Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1700-1724, 1830, 1884
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TASCAL, n., v. Also tascall, taskal; ¶tacksall (Sc. 1700 S.C. Misc. II. 93).
I. n. Only in comb. tascal-money, the monetary reward formerly offered in the Highlands for information about stolen cattle and their thieves. Hist.Arg. 1712 Arg. Justiciary Rec. (Stair Soc.) II. 295:
For payment making of the taskalmoney.Sc. 1724 Hist. Papers Jacobite Period (S.C.) I. 135:
Making an offer of a Reward (which the Highlanders call Tascal-Money) to any who will discover the cattle and the Persons who stole them.Sc. 1830 Scott Demonology (1885) 298:
Through the whole Highlands there is no character more detestable than that of an informer, or one who takes what is called Tascal-money, or reward for discovery of crimes.Sc. 1884 C. Rogers Social Life I. 281:
Each clansman became bound by an oath not to receive tascal money.
II. v. To restore stolen property, esp. cattle, to the rightful owner after the payment of a reward.Sc. 1700 S.C. Misc. (1846) III. 187:
They offered to tascall the oxen for two score of dollars.
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"Tascal n., v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/tascal>
