tak(1) - Hamely Tongue
Source: The Hamely Tongue: A Personal Record of Ulster-Scots in County Antrim
Author: James Fenton
Comments: ‘The Hamely Tongue’ has been widely acclaimed as the authoritative record of contemporary (surviving) Ulster-Scots in its heartland of County Antrim where James Fenton faithfully recorded his dictionary items among a network of other native speakers over a 30-year period. This searchable online version of his book takes its text from ‘Part One’ of the fourth edition of 2014 and includes over 3000 word entries. The book preliminaries, supplementary word lists and end matter have been excluded.
tak1 ~ n. talk. a’ tak all talk (It’s a’ tak, there’s naethin behint it. Wae them it’s a’ tak an nae dae). owl blaggart tak (see blaggart). owl smairt tak remarks of a smart-alecky kind; leering innuendo. tak’s chaip talk costs nothing (Tak’s chaip but lan coasts money). the tak o the country (of a scandal, of one behaving outrageously, etc.). v. talk. bum an tak (see bum). cant an tak (see cant). Daenae be takkin! You don’t have to tell me! It’s easy takkin (i.e. when one isn’t in the situation being discussed: It’s easy iz takkin, sittin here in the corner). nae room tae tak just as much at fault, open to criticism, etc. (as the person being censured: Whun it comes tae wains bein sturn or ill-bred, she haes nae room tae tak). naethin tae tak aboot nothing to speak of; having no qualities or significance worthy of admiration, comment, etc. (A dacent wee place, but naethin tae tak aboot). tak a doag tae death (see doag). tak lake a han-gun (Ba); tak the leg aff a stool chatter away, at length and with little pause. tak polite speak ‘proper’ or Standard English. tak tae the four was waste one’s breath (Tak heed, thon yins? — ye micht as weel tak tae the four was). tak through drink make absurd or improper claims, suggestions, etc. while under the influence of alcohol. tittle an tak engage in tittle-tattle; spread gossip quietly and slyly. Whut ir ye takkin aboot! Exactly! Just as you say!
