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.
Quotation dates: 1786-1994
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TARGE, v., n. Also tairge (Sc. 1825 Jam., Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.), terge (Wgt. 1880 G. Fraser Lowland Lore 157), terje-; tadge- (Slg., Fif. 1953). [tɑrdʒ, terdʒ; Slg., Fif. tɑdʒ]
I. v. 1. tr. To deal in a strict or severe manner with, in various specif. senses: (1) to question closely, cross-examine in a thorough rigorous way (Lth. 1825 Jam.). Many later instances derive from Burns's use in 1786 quot. Vbl.n. tairgin, a severe examination (Rxb. 1825 Jam.).Ayr. 1786 Burns Inventory 41:
I on the questions targe them tightly.Sc. 1814 C. I. Johnstone Saxon and Gael I. xii.:
I was just wissin' o' a' things to see ye a wee gliff, that I micht targe ye.Lnk. a.1832 W. Watt Poems (1860) 39:
Our umquhile pastor yearly through us cam' To tairge us in our caritches, fu' fell.m.Lth. 1857 Misty Morning 157:
I'll let ye see me tairge this callant on't tae.Fif. 1864 W. D. Latto T. Bodkin xvii.:
Mr Penman tairged him tightly in the cross-examination.Ags. 1879 A. L. Fenton Forfar Poets 135:
He tairged her quietly on the spot.Kcb. 1893 Crockett Grey Man xvi.:
He took a Bible from his wallet, and tairged us tightly on points of doctrine.
(2) to keep under strict discipline, to stand over, supervise closely, urge on.Sc. 1814 Scott Waverley xlii.:
Mounting guard over the hereditary tailor of Sliochd nan Ivor; and, as he expressed himself "targed him tightly" till the finishing of the job.
(3) to scold, reprehend severely (Rxb. 1825 Jam., 1923 Watson W.-B.; Uls. 1929; Slg., Peb., Ayr., sm.Sc. 1972). Hence targer, tadger, a violent, quarrelsome, domineering person, esp. a scolding woman, a shrew, termagant (Per. 1909 Scotsman (10 May); Inv. 1948 Football Times (28 Aug.); Slg. 1943, tadger; Uls. 1953 Traynor; Cai., Inv., Mry., em.Sc., Ayr., Kcb. 1972), ta(i)rgin, vbl.n., a scolding, berating (Rxb. 1825 Jam., 1923 Watson W.-B.; Uls. 1929; Slg., Ayr., sm.Sc. 1972), ppl.adj., harsh, censorious, domineering.Ayr. 1828 D. Wood Poems 64:
Amang the weans he's unco targin He makes them for to learn their questions well.Knr. 1832 L. Barclay Poems 10:
Nick targe the ferry man below, For Davie Person's livin'.Ags. 1888 T. Mason A. Dickson 40:
'This is a gey blue look-out, Betty' said the male spectator. 'She's a tairger that.'Lnk. 1888 A. G. Murdoch Readings ii. 59:
His awful terjer o' a mither-in-law.Kcb. 1898 Crockett Standard Bearer xiv.:
The folk here like a tairgin maisterfu' man.s.Sc. 1898 E. Hamilton Mawkin iii.:
I'll likely get a great tairging from father.Fif. 1953:
She's a tadger, if ye lat her aff wi't.
(4) to beat, drub (Per. 1825 Jam.).Ags. 1833 J. S. Sands Poems 105:
Tanned him hoch, and horn, and hide, And targed him tightly till he fell.Edb. 1871 J. Ballantine Poems 269:
Aye targed them tightly wi' the tawse O' common-sense.
(5) to enjoin, to give strict instructions to.Ayr. 1913 J. Service Memorables 89:
Tairging her weel to let him m'unt no horse while he was awa.
2. intr. To bustle about, to hustle, to go at a task in an active, vigorous manner (Rxb. 1825 Jam.; Uls. 1929; Wgt. 1972); to push one's way forcefully through a crowd (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.). Hence targer, a big, active, hustling person, freq. as a nickname (Rxb. 1860–1923 Watson W.-B.), "a scolding worker who is always in a hurry" (Dmf. 1925 Trans. Dmf. and Gall. Antiq. Soc. XIII. 41, Dmf. 1972).Sc. 1822 Carlyle Letters (Norton) II. 104:
Where is the Targer?Dmf. 1836 A. Cunningham Lord Roldan I. iv.:
Sae mony innocent tongues, all targing away at the scripture.Uls. 1911 F. E. Crichton Soundless Tide xxlv.:
A did be tired often only to look at ye targin' round.
II. n. 1. A violent, scolding woman, a shrew, a virago (Uls. 1880 Patterson Gl.; Ork., Cai., Mry., m.Sc., Uls. 1972).Lnk. 1862 D. Wingate Poems 72:
A hizzie frae the south o' Fife, A touzie tairge, the owresman's wife.Wgt. 1880 G. Fraser Lowland Lore 157:
An ill-tongued Terge.Cai. 1896 J. Horne Canny Countryside 50:
Fat wud ye do wi' a targe lek her?Arg. 1914 N. Munro New Road xxii.:
One [wife] who was a drunken targe.Rnf. 1928 G. Blake Paper Money ii.:
A selfish old targe like that Aunt Latta of yours.wm.Sc. 1987 Anna Blair Scottish Tales (1990) 124:
Tammas was the favourite of the faery until his targe of a wife was laid to rest after falling down dead from one of her rages. He married a buxom good-natured milkmaid and was never snatched away again. Uls. 1993:
That wife of his is a real targe, always scolding. Dmb. 1994:
That wumman next door is a targe, aye rowin and shoutin.
2. A scathing or cutting rebuke.Dmf. 1866 in R. Quinn Heather Lintie 14:
That grey-eyed prince Iago' chiel, L — d, how he'll loup, kick, yell, and squeel, Ilk targe ye gie him.
