'taking' (hence plural 'takings') originates from Old Norse, specifically the word 'taka', where the root meant 'to take, grasp'.

'takings' changed from Old Norse 'taka' into Middle English via the verb 'take' and the noun-forming suffix '-ing', eventually becoming the modern English noun 'taking' and its plural 'takings'.

Initially, the root meant 'to seize or grasp', but over time the derived noun 'taking' acquired the additional sense of 'an amount taken' (i.e., receipts), which led to the modern usage 'takings' meaning money received.