Sc. Obs. exc. Hist. [a. Gael. taisgeal the finding of anything that was lost, f. taisg a treasure, taisg to deposit, hoard, bury.] In tascal money, a reward formerly paid in the Scottish Highlands for information regarding stolen cattle.
c. 1730. Burt, Lett. (1754), II. xxiv. 243. Sending Persons into the Country suspected, and by them offering a Reward (which they call Tascal Money) to any one who should discover the Cattle, and those who stole them.
1827. J. Anderson, St. Soc. & Knowl. Highl., 70. He who … received tascal money as informer, met scorn, perhaps death.
1907. A. Lang, Hist. Scot., IV. xv. 363. Tascal money used to be paid to traitors among the robbers.
