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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Ourtak, v. Also: oure-, owr(e)-, ore- and -take. P.t. -tuk(e. P.p. -takin, -yn(e. [Our adv.; Tak v. Cf. late ME. awrtoke p.t., -taken p.p. (1415).]

1. tr. To catch up with; to chance to meet; to overtake in pursuit; to get hold of, come at, get at; to catch, arrest. = Ourta v. 1 and 2.(a) 1375 Barb. v. 95.
Thai … brak vp dures sturdely And slew all that thai mycht ourtak Ib. iv. 415, xiii. 146. 1405 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 59.
[They] heryde al that thai mycht ourtake c1420 Wynt. viii. 6985.
Thai lete nane alyen Frely throwch thare land pas then That ony way thai mycht ourtak 1456 Hay I. 202/4.
The prince has gevin bidding … to all persone that may our tak him to tak him or to sla him Ib. II. 159/13.
A Sarrazene … hapnyt till ourtak a Jow c1475 Wall. ix. 538.
Ner Burdeous or thai our tuk [sic in MS.] him mycht Gud Wallace was Ib. x. 695. a1500 K. Hart 231.
That all that ever scho micht ourtak that tyde Hors and men with brount scho straik all doun 15.. Sym & Bruder 84.
I sall ourtak him … In ȝone feild gife I fynd him 1590 Burel Pilgr. i. ix.
Thair wes … no tike culd thame oretak So lichtly thay did loup 1746 J. Row Sermon 3.
And they had gotten their will, she wald a been sure of her ladetties … but God be thanked they did not oretake her(b) 1375 Barb. ii. 381.
He all till-hewyt that he our-tuk Ib. vi. 440.
Bot the chassaris sped thame so fast That thai ourtuk sum [sc. fugitives] at the last Ib. xiii. 68.
In hy apon thame can he ryde And our-tuk thame at a syde a1400 Leg. S. xvii. 45.
Quhat thinge it [the dragon's flames] ourtuke As fyr Gregois brynt at a luke Ib. xxxiii. 71. ?1438 Alex. ii. 1678. Ib. 4415. c1420 Wynt. vii. 649. a1500 Henr. III. 97/29 (Bann.). 1531 Bell. Boece (M) II. 348.
Ilk man with maist deligence sped him to the chais and ouretuke the army of Scottis(c) c1420 Wynt. iv. 348.
[They] slwe hys men … Quhare-evyr that thai ourtakyn [W. ourtakin] were 1432 Acts II. 20/2.
Gif he may be ouretakyn he salbe put in sikkir festines quhil the law be done on hym 1491 Ib. 225/2.
And swa furth fra schirref to schirref quhill he be owrtakin or put forth of the realme

b. fig. (Cf. 2.) c1420 Wynt. viii. 3970.
Pryde gays befor and schame alwayis Folowys this on alsa fast And it owretakis at the last

c. ? To prove (a charge) against (apone) another. = Ourta v. 3 b. c1420 Bute MS. fol. 141.
S. sal ger oure tak it [the charge] apon thé as law of proteccion wyl or as this gude courte schawys hym of rycht & of law

2. Of an adverse agency (material or non-material): To come upon, seize, catch, surprise; to overcome or overpower.(1) 1375 Barb. iv. 138.
That battalyng … Saffit thair liffis for it brak Blesis that wald thame ourtak c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 2525 (D).
Sic a tempest sodanly Ourtuke ws 1513 Doug. v. v. 57.
The eddyr … Quham the hevy schod cart quheil doith ourtak Pressyng hir down(2) (a) a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 1240.
Thair ma na tresour ourtak nor twyn hir [sc. Fortune's] entent c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxiii. 14 (M).
For and the deith ourtak thé in trespas 1513 Doug. vii. ix. 118.
Sorofull vengeance ȝit sal thé ourtake(b) a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii. 845.
Hyme ourtuk son Godis yre c1420 Wynt. vi. 306.(c) c1420 Wynt. v. 5205.
Bot this kyng ourtakyne wes Suddanly wyth gret seknes Ib. vi. 1584.

3. a. To deal with successfully, accomplish. b. To get through (matters to be dealt with). c. intr. const. with. 1456 Hay II. 78/13.
Be the quhilkis with help of my documentis and techingis thou may our tak all thy desyris a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. clxxiv. 57.
Caussis ilk day so fast dois multiplie That with this seit can nocht our takin be 1611 Cramond Cullen Ann. 25.
The bailȝeis appoyntis to meit … for ourtaking with the effaires of the toun

4. tr. Of a body of persons: To take up or occupy the whole of (a space).Only in Barbour and Alex. 1375 Barb. xi. 125.
And so gret rowme held thar charre That men that mekill host mycht se Our-tak the landis so largely Ib. xii. 439.
That folk our-tuk [E. ourtak] ane mekill feld On breid ?1438 Alex. ii. 7978.
He dois wysly, for, sic ane scheild, He garris his men ourtak the feild Ib. i. 232.