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

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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
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Rekkin, Rakkin, v. Also: rek-, rec(k)-; rak-, rac(k)-; reak-; raik- and -ine, -yn(e, -yin, -ing, -en, -ein, -eng, -an, -on(e; also rekny, reknyn, reakne. P.p. and p.t. reknit, etc.; also rekinnit, rekenget, etc. [ME recken (Cursor M.), rek(k)en (14th C.), rekne(n (Gower), rekyn (c 1450) etc., also earlier reccnenn (Orm), rekeni (13th c.), e.m.E. recon (1513), rekon (1540), reckon (1576), OE (ge)recenian.]

I. tr. 1. To enumerate, one after the other, in an orderly manner; to go over (names, concepts, etc.), serially or separately.(a) a1400 Leg. S. xxi 912.
Merwalis sere, That ware lang to rekine here c1420 Wynt. ii 816.
By othire costis sere That spedys noucht to rekyn [C. rekkyn, W. rekyne] here Ib. iv 1748.
Gyff thai ware all reknyd here I dred suld dull yhoure appetyte Ib. vi 2327.
Fra the warldys begynnyng Till Robert the Secownd … To rekyn the tymys successywe c1475 Wall. viii 904.
Mony worthi man, … ma than I now rekyn can(b) a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 743.
Now wil I rekkin the renkis of the Round Tabill 1513 Doug. vi xv 101.
To this valȝeant man he rekkynnys [Ruddim. rekinnys] heir, Per ordour, all the batalis [etc.] 1533 Gau 3/15.
Thay sal rekkine al thair sinnis to thair schrift fader 1535 Stewart 37600.
With mony pretius stone, As jesp [etc.] … And mony mo than I will reckin heir(c) a1400 Leg. S. xxxvi 652.
Quha wald, mycht rakine mare Of merwalis gret c1420 Ratis R. 177.
Thir thingis that I rakyne here Wyll smyt men 1513 Doug. iii x 69.
The namys of thir costis Achemenydes … Raknys to ws, as we past ane by ane a1578 Pitsc. I 42/3.
And landis of manrentis witht wther … powar quhilk neid nocht to be raknit at this tyme(d) 1513 Doug. xiii ix 16.
With metys seir That all to rakkyn prolixit war to heir 1600-1610 Melvill 64.
Of bathe the sortes, I could rackon divers be nam and surnam 1611 Id. Dream in Fugitive Poetry II ii 2/4.
Racken(e) c1420 Wynt. i 932.
Dywers othir … That I leve now to rekny here

b. specif. To mention, include, or consider in a genealogical account, as by enumerating ancestors, working out degrees of relationship, tracing descent, etc.; to give an account of (a genealogical matter). c1420 Wynt. iv 1809 (C).
He was bot the tende man For to rekkyn ewyn be lyne Befor Kenyauche Makalpyne Ib. vi 1668 (R).
Dame Mawld … Wes bot in the ferd [de]gré The stok noucht reknyd for to be Ib. 2332.
Nowe be Saxonys … To reknyn is Saynt Margretys kyn 1513 Doug. vi xi 5.
Thys Anchises … Can rekkyn and behald … Hail the nowmyr of hys geneologye, His tendir nevoys and posterite [etc.] 1563 St. A. Kirk S. 167.
Except that he confessis hym to atteyn in consanguinite to … Barbara, and can nocht declar nor reckyn the decreis c1578 Reid Swire 68.
The other answer'd him as vainlie Began to reckon kin & blood a1585 Polwart Flyt. 699.
I raknit first thy race 1617 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. II 213.
Repellit in respect of affinitie than raknit [pr. rakint] at the bar 1626 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV 259.
That … Lord Erskene did not tuiche the … countes of Mar in ony degrie of consanguinitie and that thair is nane levand that can compt and rackin the samyne

c. To tell, narrate. Const. simple or double obj. c1420 Ratis R. 1105.
Sum tymis … as thé I rekin sall. Ilkan of thaim has sere ȝarnyngis a1500 Prestis of Peblis 7.
I sall thé suth rakyn and say

d. To mention, refer to. a1400 Leg. S. vi 387.
The firste of thame to rekine now, is [etc.] c1420 Wynt. i 391.
Noe … And the sewyn [sons and wives] rekkynde ware In to that schyppe all entryd are Ib. ix 1608. c1420 Ratis R. 1670.
The sevynt eild that I rakin last [etc.] 1513 Doug. vi ix 143.
Quhat suld I rekkyn tha pepil of Thessaly, That Lapytas ar hait c1568 Lauder Minor P. i 498.
I neid nocht rekkin ȝour filthye harlotrie

e. To rehearse, recite, repeat. 1533 Gau 31/13.
That is noth aneucht that ony reid the creid or rekin the articulis contenit in it 1621 G. Ball. 174 (D).
Sum mumlit auies sum raknit [1567 craknit] creidis

f. To go over (a matter) (with another person); to discuss. Const. clause obj. 1667 Laing MSS I 373.
I have found him altogither alienat and look strangly upon me; wherupon I took occasione to recken twis with him what the matter was and dealt frankly with him

2. To compute (the number or amount of); to count (from, fra a specified starting point); to calculate.Also, to trace one's descent from (of) a certain origin. Cf. 1 b above.(1) c1420 Wynt. ii 831.
Quha that wyll cast date to date, … And yhere wyll rekyn eftyr yhere, The sowme sall be thre hundyr clere [etc.] Ib. iv 622.
He … thoucht that tynsall was bot smalle For to rekyn his costys all a1500 Peblis to Play 104.
Ane vther said nay Byd quhill we rakin our lauche a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 246.
Cumly towris … The roy rekinnit on raw Thretty and thre 1498 Halyb. 133.
The ordynar costis not rakynit 1513 Doug. xi iv 14.
Quhil all the large feildis of the light Myght seueraly be raknyt at a sight 1562-3 Winȝet II 58/5.
The bodyis, quhilkis … turnis ouer, reknis, and fwrthschawis thair number and compt a1568 Bann. MS 266b/19.
Quhen tyme is recknit withowttin ony houris … Scho … sall … be … trew 1588 King Cat. 186.
The beatitudes … quhilk in S. Mattheuis gospel ar rakened aught in number Ib. in 1573-1600 Cath. Tr. 203/9.
[The year] to haiff 365 dayes and 6 houris reconed according to the cowrse of the sone Ib. 205/30.
Albeit euerie 24 h. the sey to fill twys: yeit I haiff reconed only that quhilk do fall the moone being in our hemisphere 1593 James VI in Warrender P. (S.H.S.) II 214.
To cause to be rekinnit quhat is ressaved of the said annuity to our use 1622-6 Bisset II 390/13. c1650 Spalding II 338.
About … 800 foot men, whiche was raknit in the lynkis when thay war dreillit(2) c1420 Wynt. ii Prol. 32.
Beffor or fra than reknys he [sc. Orosius] The yhere, as made wes the cyte Ib. i 300. 1513 Doug. x xi 34.
Fra god Pylumnus to rekkyn the ferd man 1666 Fraser Polichron. 21.
The imputation oft laid uppon Scotsmen to reckon from an ill houre(3) c1420 Wynt. vii 1786.
Swa mycht be reknyd off thaim twa Be greys off consangwnyte The thryd and the thryd wes he and he — 1626 Garden Worthies 151.
Yow that thy begining brings, And reakins from that root and royall race

b. To rekkin (one number) to (another), to add. c1420 Wynt. vii 2822.
And to tha yhit reknyt ane [W. to rekin ane] Ib. 2896, etc.
[1230] And awcht to tha yhit reknyd clere

c. To calculate as being, or as the equivalent of, a certain amount or rate; to evaluate. Const. to, for or adv. compl. 1434 Ayr B. Ct. 19 April.
John Martinson commond hyrd rakans for ilka som v d. 1500–1 Reg. Privy S. I 93/2.
The … landis of Auchinlek … ar of ald extent lii merkis, rekinyn of new extent to iii malis 1501 Treas. Acc. II 42.
For j^c elne carsay … , reknand sex score for the hundir of rede and grene 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Serplath.
Sexscore of skinnes is reckoned to the hundreth. As likewaies sex-score elnes of woollen claith is counted for ane hundreth 1589–1600 Skipper's Acc. (Morton) 41a.
To ȝour part to the hall schepe is xxiii pound x s. rekingene the gold Ib. 78a.
Rakenene ane with ane wther iii schepe pound the pes 1627 Rep. Parishes 1.
And the wiccarage reakinet to ane hundreth mairkis Ib. 28.
Rekining euerie hundereth merkis foir ane chalder victuall 1652–3 Aberd. Shore Wk. Acc. 365.
A pounshen racknett to 2 barrels

3. Chiefly (or ? only) in p.p.: To draw up (? and examine) a detailed account or financial statement. 1495 Halyb. 20.
All thyngis … rakynyt betwix Lorens Tayllȝefer and me … as it standis in the jowrnell subscrywit with hys awin hand 1497 Ib. 128. 1508 Rentale Dunkeld. (S.H.S.) 1.
Comptit and raiknit betuix my Lord George … and David Fourous burges … his merchand for certane mony resaivit fra my said lord and merchandrice be him fra the said David 1510 Ib. 4.
Comptit and raknit betuix … of all the fynans … bipast and … the merchandryce … underwrittin 1520 Perth Hammermen 9.
Comptit and reknit the dekin and craft and the compt above wretin dischairgit 1523 Wigtown B. Ct. 146a.
All thing rakingit & countit be the said Patrik 1532 Perth Hammermen 25.
The quhilk day Dioneis Caveris dekyn and Johne Thorskaill compositour maid thair compt befoir the craft, all things being comptit and reknit the said dekyn and compositour is dischairgit of all comptis bygane c1542 Prot. Bk. Sir Wm. Corbet (S.R.S.) 22.
Apon Corpuscristeis daye at ewyn, all thyngis beand cwnttit and rackynit betweyn [etc.] 1579 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. I 103.
It is comptit and raknit betuix the tounschip … and Robert McCulloch … anent all thingis awand be the toun to the said Robert 1625 Dunferm. Hammermen MS p. 20.
All thingis comptit and rakinit satisfeit and done

4. To include in a count or reckoning. b. specif. To class or rank (with, in (with), amang); to place in a class or category with. a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii 313.
Wele twenty thousand men & ma, Nocht reknand weman na barne c1420 Wynt. iv 1106 (C).
[245 years] Giff that al sulde reknyt be, Or the Peychtis in Scotlande Coyme a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 138/27.
This heresye … [is] to be rekkynnit with the first 1562-3 Winȝet I 56/34.
God maid me worthy … to be reknit … in nummir of the faythfull a1570-86 Arbuthnot Maitl. F. 54/172.
With rascale rymouris I sall raknit be 1573 Davidson Sat. P. xl 213.
James, our gude regent, rakkin in that raw 1584 Sempill Sat. P. xlv 613.
Gude Robert Melwene … I shuld not racken in with thea 1596 Dalr. I 223/12.
Mony rasonis persuades me to reakne sik speikingis rather amang flett fables, than notable histories Ib. 282/30.
Causet to be reknet amang the haly martyris Ib. 117/6. 1597 Skene Verb. S. (1599) s.v. Mortgage.
And swa … the profites are not rekened in the stocke bot ilk ane of them are severally rekened 1602 Colville Paraenese 85.
Ecclesiasticus … is rekkinit amang the canoniques

5. To estimate or work out a. A figure, time, etc., as on an arithmetical basis, also const. infin., b. The value of a right or claim, c. The identity of a person, given the degree of his kinship to another. Const. clause obj.a. a1568 Bann. MS 210b/7.
Bot quhen ȝe wey rekin wele ȝour tyd 1632 Lithgow Trav. x 496.
[This] I reckon to be foure hundred and fifty English miles c1650 Spalding II 473.
Thair wes reknit to be slayne heir … 2000 menb. 1567 Sempill Sat. P. viii 9.
War ȝour richt reknit to the croun It mycht be laid with litill mensc. 1590 Crim. Trials I ii 202.
And ye and your complices haifing raknit with your selffis, quha this sould be, fand that it was George Monro

6. To hold or consider as being of a certain worth, importance or character; to regard.Const. appositive or other complement, as or for, or infin.Also reflex.(1) c1420 Wynt. iv 1804 (C).
Fergus … The fyrst of Scottis reknyt is That regnyt … Kynge befor the Peychtis dayis 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 152/20.
I oblis my self … to renunce my religioun … , quhilk I rekkyn na less in my conscience nor to renunce my God 1562 Reg. Privy C. I 216.
Thai sal be reknyt as participantis with the saidis thevis 1566 Canongate Kirk S. (ed.) 50.
Gif ony evill sall fall … the said Johne salbe raknit partaker thairof 1567 Sat. P. v 148.
Men oftyme … That raknit war of ressoun rude, … Hes geuin gude counsall to the wyse a1570-86 Arbuthnot Maitl. F. 51/76.
I salbe raknit ruid or negligent Id. Ib. 55/1.
Religioun now is raknit as ane fabill a1585 Polwart Flyt. 601 (T).
Quhen … I raknit thy race verie vyld c1590 Fowler II 118/32.
Amangs the wonderfull actions of Aniball this is rekned ane maist admirable a1595 Descr. Isles 428.
The remanent haill iles were reknit but as pertinents and pendicles a1688 Wallace Orkney 186.
The common people reckon the meat of the sea urchin … a great rarity — c1600 Pont Cunningham 4.
This countrey wes reckned for a pairt of the ancient Siluria(2) ?1554 Knox III 83.
In tymis past was … that raconit to be prayer 1561 Q. Kennedy Oratioune 3.
Thais quhilkis ar rackinnit to be chief ministeris Ib. 16.
Mark quhat … effect this godlie marthir rakkinnis to be in the wourdis of the latter supper 1563 Bk. Univ. Kirk I 32.
The stewartie of Kirkubrigh reckoned to be within his owne bounds 1588 King Cat. Sig. H. v b.
Quhen euerie moneth was reconed to begine on the day of the change a1595 Descr. Isles 430.
The Ile of Wist is … reknit to be sevenscore merk land 1598 Crim. Trials II 67.
Becaus his lordschip … hes raknit the said Sir James to be within degreis-defendand to his lordschipreflex. a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 146/13.
Preacheouris … quha rakynnis theme selues of greater knawlege nor Christes holy kirk 1699 Caldwell P. 194.
I should recone myself the most ungrate man in the worlde

b. To take account of; to give a just value to. 1513 Doug. viii Prol. 66.
The ralȝear raknys na wordis, bot ratlis furth ranys 1626 Garden Worthies 130.
Should thow … Rest onremembred, reckned or onscrold

7. To attribute to (vnto).Cf. e.m.E. in this sense (1526), also in Gau after Tindale. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 5395.
We reckin that vnto ȝour greit wisdome

II. intr. 8. To place or name persons or things in due order; to work out a genealogy.Cf. 1 above.(1) a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 403.
He is the riallest roy … Of all the rentaris to ryme or rekin on raw Ib. 519. 1535 Stewart 42055.
And mony mo than I will heir report, To reckin heir becaus the tyme is schort(2) c1420 Wynt. iii 1068.
Down discendand … In to the fyve and fyfty gre, As ewyne reknand men may se 1533 Acts Sederunt i 11.
And the said erle standis in tendernes of blude as thrid and thrid of consanguinite, as thai sall rekkin

9. To count, make a calculation.Also with adv. complement.(1) a1400 Leg. S. vi 406.
In the hewid of man Ar wittis four, quha rekine can c1420 Wynt. i 301.
Swa reknyd [W. rekkynnit] thai in thaire cowntyng Than fra the warldys begynnyng Ib. 294 (W).
Rekkyinnis 1535 Stewart 32984.
And of our Lord quhilk wes aucht hundreth ȝeir, Threttie and nyne, as I haif raknit heir a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1287.
Quhen theifs reakins leil men commis to their geir 1688 Sinclair Doctrine Sphere 27.
The antient geographers … fixed their first march-stone there [in the Canary Islands], whence they begin to reckon [the meridian](2) c1420 Wynt. iv 121.
The Ferde Eylde … The quhilk off yherys contenys, As the Hebrwys reknys clere [etc.] Ib. 1094.
Four hundyr vyntyr and fyfty And twa to rekyn oure evynlykly [C. ewynly] Befor the [blest] Natyvyte Ib. 1342.
To rekyn fullyly

10. To compt and rekkin, to make or draw up an account (with another person, or amangis others). 1566–7 Reg. Privy C. I 503.
To pas to the said wardane and compt and rekkin with him 1588 Waus Corr. 419.
Desyring me to cum to Edinburgh, and thair to compt and rakin, and mak payment 1597 Skipper's Acc. (Morton) 23a.
We haue count and rekenget the penelt daye of my one schepes countis ine the Nehauene the sum of all to thes daye is [etc.] 1602 Shetland Sheriff Ct. (ed.) 4.
Edward … and William … hes promeissit to uther to compt and rakin amangis thameselffis 1636 Aberd. Council Lett. II 51.
Jamis Hay … will not appoynt no tyme to count and rakone with me Ib.
Caus Robert … have patience quhill Witsonday that we count and rakin befor onye honest man 1674 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 197.
For certaine aill … quhairof he not only comptit and rekonit with hir befoir me bot also promist myselfe payement therof

11. fig. To rek(k)in with, to settle an account or score with (an adversary).Cf. ME rekeni mitte (1297), rikene with (Wyclif) = 10 above. ?1438 Alex. ii 3812.
Thare had thay rekned with vther baith, Na had [etc.] c1475 Wall. ix 1154.
Erar he wald bid chalans off his king, Than with Wallace to rakyn for sic a thing

12. To rek(k)in richt, to judge rightly or correctly. 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1308 (Ch.).
I traist, gif I can reckon richt, Scho schaips to ludge with him all nicht 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 63.
Nothing at all, to rekin rycht, Different, in-to Goddis sycht 1567 Sat. P. vii 146.
And maist consent gif quha wald rackin rycht

13. quasi-impers. To matter, be of importance.Cf. 6 above, also Rek v. 6. 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 456.
It reckoneth little of five hundred the like of me Ib. 464.
Seeing we have one Father, it reckoneth the less

III. 14. With various adv. compl., tr. and intr. a. To rekyn our, (1) to enumerate in order, (2) to count. b. To rekin out, to enumerate in order; to recount. c. To rakin till, to mention in addition. d. To rekin in, to include in a count; to take account of. = 4 above. e. To rekin up, (1) ? to count in full, ? to count up, (2) = f. To reckon upon, to count on, expect.a. c1420 Wynt. vi 2364.
Efftyre thir nyne kyngys owre To reknyn I fand kyngys fowreb. c1420 Ratis R. 184.
Fore-thi thir have I reknit out 1605-6 Welsh Forty-eight Serm. 400.
Which he himself has reckoned out to you 1581-1623 James VI Poems II 16/2.
I … rakken out thy uonderis euerie uayc. c1420 Ratis R. 182.
The lypir and the faland ill, Wild-fyre and scaw thai rakin tilld. c1420 Wynt. i 684.
He sall … Be forsakyn off kyne [C. that kyn] Newyr to [be] reknyde in [C. efter thar in]e. c1590 Fowler I 285/90.
[Thou] not rekkneth vp my haults nor me vpbradeth with my sin — 1602 Dundee Shipping P. 73.
And that he begowd rakein owp ane selder quhissell that the mayrschand hid promeist himf. 1632 Lithgow Trav. v 173.
No man could reckon upon felicity so long as he lived