Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

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

Overtak, -take, v. Also: ovir-, ower-, owir- and -taik. P.t. -tuk(e, -tuik, -took. P.p. -taken, -takin. [Later Sc. var. of Ourtak v.: cf. ME. overtake(n (13th c.), (north.) overtak, ovirtac (Cursor M.), p.t. overteoc (13th c.), -toc (13th c.), -tok(e (13–14th c.), p.p. overtake(n (15th c.), e.m.E. overtake, p.t. -tooke, p.p. -taken. Cf. also Overta.]

1. tr. To come up with; to overtake in pursuit; to come at, get at. = Ourtak v. 1, Ourta v. 1.(a) 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 248.
[They] maid spoulȝie of all horse and vtheris guidis that thaj mycht owirtak a1578 Pitsc. I. 319/25.
And thair slew him withtout marcie and so did witht all that he might owertak that day in the feild Ib. II. 223/5.
The regenttis men followit bot thai culd nocht ovirtak him for he had convoy of the leave of the Hammiltownis 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I. 135.
[The sheep] ran furious … and strak baithe man and beist thay micht ouirtak to the ground 1609 Crim. Trials III. 46.
Ȝe sall go with me … and raik fordwart to Lytill Lochwod quhill I owirtak you 1688 Red Bk. Grandtully I. cxliv.(b) (c 1580) Alex. ii. 4410.
And strenȝeit with spurris the steid of pryde And ouertuke thame at the reuer-syde c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 1725. Ib. 3189. c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 1418.
He and his gaird … They ran till thaj ouirtuik the knicht 1601 Crim. Trials II. 354.
The said George … rasit the countrey and owertuik him and his company and compellit him to ressaue the fals gold

b. To come at (with a blow). a1646 Wedderburn Voc. 28 (Jam.).
Percussit me pugno, he overtook me with his steecked nieff

c. To catch up with and punish or discomfit. 1609 Crim. Trials III. 23.
I am … sorie that all the principall men are escaped … bot I hope that my lordis diligence, wisdome and gud luk sall owertak thame 1618 Annandale Corr. 278.
I hope your ladyship may overtake him for his doings 1672 M. P. Brown Suppl. Decis. II. 703.
So here it is feared they be overtaken on the same head, and get on the finger-ends with the same measure they did met to others

d. ? To strike against. 1631 Dumbarton B. Rec. 37.
Johne Buchanane … suddenly raise and strak hir, threw hir to the grund, till hir heid owertuik the bed

2. Of an adverse agency: To come upon, seize, catch; to take and cast down. Also b. elliptically, in the passive.(a) 14.. Acts I. 387/2.
Giff fyr pas thru ony place … and ouertakis ane other manis corne 1513 Doug. vii. ix. 118 (Ruddim.).
Ouertaik 1678 Kirkcudbr. Test. (Reg. H.) 26 Nov.
I … being … at the poynt of death and knowing certainly that death will overtake me(b) 1600-1610 Melvill 137.
A heavie tertian fever, called comounlie ‘the excese’, owertuk me(c) 1667 S. Ronaldshay 56.
The minister … was overtaken with ane violent fitt of coleek 1692 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes.
Jonett Henderson … decrepit and infirm and now overtaken with povertieb. 1635 Dickson Wr. 73.
Such as see the godly fall in a passion and from that would excuse their own daily wickedness, because the godly are overtakin

3. P.p. Overcome with (also in) drink, intoxicated. Also b. elliptically.(As in e.m.E., 1587–). 1654 Cramond Kirk S. 30 Apr.
Such as sould be ouertaken with drink 1662 Wodrow Hist. (1828) I. 333.
He was not to be reckoned a drunkard who was now and then overtaken with wine 1681 Kingarth Par. Rec. 127.
He is soon overtaken with a litle drink 1691 Banff Ann. II. 61. 1699 Penninghame Par. Rec. I. 41.
His being overtaken in drinkb. 1680 Craig-Brown Selkirkshire I. 498.
George Patterson … acknowledged that he had been a little overtaken

4. To deal with, get through, ‘cover’. = Ourtak v. 3, Ourta v. 5. 1598 Dunkeld Presb. II. 110.
Sa many to convein and be catechised as the minister may owertak 1640 Strong Sc. Second. Educ. .
So much of the author as he may overtake, let it be examined at the said tyme and what he misses then, let him overtake at one afternoon

5. To occupy, fill. = Ourtak v. 4. ?1438 Alex. i. 308.
Emynedus … sawe the Gadderis ouertak the feild Attour the hilles

6. ? To take in, deceive. 1586-7 Rait & Cameron King James's Secret 106.
The viser sort and suche as lovis you heire thinkis that you haif beyn overtakin be suche as [etc.]