Middle English Dictionary Entry
tak n.(2)
Entry Info
| Forms | tak n.(2) Also tak(k)e, (early) tac & thac & (in surname) tack. |
| Etymology | From tāken v. (cp. vrr. tac, tak, etc.) & ON: cp. OI tak & taka taking, revenue. The form thac (as well as -thack s.v. thistel-tak n.) may show confusion with ME thach(e n., but cp. AL thaciāre to pay tack. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A fee paid to a lord or the king for the right to let swine feed in a forest or on a piece of land; a customary fee for the right to keep swine; ~ and tol, tol and ~; ~ fre, not subject to such a fee; ~ swine, a commuted rent paid for swine; gras takes, rent for pasturing hogs; shepes ~, a pasture rent for sheep; thistel ~, q.v.; taken to ~, to allow (animals) to feed on a piece of land for a fee; (b) ?income from a customary fee paid for the right to fish at a weir; (c) the act or fact of renting property; bi purchase or bi ~; (d) ~ man, an official charged with collecting rents and performing minor duties for the manorial court; also as surname.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1210) in Madox Form.Angl.(1702)193 : Dedi..quatuor Bovatas terræ..Tenendas..de me..in feodo..libere, quiete..Tacfre in Bosco de Tiduliustan.
- (c1250) in Madox Form.Angl.(1702)188 : Ego..dedi..quoddam Burgagium..Liberum & quietum de Tac & de Tol, & de Stallagio.
- (c1285) Reg.St.Mary in Camd.9115a : Villani dabunt Thac, scilicet de porco superannato, exceptis matricibus suibus, j denarium.
- (c1285) Reg.St.Mary in Camd.9166a : Dabunt etiam Thac, scilicet de quolibet porco superannuato j den. et de porcello separato obolum, sues non dabunt Thac nisi semel.
- (1298-1300) Cust.Rent in OSSLH 277 fn. : Redd. voc. bosing, grippure, shepestake.
- (1315) Inquis.PM Edw.II5.398 : [The manor..including firewood in the wood of the prior..and] heuedpeni [and] tak and tol [from customary tenants].
- (1325-6) Acc.Chester in LCRS 5996 : [Of 17 s. of overcharge in the worth of 51 pigs issuing in respect of] Takke, [sold by John de Pleymondestowe, his comptroller].
- (1350-51) Acc.Chester in LCRS 59189 : [2 s. of 2 pigs issuing from] tak [for the same term..for each man having 7 pigs, or more, one pig for pannage].
- (1354-5) Doc.Denbigh in PRSM 1639 : [Loss of] tak [and custom of divers tenants of the] villatae [of Barrok and Petrual this year].
- (1386-7) *Acc.Exch.(PRO) 9-10 Rich.II Bundle 4.m.40 [OD col.] : vij s. de takswyne de tenentibus.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)28438 : Toll and tak, and rent o syse Wit-halden i haue wit couettise.
- (a1400) Cust.Rent in OSSLH 270 : [A..separate rent of] thac [is paid for his swine].
- (1404) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)7.149 : Tak [of pigs of customary tenants worth 6 d. yearly payable at Martinmas].
- (a1460) Paston2.97 : In þe same pasture I do pasture my bestys and certeyn bestys þat I have take to takke.
- a1692(1298) Cust.Rent in OSSLH 273 fn. : Dabit grestakes pro porcis suis.
b
- (1454) Let.in Burton Hemingbrough393 : Be enfourmed yat oon fysshgarth, pertenynge to ye said officer, is at yis tyme void of take, without fermour and covnande of any man; therfor I..purpose..to sett to ferme ye said fysshegarth to gretter price.
c
- (c1450) *Doc.Droitwich : We be agred..that all the takrys of hymfrey Ruddynges fates, other by purches or by tak, that ther fates shall be putt downe tyll syche tyme as euery on off them shew ther indenturs or ther dedes off purches..Also we be a gred that whoeuer ocupy any part off the wallyng of Jhon crosswell, other by purches or by tak, shal be putt downe tyll syche tyme as euery one them shew ther indenturs and dedes off purches, [etc.].
d
- (1275) Hundred R.Tower 1358 : Bate le Tackman.
- (1322) Pat.R.Edw.II190 : [The premises are held in chief of the manor..in the king's hands..by doing suit..at the court..and by finding one] Takman [from time to time to collect the king's rents in the said towns and to make summonses and distraints of the said court].