Forms: α. 1 túcian, túciʓan; 3–5 tuke, 4 touk, 5 touke, 5–6 toke, 7 Sc. towk. β. 5 tokke, 5–6 tukke, tuk, 6–7 tucke, 5– tuck. [The forms of this verb fall into two distinct groups; the development of the senses also offers difficulties. The α-forms (with long vowel or diphthong) belong to senses 1 and 2 and the earlier quots. under 3; the β-forms (with short vowel) to the rest of sense 3 and all the other senses, beginning in 14th c. in senses 4, 7, and occurring in 15th c. in sense 6 (and in one or two later instances in sense 2). The latter appear to correspond to MLG. tucken, tocken to draw, pull sharply or forcibly, MDu. tocken, tucken, OHG. zocchôn, zucchen to move or remove with a jerk, snatch away, pluck, pull, mod.Ger. zucken to jerk, tuck, tug, das schwert zücken, to draw the sword. The shortening of the ū in OE. túcian, early ME. tuke, etc., to u (v) in tuck is notable, but is paralleled by that of OE. súcan to SUCK; cf. also DUCK v. from ME. dūke(n.]
† 1. trans. To afflict by way of punishment; to punish, chastise; to ill-treat, torment. Obs.
c. 888. K. Ælfred, Boeth., xxxviii. § 7. Lustlice hi woldon lætan þa rican hi tucian æfter hiora aʓnum willan.
a. 1000. Boeth. Metr., xxiv. 60. Unrihtwise eorðan cyningas … ðe þis weriʓe folc wyrst tuciað.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Judg. xv. 8. He … heora fela ofsloh and to sceame tucode. Ibid. (c. 1000), Saints’ Lives, xxiii. 715. Swingan and to ealre sorʓe tuciʓan.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 21. His heued [was] heled mid þornene crune and on fele wise [he was] rewliche tuked.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 366. He … was … so scheomeliche ituked.
c. 1230. Hali Meid., 17. Leccherie … tukeð hire [maidenhood] al to wundre & þreat to don hire schome.
† b. intr. Obs.
a. 1250. Owl & Night., 63. þu tukest wroþe & vuele Hwar þu myht ouer smale vowele.
† 2. fig. To reprove, check, rebuke, find fault with; to upbraid, reproach. Obs.
In quot. 1584 with up (but sense doubtful).
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 550. Ha tukeð ure godes to balewe & to bismere.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 316. Þet is tocne of hatunge þet men tukeð to wundre þet þing þet me hateð swuðe.
1584. B. R., trans. Herodotus, II. 99. The vassals hauing ended their speeche, Protheus turned hymselfe to Alexander, and tucked hym vp with thys rounde tale.
1600. in Maitland Club Misc. (1843), III. 102. Towking outragious countenance.
1616. Orkney Witch Trial, in Rogers, Soc. Life Scot. (1886). III. 298. She haid tuckit him and given him mony injurious wordis.
1651. R. Baillie, Lett. & Jrnls. (1841), III. 163. His brother Adam Wilson towks him, calling him a fool and bidding him desist.
3. To dress or finish (cloth) after it comes from the weaver, esp. to stretch on tenters; cf. TUCKER sb. 1; also intr. to work as a tucker. Now local.
α. [1273: implied in TUCKER sb. 1.]
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XV. 447. Cloth þat cometh fro þe weuyng is nouȝt comly to were, Tyl it is fulled vnder fote or in fullyng stokkes, Wasshen wel with water and with taseles cracched, Ytouked, and ytented.
1459. in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. V. 300. It was ordayned that no woman sholde touke in no manere place aforstrete within the saide citie.
1467–8. Rolls of Parlt., V. 621/2. Yef … the seid Cloth [were] toked and fulled within this your Reame, your Highnes shuld have the Custume and Awnage for the same.
1513–4. Act 5 Hen. VIII., c. 2. Noo person make noo such Clothys … to sell without that he be whan he is rawe redy to be tokyd of the brede of a yerde and half quarter.
β. 1621. in Harding, Hist. Tiverton (1817), II. 181. Not … white weavers or tuckers that make white kersies, but … such as weave and tuck upon coloured mixed kerseys.
1780. A. Young, Tour Irel., II. 34. A mill for milling, tucking, &c. broad cloths.
1837. Whittock, etc., Bk. Trades (1842), 255. After the process of fulling and dyeing, the dressed cloths are … pricked on the tenter books and stretched to their utmost bearing…. This is considered as tucking, in the west of England.
1882. Jago, Cornw. Gloss., Tucking, working in a fulling-mill.
4. † To tug at; to snatch, pluck, pull; to gather (herbs, fruit, etc.) (obs.); now spec. to pluck or pull the loose hay from the sides of (a new rick) (dial.).
13[?]. K. Alis., 2305 (Bodl. MS.). Als he hit [his weapon] tukked [v.r. toggid], out to habbe, Philot hym ȝaf anothere dabbe.
1625. T. Godwin, Moses & Aaron, III. iii. 125. They held it vnlawfull, to roste an apple, to tucke an herbe, to climbe a tree, to kill or catch a flea.
1658. trans. Porta’s Nat. Magic, IV. xi. 136. You must tuck them off the Tree with your hand. Ibid. [see TUCKER sb. 2].
1794. P. Foot, Agric. Middlesex, 57. The hay-farmer pays great attention to have the stack well tucked and thatched.
1888. Elworthy, W. Somerset Word-bk., s.v., Now, Bob, don’t bethink thy vingers, tuck’n in tight, mind—i.e. pull it out until you get to the solid mass.
† b. See quot. 1647. Obs.
c. 1640. Shaftesb., in Remin. Oxford (O.H.S.), 37. I caused that ill custom of tucking freshmen [at Oxford] to be left off.
1647. Wood, Life, Dec. (O.H.S.), I. 134. If any of the freshmen came off dull, or not cleverly, some of the forward or pragmatical seniors would ‘tuck’ them, that is, set the nail of their thumb to their chin, just under the lower lipp, and by the help of their other fingers under the chin, they would give him a mark, which sometimes would produce blood.
5. Fishing. To take the fish from (the seine) by means of a tuck-net; also with the fish as object.
1786. Act 26 Geo. III., c. 26 § 11. (Cod fishing) It shall not be lawful … to use … any Sean or Net … for the Purpose of catching Cod Fish by hauling such Sean or Net on Shore, or tucking such Sean or Net into any Boat or Boats, the Scale or Mesh of which said Sean or Net shall be less in Dimension than Four Inches.
1857. Morning Chron., 28 Aug. (Cassell’s). 185 hogsheads [of pilchards] were tucked on Sunday.
1866. Standard, 3 Oct., 3/4. All these [i.e., seines] have enclosed fish, which are being tucked, and many thousands of hogsheads are expected to be landed.
1879. Encycl. Brit., IX. 254/2. ‘Tucking’ the fish … is performed with the tuck-sean,… and as it is hauled in, the foot of the bunt is raised so as to bring the fish to the surface, whence they are dipped out in large baskets and put into attendant boats to be carried on shore.
6. To pull or gather up in a fold or folds; to fold or turn up; esp. to gird up (a garment, etc.). Usually const. up.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 504/2. Tukkyn vp, or stykkyn vp (K. tuckyn or stychyn up clothis),… suffarcino.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, V. x. 21. Thair haris all war tukkit wp on thar croun.
1523. Fitzherb., Husb., § 151. Theyr cotes be so syde [= long] that they be fayne to tucke them vp whan they ryde.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., III. ix. 21. Her well-plighted frock, which she did won To tucke about her short when she did ryde.
1687. A. Lovell, trans. Thevenot’s Trav., I. 156. They are tuck’d aside, that the Diamonds may not be covered.
1756. Mrs. Calderwood, in Coltness Collect. (Maitl. Cl.), 218. All the Capucines … were marching in sixes and sevens with their gowns tucked up, great fat carles.
1835–6. Todd’s Cycl. Anat., I. 479/1. The intestines are … tucked up into folds and sacs.
1840. Dickens, Old C. Shop, iii. He tucked up his sleeves and squared his elbows.
1880. ‘Ouida,’ Moths, I. 77. The stout north countrywoman tucked up her petticoats, and began to climb up the steep path with a will.
1885. Cornh. Mag., March, 283. Priests sitting with their legs tucked up tailor-wise, in the attitude of Buddha.
b. To put a tuck or tucks in; to shorten or ornament with tucks.
1626. Vestry Bks. (Surtees), 181. Item for tuckeinge up the surples, xij d.
1709. [see TUCKED ppl. a. 1].
1873. Eliz. Phelps, Trotty’s Wedding Tour, 126. She tucked the pantalets, darned the stockings.
7. To pull or gather up and confine the loose garments of; to gird (a person) up. Chiefly in pa. pple. Now rare.
c. 1385. Chaucer, L. G. W., 982 (Dido). Saw ȝe … Onye of myne susteryn … I-tukkid [v.r. Itucked] vp with arwis in hire cas? Ibid. (c. 1386), Sompn. T., 29. With scrippe and tipped staf, ytukked [v.rr. tucked, tukked, tokked] hye In euery hous, he gan to poure and prye.
c. 1440. Generydes, 4397. Tokkyd vppe she [the queen] was well fro the grounde.
c. 1450. in Aungier, Syon (1840), 342. Some of the brethren tukke the mynysters … in the begynnyng of masse, and also tuk the confessour whan he taketh the cope aboute the ende of the same masse.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 160/2. A pylgrym tucked and made redy for to goo hastely ouer see.
1558. Phaër, Æneid, I. B j. Tukt she was that naked was her knee.
1566. Drant, Horace, Sat., viii. D viij b. Bare foote, hyr lockes about her heade, ytuckde in pukishe frocke.
1727. [see TUCKED ppl. a. 1].
a. 1801. Bloomfield, Rural T., Rich. & Kate, xi. Who, snug tuck’t up, walk’d slow behind.
1841. Orderson, Creol., ix. 96. She was … ‘tucked up,’ in the indecorous manner of those days.
b. To shorten or short-coat (an infant). Usually with up. dial.
1888. Elworthy, W. Somerset Word-bk., s.v., I was a-frightened to zee the cheel a-tuck’d up a’ ready.
1901. E. Phillpotts, Striking Hours, 135. Afore I was tucked-up, or, as you might say, ‘short-coated,’ her went … down to Cornwall.
a. 1905. in Eng. Dial. Dict., s.v., Tuck it in May, Tuck it away.
c. fig. To cramp or hamper by lack of space, time, or means. See also TUCKED ppl. a. 2 c.
1886. Field, 13 Feb., 179/3. They [fox-hunters] have been playing the old game of skirting, eventually to find themselves fairly tucked up by wire-fencing.
1887. [see TUCKED ppl. a. 2 c].
1890. ‘R. Boldrewood,’ Col. Reformer, xxvii. In England you have your bad seasons…; and the poor man … gets tucked up a bit.
8. To thrust or put away (an object) into a close place where it is snugly held or concealed.
1587. Turberv., Trag. T. (1837), 195. Shee tuckt it [the head] in her apron close.
1621–3. Middleton & Rowley, Changeling, IV. i. Folio forty-five, here ’tis, The leaf tuck’d down upon it.
1710. Steele, Tatler, No. 164, ¶ 6. To carry Pistols about me, which I have always tuck’d within my Girdle.
1733. W. Ellis, Chiltern & Vale Farm., 321. The Sharr also is tuck’d up to the Beam by an Iron-hook.
1781. Cowper, Truth, 147. The shivering urchin … Carries her Bible tucked beneath his arm.
1861. Geo. Eliot, Silas M., i. Finding the well-known bag, empty, tucked behind the chest of drawers.
1874. Burnand, My time, xxxii. 329. He tucked his wife’s arm under his own.
1912. W. B. Selbie, Nonconformity, xii. 225. The little old meeting-houses tucked away in back streets gave place to large and commodious buildings.
9. To thrust in the edge or end of (anything pendent or loose) so as to retain or confine them; now esp. to turn in the edges of (bed-coverings or the like) under the bed or its occupant. With various advbs., esp. in, up.
1635. Quarles, Embl., III. ix. 37. Snares tuck thy bed.
1697. Dampier, Voy., I. xii. 327. They gather it in their Hands,… tucking in the twisted part between their Waste and the edge of the Petticoat, which keeps it close.
1746. Jameson, in A. McKay, Hist. Kilmarnock (1880), 83. Tucking his shirt under the waistcoat, that it might not obstruct the blow.
1843. Sir C. Scudamore, Med. Visit Gräfenberg, 102. Early in the morning, the bed-clothes were tucked up tight about him, so as to retain the animal heat.
1852. Thackeray, Esmond, III. iii. A nymph that can tuck my bed-clothes up.
1905. Elin. Glyn, Viciss. Evangeline, 174. Mr. Carruthers got in, and tucked his sable rug round me.
b. With the person as object. Also fig.
1692. Locke, Educ., § 22. To have his Maid tuck him in warm.
1739. ‘R. Bull,’ trans. Dedekindus’ Grobianus, 225. The Muse would willingly … tuck you in, and then put out the Light.
1809. Malkin, Gil Blas, VII. xvi. ¶ 4. The nurse forced me under the bedclothes again, and tucked me up.
1854. Emerson, Lett. & Soc. Aims, Resources, Wks. (Bohn), III. 199. Nature keeps the lakes warm by tucking them up under a blanket of ice.
c. intr. To draw together, contract, pucker.
1797. Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3), XVIII. 102/2. When an ulcer becomes foul,… the edges of it, in process of time, tuck in.
1899. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., VI. 834. Another symptom … is a tucking-up of one or both of the upper lids.
10. slang. a. trans. To consume, swallow (food or drink); to ‘put away,’ ‘put out of sight.’
1784. R. Bage, Barham Downs, I. 191. We will dine together; tuck up a bottle or two of claret.
1833. Marryat, P. Simple, xi. Now that I’ve cured you, you’ll be tucking all that into your own little breadbasket.
a. 1845. Barham, Ingol. Leg., House-warming. The strawberries … Which our Grandmother’s Uncle tuck’d in like a pig.
1861. Holland, Less. Life, xii. 144. Let’s go over and see if we can’t tuck away some of that grub.
b. intr. To feed heartily or greedily; esp. with in, into.
1810. [see TUCKING vbl. sb.1 4].
1838. Dickens, Nich. Nick., xxxix. If you’ll just let little Wackford tuck into something fat.
1850. Thackeray, Round. Papers, vii. There is Rasherwell ‘tucking’ away in the coffee-room.
1887. Edna Lyall, Knight-Errant, xv. (1889), 129. Always in at dinner-time and to be found at odd hours tucking in.
† c. trans. To distend with food; to fill out. Obs. rare–1.
1824. in Spirit Pub. Jrnls. (1825), 304. He had been ‘Taking his ease in his inn,’… and feeling himself comfortably tucked out, he wished to bolt.
11. slang. To hang (a criminal); usually with up.
a. 1700. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, Tuck’t, Hang’d.
1738. trans. Guazzo’s Art Conversation, 231. I expect … to see him tucked up to a Gibbet.
1755. H. Walpole, Lett. (1846), III. 142. Poor Fanny! I always thought she would play till she would be forced to tuck herself up!
1825–9. Mrs. Sherwood, Lady of Manor, V. xxix. 100. I wish some one had tucked him up before he had made acquaintance with this house.
b. To hang (a bell) high in the stock.
1860. Beckett, Clocks, Watches, etc. (ed. 4), 424. A large bell may be tolled easily by one man, if it is properly hung, though not if it is ‘tucked up in the stock.’
12. = TUCK-POINT v.
1803. Usef. Proj., in Ann. Reg., 829/2. Tucking and pointing all stone and brick works that require proof against water and damp.
