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

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

Flocht, n. Also: floucht, flought. [Prob. early ON. *flohte, later flótte, flótti, related to OE. flyht Flicht n.²]

1. A flutter; a state of perturbation or excitement. In phrases on flocht, in (a) flocht. a1500 Henr. Fab. 2553.
I am verray effeirit, and on flocht c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxvii. 66.
Folk had ane feill … Thair hairtis wer baith on flocht 1513 Doug. xii. ix. 64.
The felloun thocht … Within thar myndis boldynnys all on flocht 1533 Boece vii. iii. 225.
Be suddane slauchter of the king … all the cuntre was on flocht a1540 Freiris Berw. 430.
Scho wes so red, hir hairt wes ay on flocht c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus ii. 611.
Vtheris … Was sa elate, and thair mind ay in flocht 1590 Burel Pilgr. ii. xxvii.
Feir pat my hairt in sic a flocht, It did me mutch mischeif 1658 Baillie I. 93.
All thir things putts us in flocht 1641 Ib. I. 392.
These horrible designes breaking out, all the citie was in a flought

b. A state of uncertainty or instability. c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxiv. 2.
Full oft I … hes in thocht How this fals warld is ay on flocht, Quhair no thing ferme is nor degest 1535 Stewart 40209.
My mynd als lycht is euirmoir on flocht, As woddercok or ony womanis thocht

2. The act of fleeing; flight. 1513 Doug. iv. xii. 17.
Ressaue … this sawle that on flocht is Ib. x. xii. 113.
This ilk Mezentius eik dedenȝeit nocht To sla Orodes, quhilk than was on flocht