Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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Touk, v. Also: tou(c)k(e, towk, tow(c)ke, tu(c)k. [ME and e.m.E. tukke (14th c.), tuke (a1400-50), ONF toker, toquer, touker, It. toccare.]

1. To push or hit (a person) violently.(a) 1600-1610 Melvill 272.
Efter quarreling words, touks him and striks him with the gardes of his sword 1610 Criminal Trials II 327.
Demandit, ‘Yf afoir the falling of the brig … the depouner toukit Andro Hendersoun vpoun the brig?' 1630 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. III 490.
[The said Alexander … accosted him … ] towked him and would not suffer him goe by in peace 1637 Strathbogie Presb. 13.
His answer was, that indeed he touked James Gordoune and did cast him vpon Mr. Henrye 1651 Baillie III 163.
Matthew Wilson laid hands on William Wodrow … his brother Adam Wilson towks him, calling him a foole and bidding him desist(b) 1607 Inverness Rec. II 56.
The said Androw maist iniuriouslie tuckit the said James on the Kingis hie gett and casay 1616 Orkney Witch Trial in Rogers Social Life III 298.
She haid tuckit him and given him mony injurious words

2. To beat or roll (a drum or drums), esp. when making a public proclamation, etc. Also absol. 1621 Haddington B. Rec. (Robb) 9 Nov.
Williame Broun … feyeit himselff to be comoun swasher of this burgh … he obleist him to stryk & touk the drum throw this burgh … at four hours in the morning and at aucht hours in the evening 1623 Edinb. B. Rec. VI 243.
That thai caus touke the drummes through thair townes and be oppin proclamatioun to command … all and sindrie persounes … that [etc.] 1627 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. II 52.
To caus towcke drwmmes, displey cullours, and to doe and performe all and everie uther thing which towards the uplifting of the said regiment sall be requisite and necessar 1627 Bk. Carlaverock II 93.
Tuk 1629 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. III 5.
Towke 1631 Stirling's Royal Lett. II 510.
Granting him libertie to tuck drumes for that purpois [sc. levying men] 1638 Rothes Affairs Kirk 107.
[He] called up the drummer of the toune, and commandit him to touck the drum and commandit all these that feared God to come presentlie to the tolbooth and subscryve the Covenant 1642 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. VIII 303.
Toucke 1642 Stirling B. Rec. I 184.
Duncan Ewing to be ordiner drummer of this burghe … he … sall touke his drum nychtlie at sevin houris and everye morning at foure houris c1650 Spalding I 113.
The drum toukit, and the proclamatioun publishitabsol. 1642 Glasgow B. Rec. I 437.
Ordains the drummers to touk throughe the toun weik about

b. To beat or sound (a march) on a drum. c1650 Spalding II 101.
Thay wold heir marches perfytlie tovkit, as if thair had bene ane army in order

3. intr. Of a drum: To sound, roll. c1650 Spalding I 186.
The trvmpettis schortlie began to sound, and the drumis to tovk c1650 Spalding I 202.
On Wednisday trvmpettis soundis and drumis tovkis, liftis thair army and beginis to marche south agane