A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1574-1698
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Subtak, -tack, n. [Tak n.1] A lease (of property, customs, etc.) granted by a tenant or lessee to a sub-tenant. 1574 Carrick Baillie Ct. 20 Nov.
Thairin allegit Katherine Kennedy to be takkiswoman of the said land and producit bot ane pretendit subtak maid be ane allegit takisman 1602 Calderwood VI 178.
The said principall tacksmen sall grant and renew the like securitie to their sub-tacksmen, for payment of their part of the said gressome pro rata, where anie sub-tacks are a1633 Hope Major Pract. I 248.
Compensation of ane part extending to ten pound offered now of the subtack of ane part of the tenement c1650 Spalding II 95.
Aberdene, haueing ane subtak flowing fra him [sc. the Earl Marischal], sendis over there commissioneris to Edinburgh to bak the samen 1661 Decis. Lords G. 10.
She did … set the lands to another tenent, which this pursuer has in effect homologat, by accepting a sub-tack of a part from the tacksmen 1681 Stair Inst. ii ix § 22.
A sub-tack is that which is granted by the principal tacksman to his sub-tenant, who doth not thereby become tenant to the setter of the principal tack 1694 Fountainhall Decis. I 597.
This was a declarator that he ought to be liberate of his sub-tack of the annexed excise of Fife 1698 Stirling B. Rec. II 86.
b. In various collocations with Set v.(1) 1621 Bk. Dunvegan I 63.
And to set subtakis of the saidis personage and viccarage teinds … to quhatsumiver persone or persones as they sall think expedient(2) c1650 Spalding II 88.
He had alreddie set in subtak these customs of Abirdein and Banf to the toune of Abirdein c1650 Spalding II 185.
Quhilk tak the said Schir Williame Dik presentlie settis in subtak to Patrik Lesly(3) 1682 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS 13 Sept.
The beirland and barne … sett … to Thomas Hoisten and John McClellane burgeses of this burgh and sett be way of subtack be them to the said Robert Donaldsone
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"Subtak n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 10 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/subtak>
