Obs. [f. L. tot so much, so many; acc. to Blount, short for tot pecuniæ Regi debentur ‘so many sums of money are due to the king.’]
1. trans. To mark (an item in the sheriff’s list) with the word tot or the letter T, showing that the amount had been levied, and was to be accounted for, by him. Cf. NICHIL, O. NI. Also used in certain accounts between the Exchequer and other persons: see quot. 1785. Hence Totting vbl. sb.
[1368. Act 42 Edw. III. c. 9. Est ordene … qe homme veie les dites estretes enseallees, & qe ce qest paie soit tottee, et meismes les estretes mandez as Viscontes sur la receite. transl. a Man shall see the same Estreats sealed, and that the same which is paid, be totted, and the same Estreats sent to the Sheriffs upon the Receipt.]
1530–1. Act 22 Hen. VIII., c. 15. All other yssues and amercyamentes … whether they be totted or not totted, taken to the charge of the Shyryff or not taken to his charge.
1620. J. Wilkinson, Coroners & Sherifes, 75. An ignorant Undersherif may both undoe his high Sherife and himselfe, both in this world and in the world to come by totting and nichiling. Ibid. If it bee totted, that is charged, though it can never be levied, it will now hardly be avoided, but it must be paid.
a. 1726. Sir G. Gilbert, Treat. Crt. Exchequer, vii. (1758), 115. If the Sheriff has levied any Part of these Debts he Totts it, and the Letter T is set upon such Sum.
1785. MS. Dean’s Bk. Canterb. Cathedr., lf. 129. Agreed that the process called Totting, in the Exchequer, for a share of the Post Fines, attended with great expence, and little or no advantage, be in future discontinued.
1798. T. Farrer, in Manning, Exch. of Pleas (1819), II. App. 267. As to such sums as are totted by the sheriff.
2. transf. To note or distinguish (a name in a list) by some mark or a prick, e.g., to prick the sheriffs; also to make a note against a name in a list or a sum or item in an account; also, to write down by way of note, to jot down in writing.
1444. Paston Lett., I. 55. Sir, ther arn xv. jurores abowe to certifie ye, as many as ye will: but lete these men that be tottid be certified, for thei be the rewleris.
1522. Wolsey, Lett. to Hen. VIII., in St. Papers, I. 115. The Judges procedyd to election of your Schreffes … for thys yere; whos namys be comprisid in a byll of parchement herin closid: desyring Your Grace to tot and marcke suche oon of thre namyd for every schire, as may stand with your gracious pleasure. Ibid. (1524), 150. The copy…, with my poore opinion upon the same, totted in the margyne.
1587. Fleming, Contn. Holinshed, III. 1545/1. Such as were absent, had no allowance that daie: if they came late, their wages was totted at the expenditors good discretion.
1612. Manch. Crt. Leet Rec. (1885), II. 270. Those ffreeholders … whose names are not totted in the Courtbooke.
