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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
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Takil(l, Taik(k)ill, n. Also: takile, -yl(l, -ell, -le, takkill, tackill, -ell, -le, tacill, -le, taike(i)ll, -le, taykell, taickill, -ell, teakill, teckle. [ME and e.m.E. takel (c1250), tacle, takle (both Trevisa), tackle (1529), MLG, MDu. takel.]See also Sandahl Middle English Sea Terms III, s.v. Tackle.

1. A ship's gear, ? chiefly or only ropes, rigging and gear associated with these.Some examples may belong in b.(a) 1375 Barb. iii 713.
The schippys our the wawys slayd … It wes gret cunnannes to kep Thar takill in-till sic a thrang 1375 Barb. iv 374.
Thar takyll ayris and thar ster Thai hyde c1400 Troy-bk. ii 1727.
Nothir takile, rape nor mast In-to that fell tempest mycht last ?14.. Ship Laws c. 27 (B).
Gyf … thai hew thair maste and tynys thair takyl … for saufte of the schip ?14.. Ship Laws c. 21 (B).
Tacle c1500 Harl. MS 4700 148b.
Takle 1505 Treas. Acc. III 83.
Payit to James Makyson and Robert Bertoun for the cabillis and tackill for the schip brocht hame be the said James 1508 Treas. Acc. IV 47.
For ane cabill to the Ravin … for iij stane small takill 1508 Treas. Acc. IV 114.
At the doun taking of the takill of the schip callit the Mergreit 1511 Treas. Acc. IV 300.
xxj pece takkill to the gret schip, iij tros and v pecis bedlinis 1512 Treas. Acc. IV 291.
For ane coppir ketill … to pik the takle in of the schippis 1526 Prot. Bk. J. Foular II 232.
The graith of the schip … mastis ankeris towis takle saill 1577 Edinb. Test. V 346.
Certane auld run tacle for schippis sauld for cuffing a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xlviii 192.
From the northeist thair come an vgly blas[t] Maid vp our takill, and ouer buird went our [mast] 1622-6 Bisset II 200/15.
Annacarsis … invented the grappill cabill or tacill of a schip 1666-74 Fraser Polichron. 50.
Arrived at length in Tay without ruther or tackle(b) 1531 Bell. Boece II 168.
The residew, but mast or taikill, returnit to land c1575 Balfour Pract. 623.
Taikill 1602 Shetland Sheriff Ct. (ed.) 11.
Ane mainmast with ane topmast with certaine taikill with it

b. Rope as used on board ship.There is considerable overlap with prec. sense. 1589 Skipper's Acc. (Morton) 1a.
For takell to be halleyeris 1595 Skipper's Acc. (Morton) 9a.
For xi stane ane half of takell to roke her to 1589–1600 Skipper's Acc. (Morton) 62b.
For ane pes takell to be keyes 1600 Dundee Shipping P. 67.
Taykell 1614 Soc. Ant. X 224.
The haill furnishing to the bark … For fyve stane wecht of taikle to be boutraipis [etc.]

c. A rope; (part of) the rigging of a ship. Also pl., the ropes making up the rigging of a ship. 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 1374.
Sum hang vpon a takill, sum on ane tre 1513 Doug. i ii 60.
The takillis graslis, cabillis can fret 1513 Doug. i iii 18.
The aris, hechis, and the takillis brast 1531 Bell. Boece I 147.
Thus wes ane pert of the Romane navy drevin … on craggis and brokin and otheris kest thair ankeris to eschew the craggis; nochtheles be stormy wallis, thay firit thair takillis, and sank down in the middis of the see 1531 Bell. Boece II 52.
Sail, mast, and taikillis wer blawin in the brim seis 1538 Treas. Acc. VII 23.
Gevin to John Bartane to by ane taikill to the kingis schip, x cronis 1600 Reg. Privy C. VI 263.
Andro Wod … come in in the said complenaris schip … and … he gaid to cut thair taickillis 1642 Skipper's Acc. (Smettone) 1b.
For 6 hookes to the teckles byin 22 li. 3 s.

d. fig. Sexual equipment. a1568 Bann. MS 141b/52.
Sen ȝe … hald ȝour taikill by my hippis a1568 Sempill in Sat. P. xlvi 13.
Draw weill the takill to hir taill, Scho will not miss to lay ȝo^r mast

2. Rope, more generally; freq. as used in draught harness.Some examples may belong in 1 above. 1542 Treas. Acc. VIII 131.
Takle 1548 Treas. Acc. IX 200.
xxij faldome of takill … to be traissis 1549 Treas. Acc. IX 355.
For careing of this … monitioun … xviij stane wecht of takle to be thatys 1557–8 Edinb. Old Acc. I 244.
Expenses maid upone the clenging of the schoir and havin of Leith and outaking of the stanis of the samin … bocht fra James Bartane xix pund of takill till draw out the stanis furth of the hawin 1574 Exch. R. XX 144.
Computum Jacobi Lowell, custumarii de Dundie … [20 s. of certain ropes called] takill c1575 Balfour Pract. 88.
Sax hundreth small takil cordage or cables or siclike is ane tun 1591 Edinb. B. Rec. V 49.
Robert Uddert, indweller in Leyth … being … accuset … for selling … certane hemp, lynt and taikill 1600-1610 Melvill 487.
I saw a funambulus … play strang and incredible prattiks upon stented takell in the palace-clos 1616 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 4.
For tua stane of takill to be thaytis rigwodeis and … propis for the cart 1618 Dundee Shipping L. 297.
Teakill 1621 Brechin Test. IV 16b.
Tuelff peices taikkill veȝand tuentie sex sprous staine 1626 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 197.
Taikle to be traisis rigwiddies hip raipes and over ledderis 1626 Brechin Test. IV 235b.
Taikeill 1633 Cochran-Patrick Coinage II 94.
This cuntrey … is not habill to afford comodities … timber, yron, hemp, lynt, takle, pix, tar and such lyke necessities 1639 Edinb. Test. LIX 74b.
Taikell, tarred whyt and spune harine 1667 Edinb. B. Rec. X 26.
For eatch ball of tows or tackell

b. A rope. Also pl. 1542 Aberd. B. Rec. I 185.
Thre pound x s. Scottis, for vij stane of takkillis … for bynding of the gunnis 1548 Treas. Acc. IX 200.
To Jhonne Vod for takillis to the traissis 1584 Edinb. Test. XIV 113b.
Ane small tacle of tua stane 1615 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 357.
Ane small taikill weand four stanis and ane half

3. The ropes of a pulley system; the pulley system itself. a. As used on board a ship, also, specif. to load and unload cargo. b. As used in building work.a. 1560 (c1650) Dundee B. Laws 22.
That ther be no lading nor livering nor handling of taikells … in the night season … the masters of the shippes whence the taikells are handlit sall pay xx s. … The merchant resaver or deliverer of the geir being livered or ladned sall pay xl s. c1575 Balfour Pract. 620.
The master of the ship sould schaw the merchandis the taikillis, or his windis and his cordis; and gif thay se that thay sould be mendit, the master is haldin to mend thame: for gif ane tun or pype be tint in the winding or heising, in fault of the cordis [etc.] 1597 Misc. 3 Spald. C. II 40.
He send with Alexander Guthrie skipper … in the ship called Bogforlay … ane cordele of fourscoir faddoms, hir haill takill with her blokis, hir foirsaill [etc.] 1622-6 Bisset II 244/10, 13, etc.
Quhen ane schip cummis saif to the right discharging place, the maister suld schaw the merchandis the takill and roipis that they have to hois witht all … bot gif the takillis raipis or uthir geir brek [etc.] 1671 Edinb. B. Rec. X 113.
That albeit he wes to pey … tack dewty yeirly for the cranes yet the veshells that comes to Leith does disloaden with ther awne taickellb. 1672 Contracts for Reparation of Holyrood Palace in Soc. Ant. XIV 331.
Fyve hundreth double trees for scaffolding with the haill blockes and taickell provyded for the said work 1683 Soc. Ant. LIV 236.
Reparations … of the fabrick of the colledge … To John Barclay for deals … To Ninian Flooker for takle

4. attrib. or comb. With tow in senses above. 1539 Treas. Acc. VII 227.
Takyll towis for hesing and upputting of the ruiff of the said werk 1583 Edinb. Test. XII 313b.
Ane takill tow estimat to the soum of lxv li.

5. A weapon, chiefly or only an arrow. a1400 Leg. S. v 486.
Tel … Quhy thu vnbent thi bow sa sone. Bot, he quod, I sa had done It suld hafe bene son out of pyth To schot ony takil vith c1420 Wynt. i 203.
Wytht that the takyll wp he drewe, And wytht that schot he Kayin slewe 1513 Doug. i iii 44.
The Troianys armour, takillis and othir geir Flet on the wallis 1513 Doug. ix x 78, 97.
Hys bow … bend hes he Tharin a takill set of sovir tre … soundyt the dedly bowys stryng … furth flaw the takill tyte 1513 Doug. x xii 73.
Nane of thame … curage had with drawyn swerd … Hym till assaill … Bot with takillis and castyn dartis on far Thai warp at hym 1513 Doug. xi xvi 58, 66.
The swyft gilt arow schuke owt of hir cace And … hir hornyt bow has bent Quharin onon the takill vp is stent … Aruns onon … the quhislyng of the takill squar Persavit hes [etc.] 15.. Christis Kirk 93 (M).
Quhilk wes ane archer heynd Tit wp ane takill [B. taikle]