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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

TAIK, n., v. Also teck (Sc. 1722 W. Hamilton Wallace xi. ii.; Sh. 1918 T. Manson Peat Comm. 125). Sc. forms and usages of Eng. tack in the nautical senses (n.Sc., Fif. 1972). See P.L.D. § 48.1(3). [tek]

I. n. 1. A stroll, saunter, leisurely walk (Sh., n.Sc. 1972; Bnff., Abd., Ayr., Dmf. 2000s), gen. in phr. to tak a taik. Cf. Eng. tack, a ziz-zag course on land.Abd. 1913 W. Fraser Jeremiah Jobb 23:
I'se tak' a taik ower tae see Mrs. Broon the nicht.Abd. 1929 J. Alexander Mains and Hilly 96:
Takin, a taik throu' the trees an' the breem an' the hedder.Kcd. 1934 L. G. Gibbon Grey Granite 14:
The most in the bar took a taik to the door with their drams in their hands.Bnff. 1957 Bnff. Advertiser (24 Oct.):
Jist oot for a taik aboot.Abd. 1993:
I'll jist tak a taik doon e road.

2. A mood, humour, disposition (Sh., Abd. 1972).Abd.²⁷ 1949:
I'm nae i' the richt taik for't eennoo.

II. v. 1. tr. To sail (a boat) by tacking. Used of toy or model boats.Bnff. 1965 Banffshire Advert. (26 Aug.) 7:
I cam' tae write a pome an' taik boaties. Ye see, files the inspeeration for the pome disna come, so I tears pages oot o' ma jotter an' mak's paper boaties.

2. To stroll, saunter, slink in an unobtrusive manner (n.Sc. 1972).Kcd. 1934 L. G. Gibbon Grey Granite 16:
Folk ganted a bit and began to taik aff.Dundee 1994 Matthew Fitt in James Robertson A Tongue in Yer Heid 180:
The grund wus nesh an sleekit. It reeshilt unnir the young lad's gutties as he taikit owre atween the tinkers' vans, no waantin tae wauken thair mukkil dugs.