Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Flicht, Flycht, n.¹ [ME. flyght(e, flight, fliȝt, OE. fliht, flyht.]

1. The act of flying. c1420 Wynt. i. 785.
Off spede he is mare lycht Than ony foule is apon flycht c1450-2 Howlat 321.
The falcone, farest on flicht formed on fold c1515 Asl. MS. I. 326/25.
Jhon figurit ane egill hieast on flicht 1513 Doug. vi. iii. 65.
A payr of dowis fra hevin come with a flycht 1560 Rolland Seven S. 913.
The sparhalk is als swyft of flycht As the griffoun 1590 Burel Pilgr. i. xxvi.
The merle and the mauice trig, … tuke thame to the flicht

b. To take the (or his) flicht, to fly off. c1450-2 Howlat 944.
Ilk fowle tuk the flicht … , Held hame to thar hant a1500 Seven S. 2680.
The ravinnis all … tuke the flicht And flawe away 1513 Doug. x. iv. 79.
Cygnus … in lyknes of a swan, … tuke his flycht vp from the erd in hy

c. At the flicht, about to set out; in all haste. 1540 Lynd. Sat. 413.
Fairweill, for wee ar at the flicht 1578–9 Waus Corr. I. 205.
For skantnes of paper I wrait to yow in hest, and at the flicht 1596 Dalr. II. 4/18.
Heiring thir tydyngs thay cum at the flicht [L. advolant] frome Holand [etc.]

2. Wing-feathers. c1450-2 Howlat 885.
Ilk foule of his flicht a fedder has tane

3. A number of birds flying together. a1500 Henr. Fab. 1722.
Vnto a hege … Of small birdis thair come ane ferlie flicht 1513 Doug. xii. v. 65.
Ane gret flycht of fowlys

4. A number of arrows shot at once; a discharge of javelins or shot. 1531 Bell. Boece I. 153.
The bowmen, efter flicht of arrowis, faucht with swerdis 1535 Stewart 22468.
With that ane flicht of mony fleand ganȝe … among the Britis flaw c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 726.
Of gunnis, … thay leit fle ane flicht 1590 Burel Pilgr. i. xviii.
[The birds] Doun louching, and coutching, To fle the flichts of fudder