[See STOCK sb.1 56 b.] A periodical examination, inventorying, and valuation of the stock or goods in a shop, warehouse, etc.
1858. Simmonds, Dict. Trade, Stock-taking.
1861. Draper & Clothier, III. 94/2. At Nottingham, the large houses have been engaged in stock taking.
1884. Manch. Exam., 14 Oct., 4/4. The stocktaking of this company … was made on Saturday.
b. fig.
1884. R. W. Church, Bacon, 82. He sat down to make a minute stock-taking of his position and its circumstances.
1888. Pall Mall Gaz., 2 April, 11/1. The theological stocktaking with which this closing part of the century is busy.
Hence Stock-take v. (back-formation).
1892. Mrs. H. Ward, David Grieve, II. 304. He would go over two or three times a year to stock-take and make up accounts.
