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 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Wi(t)ch, Wech, v. Also: witche, vitch, vich, wisch, weich. [ME and e.m.E. wicch(en (a1300), wych(en (14th c.), wich (c1400), witch (1525), OE wiccian, LG wikken, wicken.] tr.a. To harm (a person, etc.) by means of witchcraft; to bewitch, cast a spell on. b. fig.To affect or influence as by witchcraft.a. pres. 1649 Cupar Presb. 149.
Questioning Helen Young on hir deadbed, what she was doing then when they mate? She answered, that she was desyring Elspet Seith to witch him 1662 Highland P. III 7.
Confesses that M^cCuillem and her daughter did vitch Donald M^cGilchrist that nothing did thrive with him and that they put a pock with witchcraft under his bed and a catt to effectuat the saminep.t. 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I 126.
Thow weichit be thy socerie and deuilrie, Thomas Reddell(b) 1662 Forfar Witches in Reliq. Antiq. Sc. 145.
She witched ane cow by casting a clod at her, who afterwards diedp.p. a1400 Leg. S. iii 64.
Thane that ȝong manis kyne in hy Sad, he was wechyt, sekyrly a1400 Leg. S. xix 494.
I dowt wechit that ȝe be Be Cristofore in sorcery(b) 1535 Stewart 35786.
Thair rais ane word amang thame … Sayand the king that tyme suld witchit be Be ane auld wyfe duelland in Forres toun c1590 J. Stewart 56/113.
The false illusion lykuayis did them perse … Quhan thay ascend, thay sie hir dounvart fair, Quhan thay cum doune, thay sie hir vp againe … Thay abaid all vitchit in this place Be Atlants nigromancicale inwent 1597 James VI Dæmonol. (STS) 29/27.
The death of such a person … whom they beleeue to haue poysoned, or witched 1597 Crim. Trials II 25.
Scho … tuke out a lytill polk of blak plading quhairin was … sum threidis of wirset … hairis and naillis of mennis fingeris and affermit that he was witchit be that meanis 1607 Crim. Trials II 526.
Witcheit 1613 Elgin Rec. II 135 (see Parisch(e v. b). 1622 Crim. Trials III 535.
Witchet 1644 Justiciary Cases III 651.
Thair is no probable ground of inmitie lybellit quhairupone it can be presumet that the pannell … wald have ather thretint or witchet the said Jonet to the daith(c) 1590–1 Crim. Trials I ii 233.
For the cwring of Johnne Cokburn the Schereff of Hadingtounis wyffe, quha wes wichit be the wich of Mirrielawis 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I 106.
Ane horse … being wichit, the said Helen translatit the seiknes … to ane young kow 1604 Dundonald Par. Rec. 54.
John Park … said to him his sistir ves vichit and offerit to mend hir for ten markis(d) 1623 Perth Kirk S. MS 14 May.
Johne Hay in Logyealmound, quhom all the countrie knew to beine wischit 1623 Perth Kirk S. MS 14 May.
Johne Jacksoun … wes wischit be hir, boith in his persoun and in his gudeisb. a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 242 (H).
O vale of teris … How wichis [Asl. wythis, Arund. wes; de Worde wytches] thow the witt of thi wageouris Syling thare sicht 1638 Adamson Muses Thr. I 40.
Thus by ambition witch't, and rage demented, This traitor execut what was intented