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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.

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.