great taker up of suits

[njt2009]

What is the meaning of 'great taker up of suits' when we described about someone who was a mighty chief.

 

[5jj]

We need rather more context than that of being a might chief if we are to make sense of that.

 

[njt2009]

He was a mighty chief, and a great taker up of suits, and so great a lawyer that no judgemnts were thought lawful unless he had a hand in them.

 

[MikeNewYork]

Now that you mention that the "chief" is a lawyer, it is likely that "suits" refers to "lawsuits". However, the meaning of "great taker up" is still obscure. Does he file many lawsuits? Is he a judge who decides on lawsuits?

 

[Rover_KE]

njt, 'more context' includes the source and author of your quotation.

Where did you find it? Who wrote it? He's chief of what, and where?

 

[5jj]

I think that this is one of the rare occasions when the full context is not going to be of great help.

 

[Tdol]

A legal decision would only carry weight when he was involved.

 

[Rover_KE]

Correct, 5jj!

njt, it would have saved us a lot of time if you'd given us that context in your original post.

 

[bhaisahab]

Without the context I thought perhaps he was the go to person if you wanted your trousers shortened. ;-)

 

[njt2009]

I read from the book 'Born on a Blue Day' of Daniel Tammel, page 258.
He translated an Iceland's famous saga into English. The man in the story was someone who you had to go to when you want anything because he was a great taker up of suits and a great lawyer. The following is the original manuscript in Icelandic. (May be someone who is islandic here can explain)

Mörður hér maður er kallaður var gígja. Hann var sonur Sighvats hins rauða. Hann bjó á Velli á Rangáröllum. Hann var ríkur höfðingi og málafygjumaður mikill og svo mikill lögmaður að engir þóttu löglegir dómar dæmdir nema hann væri við. Hann átti dóttur eina er Unnur hét. Hún var væn kona og kurteis og vel að sér og þótti sá bestur kostur á Rangárvöllum.

 

[joham]

https://www.google.com.hk/search?q="taker+up+of+suits"&btnG=搜索图书&tbm=bks&tbo=1&hl=zh-CN

 

[njt2009]

Does it mean he is a superman????

 

[BobK]

No. It means that when people want things enough to sue for them, he will argue in court on their behalf.

b