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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SLICHT, adj.², v., n.², adv. Also †sleicht (Fif. 1827 W. Tennant Papistry Storm'd 178); slite (Ork. 1929 Marw.). Sc. forms and usages of Eng. slight. [slɪçt; Ork. slait]

I. adj. 1. Smooth of surface, level; of the sea: calm, unruffled, still (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1914 Angus Gl.; Ork. 1929 Marw., slite; I.Sc. 1970). Obs. in Eng. exc. dial. Comb. slight-back, the Greenland whale, Balaena glacialis (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)).Sh. 1897 Shetland News (9 Oct.):
I heard him rivin suntin' ower a slight stane i' da wa!Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
He is slight i' de ljog, the sea is smooth and calm.

2. Of loose moral character, licentious, unchaste.Mry. 1756 Session Papers, Cramond v. Allan (17 Dec.) 52:
She . . . heard her very badly spoken of, as being slight with the said Serjeant Sice.

3. In adv. form slightly, in a slighting manner, as if administering a rebuff, without respect, slightingly. Rare or obs. in Eng.Sc. 1825 Scott Betrothed xv.:
Received with negligence, and treated slightly.e.Lth. 1892 J. Lumsden Sheep-head 289:
The country lass they'll slightly pass, An she were dirt.

II. v. 1. To raze to the ground, demolish, lay low. Obs. in Eng. in 17th c.Sc. 1802 Scott Minstrelsy I. 128:
I would slight Carlisle Castell high, Tho' it were builded of marble stone.Uls. 1896 L. McManus Silk of Kine 146:
Its walls had been sleighted and blackened by gun-powder.

2. To neglect, omit, with direct obj. or inf. with to.Rxb. 1715 J. J. Vernon Par. Hawick (1900) 119:
John Fa, who hath slighted to bring a testificat of his marriage.Fif. 1827 W. Tennant Papistry Storm'd 67:
Ae cheek was shav'd, the tither slichtet; And aff he flew afeard.

3. To use with disrespect or irresponsibly, to waste, fritter away.Rnf. 1815 W. Finlayson Rhymes 107:
Wha dinna think it ony crime Wi' poetry to slight your time.

III. n. As in Eng. In phrs. to gie (one) the slicht, to jilt (a lover), throw over (Sc. 1880 Jam.); to put to sleicht, to make a laughing stock of, hold up to scorn.Fif. 1827 W. Tennant Papistry Storm'd 178:
To see himsel' and a' his micht Sae mockit and sae put to sleicht.

IV. adv. Only in phr. slight-a-face, coming directly to hand, “as it comes”, bit by bit, in sequence (Ork. 1970). Cf. oot-o-face s.v. Face, I. 3. (3).Ork. 1931 J. Leask Peculiar People 125–6:
Dey ated a' afore dem slight aface.