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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

OUT-TAK, n., v. Also oot-tak, uttak (Jak).

Sc. usages. [n. ′uttɑk, v. -′tɑk]

I. n. 1. Lasting quality, durability (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928); Ork. 1929 Marw.; Sh. 1964).Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.:
“There's a great outtak in it” — applied to anything that lasts longer than can be expected, or than appearances justify.Ork. 1929 Marw.:
Puir stuff, that, — no oot-tak in it!Ork. 1949 “Lex” But-end Ballans 23:
Fencing? Ower weel teu Bit nae oot-tak. Min, whit's wrang wae de young eens Is cheust de odds atween stone dykes an' fencing, De waant o' endurance.

2. Yield. return, profit, substance.Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.:
“There's no muckle outtak in it” — applied to corn when not expected to yield much meal, or to anything not likely to give good returns.Sh. 1949 J. Gray Lowrie 99:
An' fur da lamb, weel, hit 'ill juist be da middle o' his back it' dir rossin an' dir nae oot-tak i' da laek o' dat.

3. Expenses, outlay; in pl., purchases, esp. goods taken out on credit (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), Sh. 1964).Sh. 1899 Shetland News (22 July, 26 Aug.):
Whin Jeemson güde ta read oot her oottaks dan shü swöre 'at shü niver got, or yit sent for da things 'at Arty's boy got . . . I hae twa shillins an penny-hap'ny an' me ootaks [sic] auchteen-pence.

II. v. 1. As vbl.n. oot-takin, taking or lifting out; specif. of peats from the digger's spade (Ork. 1964). Agent n. out-taker, the one who does this (Id.).Sc. 1876 Twa Sisters in Child Ballads No. 10 M. 16:
Mony ane was at her oot-takin, But mony ane mair at her green grave makin.

†2. In pa.p. outtaken, used as a prep. = except, apart from. The usage arises from an absolute construction, as “such-and-such outtaken” or “outtaken such-and-such,” being thus parallel to Lat. excepto, excepted, taken out, which gives except. Obs. in Eng. but revived by Scott.Sc. 1816 Scott Antiquary xxiv.:
I question if there's onybody in the country can tell the tale but mysell — aye out-taken the laird though.Sc. 1816 Scott O. Mortality xv.:
I ken naething suld gar a man fight . . . by and out-taken the dread of being hanged or killed if he turns back.