … apone the reconning and getting off the said Robertis barnes part of … money

b. A calculation of the price of a commodity in another currency, or of an exchange rate. c1420 Bute MS fol. 175.
Of wecht in Flandrys and reknyns be the price of the mone. Qwhen the mark is worth [26 s. 4 d.] of the payment the sterlyng is worth vii d. of the payment c1390-1434 Sc. Merchandise in Sc. Hist. Rev. L 115.
This is the reknyng of the Scotis woll the quhilk is roght be the marc and the marc is iiij s. v gr. … vj lib. of woll mak the nayle and xxx nayle makis the walle & ij walle makis the sec Ib. 118.
Here begynnys the reknyngis of the yrne 1483 Acta Aud. *115/1.
According to the rekning of the Inglis grot

c. A genealogical reckoning. 1479 Acta Conc. I 42/1.
Nocht beand lauchfully descendit of the … blude that the landis movit of … as was clerely vnderstandin be the rekning of the greis … grantit be bathe the partijs 1608 Crim. Trials II 546.
The rekning was nocht relevant, becaus kyn to the king makis nane suspect, in his caus 1616 Ib. III 425.

d. The calculated period of a pregnancy. 1575 St. A. Kirk S. 411.
And gyf the bairn cummis not to the said raknyng [etc.] 1596–7 Misc. Spald. C. I 92.
That the tym of hir rekning being twantie dayis by gane

3. specif. An account of a sum owing to, or due by, someone, or of the financial transactions (of one person with another, or between (betuix) two parties); a statement of a charge or charges; a bill. b. transf. The sum or amount thus stated to be due. = Rekkin n. b.Also in Pasche rekning, see Pas(c)h(e n. 1 b (6).(1) 1443 Ayr B. Ct. 2 May.
Jhon Dawison … complenȝit that the commons ware awand hym rekinnyns complenȝit that thai wald nochth tak his cont 1472 Lennox Mun. 85.
The soume … aucht … , but ony compt or recknyn 1476 Acta Aud. 55/1.
A count & reknyng writtin with Schir Dauid Lutherdalis hand, … the … soume of … as wes pruvit … be the said reknyng 1497 Edinb. Hammermen 20.
All countis & reknyngis of Andro Muncurris dekynschip 1588 Reg. Privy C. IV 320.
All comptis and rekningis being aggreit and fuited 1664 Household Bks. Archb. Sharp in Misc. Maitl. C. II 503.
In the rekoneing for vyne [etc.] 1675 Cunningham Diary 60.
My half of our reckning for that night's quarters 16.. Crail Squaremen 22.
At his returning godwilling to pay his quarter compt & yierly recnings of his craft(b) 1499 Halyb. 208.
Som of my haill dylywirans … sen my last rakynyn … quhill the rekyny[n] of my cont now last maid … all thyngis clar 1500 Ib. 264.
To be sald to his profyt, and to be strykyn in ower rakynyn, a pak of Carsay 1607 Inverurie B. Ct. 16 June.
For satisfactione of the haill comptis & rackningis 1610 Denmylne MSS in Highland P. III 121.
That they refuised to pay there rakneing(c) 1591 Innes Sketches 527.
Item in corne eftir the said raikning(2) 1445 Melville Chart. 31.
The … deliuerance … of al malis, cowntis and rekynnyngis betwex thaim 1460 Peebles B. Rec. I 137.
Andro … sayd that thar was rekning betwyx his [sc. Tom's] fader and hym of the quhylkis thair was ane obbligacioun 1531 Edinb. B. Rec. II 54.
That [na] maister … resset ane vther maisterys servand nor prentis … without he haue maid compt and raknyn with the maister he cumys fra, and that he be contentyt thairof 1569 Canongate Ct. Bk. 10.
In compleit payment of all compt and rekningis maid betuix the saidis Adame and Masie of ony lawingis in hir hous or aill furneist be hir to him 1641 Bk. Carlaverock II 138.
All these rentis salbe allowed in foirend of the rekinningis betwixt your lordship and me

c. To or till (gude) compt and rekning, pending (full) settlement of what is due; on account.To cum to compt and rekning, to make a payment (? in full or ? on account); to pay up.(1) 1489 Dunferm. B. Rec. I 18.
That wrangwysly he held fray hym certan gudis extendand to xxj frankis to gud cownt and reknyn 1498 Ib. 84.
In amerciament for the wrangws withhalding of xvij bollis of alde malt to gude covnt and raknyne 1553 Edinb. B. Rec. II 181.
Oblist … to furnis siluer to the thesaurar to compleit the bulwerk … to gude compt and raknyng and sall deliuer him l li. in hand(2) 1540 Maxwell Mem. I 280.
Ȝe sell resaue to ȝour self twenty pundis in payment till cowmpt and rakynin 1540 Treas. Acc. VII 404.
Gevin … to compt and rekenyng for furnesing of sarkis … as his buk beris 1541 Ib. VIII 29.
In parte of payment of his bill of compt for the quenis cariage to compt and rekkenyng sen the last chakkar 1564–5 Perth B. Ct. 242 (9 Feb.).
To be payit … to compt & raknyng in the mantyme(b) ?c1675 J. Gordon Hist. III 34.
That all was restored except a few musketts and a little … pouder … remitted to compt and reockning(3) ? 1544 Corr. M. Lorraine 86.
Caus Olifeir cume to compt and rakneyn and mak me pament of the rest that I want

4. The action of rendering an account (of moneys, property, etc. entrusted to one) (to another person); an account so rendered; a calculation of what has accrued, or of what is properly due.Common in such phrases as to mak (also gif) compt (and) reknying (and payment) etc.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii 28.
A tribone … trybut gadris to the king & ȝeldis hym thare-of reknyng 1482–3 Acta Conc. II cxxiv.
The said Walter sall gif lele compt and rekning to the said Johne Stewart of the some of lij li. of blak mone a1500 Bk. Chess 1652.
This theif at his end daye leile he fand, His procuratour he was & maid him trew reknyng 1506 Sc. Hist. Rev. XL 90.
That thai [sc. king's officials] compere … to give compt, reknyn and payment of all dewitez awne c1520-c1535 Nisbet Luke xvi 2.
Yelde reknyng [P. reckynyng] of thi bailyerie 1550 Dundee B. Ct. II fol. 17b (20 Nov.).
Anent the compt & rackyning of sextene hundreth bowstingis 1640 Kirkcudbr. Min. Bk. 27.
Quha must give assurance for dilligence, compt and reckoning(2) 1425 Acts II 9/2.
To mak reknyng ande gif compt tharof at the kingis chekare 1520 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 198.
Power … to mak compt and reknyng of the ane half of the said vnlaw to the kirk werk, and the vther half thairof to him and thair awin vsis 1525 Dundee B. Laws 544.
The dekin … sall mak compt and reknying and payment of the sanctis gudis of his ȝeris compt to the dekin that enteris in office 1557 Reg. Privy S. V i 30/1.
To … tak up the males … and to mak compt reknyng and payment thairof yeirlie to oure soverane ladeis thesaurar 1567 Bk. Old Edinb. C. VI 83.
Item, compt and reknan beand med be James Ingles of his rasat and depursing sua rests he avand [etc.] 1581 Stirling Chart. 104. 1620 Melrose P. 364.
We … havene … tryit the comptis maid be Sir Henrie … chalmerlane … hes fundin the said Sir Henrie to haue maid just compt, reknene, and compleit payment of his intromissioun of the frutis [etc.](b) 1540 Sc. Hist. Rev. XL 112.
[Both were] to remane still in this toun quhill thai have enterit thair compt … and mak rekkyning and payment thairof as accordis 1569 Prot. Bk. Gilbert Grote 81.
Rekynning 1590 Aberd. Council Lett. I 51.
Thay haif bene ordanit to haif maid compt rekining and payment of the intromissioun of the saids taxatiouns to the provest [etc.] 1640 Kirkcudbr. Min. Bk. 20.
Against the collectores, for not making compt, rekoning and peyment of that quhilk they have ressavit 1647 Inverness Rec. II 194.
The quhilk … comptes and reckininges abouewrittin full maid be the saidis collectoris(c) 1553 Rec. Earld. Orkney 106.
To compeir … and mak raknyng to Johne Lowranssone of his weffis byrun malis sa far as scho wantis 1566 Cochran-Patrick Coinage I 93.
And oblis thame … to mak compt raknyng and thankefull payment monethly to the said Jhone of all … the said syluer 1579 Exch. R. XX 547. 1622-6 Bisset II 88/8.
And sall mak iust compt and rakning to all parties haifand interese thairto [sc. a will] 1596–7 Misc. Spald. C. II 134.
William Farquharsone … compellit to mak compt and rakning to my lord … of four kiddis, four geise [etc.] … yeirlie addettit be the said William … and restand vnpayit this sewin yeris … , comperit the said William and offerit compt, rakning and payment 1627 Bamff Chart. 212.
[They] obleissis thame … to mak just compt and raknyng to utheris yeirly of all dewty and commoditie that ather of thame sall ressave … sua that the samyn may be equally partit … betuix thame(d) 1498 Halyb. 78.
Maid my rakynyn to Valter Chepman … The said rakynyn I send hym with Dauy 1526–7 Stirling B. Rec. I 29.
To mak compt and rakenyn of the stent silver [etc.] 1567 Stewart Mem. 102.
James Stewart … sall mak compt and rakinyng thairof ȝeirlie 1569 Peebles B. Rec. I 308.
Rakkynning(e) 1555 Treas. Acc. X 297.
For bying of gold of the mynd … for the quhilk the said Jhonne suld mak compt rackaneing and payment quhen he is requirit thairto(3) 1579 Conv. Burghs I 101.
The collectour … to mak compte and rekining quhow the same is bestowit to the burrowis(4) 1482 Reg. Morton II 244.
Till hafe resavyt … full compt reknyng & payment in nomeryt mone of all maner intromyttyngis [etc.] 1508–9 Reg. Privy S. I 279/2.
Wit ȝe us to have ressavit and fullely had complete reknyng and deliverans payment compt and contentation of our familiare servitour … of all sowmes of money [etc.] … and of all intrometting … had … anent our said cunȝe 1514 J. Smith Edinb. Hammermen (1906) 56.
Ressavit full compt & reknying of William Ra, … kirkmaister for the twa ȝers 1528 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 97.
We … granttis us to haif resaiffit foull coumpt and rekinnyng of Jenot Scot [etc.] 1546–7 Perth Guildry p. 239 (8 March).
Summa totalis payt be … firmoraris of the mylnys … extendis to four hundreth xvj lib. xvj s. viij d. eftir compt and reknyng tane be the auditouris 1556 Rec. Earld. Orkney 258.
[I] grantis me to haif tane cunt, rakning, and compleit payment fra James … of all and haile the malis, … of the quhilk land malis I grantis me … compleitly pait 1561 Ib. 268.
Reknein 1567 Soc. Ant. IV 408.
And to ressave compt rekning and payment fra the possessouris thairof of all and sindrie guidis and geir pertaining to us(5) 1609 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. II 143.
[The Gordons had a claim for] comptis and rakiningis [with Cowtis](6) 1666 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 225.
It should be … lawfull to the said John, to intromit with … the haill quarters dutie of baptisms [etc.] … and to apply the samen to his awin wse without compt or reackoning

b. An action(e (process) of compt and reckoning, a process by which the defender can be made to give a full statement of his accounts and intromissions, and required to pay to the pursuer any balance due.Cf. (5) above. 1678 Melville Chart. 179.
An actione of compte and reckoning … against them 1683 Decis. Lords F. 35. 1711 Acts Sederunt ii 247.
Act … for the more speedy discussing of compts and reckonings. The Lords of … Session for the more speedy dispatch of processes of compt and reckoning enact … that [etc.]

5. The account to be given of one's actions, etc., to God at death or judgment. b. Also, in more general use. a1400 Leg. S. xxiv 133.
We sal … gyf reknyne that Juge til Of al dedis, gud & il 1456 Hay II 95/33.
Be ay mercifull … hafand ay mynde … that thare mon be anys a day of compt and rekyning a1500 Lanc. 1356, 1357.
Whar-of that God a raknyng sal craf At thé and a sore raknyng sal hafe c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) 186/37.
Ane raknyng rycht cummis of ane ragment small 1567 G. Ball. 233.
We sall giue rekning of our sinfull leuing a1578 Pitsc. I 67/13.
The extreme iudgement of God, quhair he sould gif ane compt and rakning of all his cruell offences 1602 Colville Paraenese 126.
Befor the tribunal seat of God vee must giue a rekkinning of our auin lyf a1658 Durham Comm. Rev. 508.
God … hath a time of calling to a reckoningb. 1535 Stewart 54327.
Thinkand he sould … mak rekning for all that he had tane, … be the leist kow ilkane Ib. 57510.
No rekning now ȝe sall haif of me heir Of oucht I did wnto that samin freir 1596 Dalr. II 264/10.
The keiperis of the thesaurhous and the rest of the courteouris before him all he bringis to compte and rekning: sum he reteines still in thair office, vthiris … als he placet of new 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1822) 122.
That our reckonings … when eternity shall come … cannot be told … , that angels cannot lay our counts

c. An account or statement of a faith or belief. 1563 Ferg. Answer in 1563-72 Tracts 44.
To giue a reconing of the hope that is in vs

6. fig. The settlement of a grievance or dispute by force of arms.Cf. Rekkin v. 11. a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 850.
Rude reknyng raise thair renkis betuene c1475 Wall. viii 1582.
Thai durst nocht weill bid rekynnyng off Wallace

b. A dispute or quarrel. 1605 Dundonald Par. Rec. 86.
Deponit that he hard the rakining betuix Pet Lovri and his vyf