A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Lichtis, n. pl. Also: lychtis, -es, lighs. [ME. (c 1320) liȝtes, lightes, early lihte (? a 1200), subst. use of Licht a.1 See also Licht n.2]
The lungs. a. Of a person or a living animal. b. Of a carcase, used as food (for dogs).a (a) 1456 Hay II. 139/12.
Evill coll[er]is that … oft tymis gerris the longis cleve to the ribbis of catalle and folk, and stoppis thame within, outhir in lychtis or lyver or melt 1513 Doug. ix. xi. 80.
So deip the grundyn steill hed owt of sycht is, Ful hait and warm it festnyt in his lychtis [L. in pulmone] 1533 Boece ix. xiii. 320.
Be ane catarr stopping the vane of the lichtis he deit c 1570 6th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. 652/1.
The deseis … wes meist pairt in hir lychtis, for thai wer blekynnitt and tynt thair cullour and growin clois to hir sayed 1581-1623 James VI Poems I. 153/362, 364.
& ellis that humoure grosse Lichtis stoppaire him asthmatikke makkis ay panting in a crosse, & the corrozif flouing of a guttaire dropping slou His spongiouse lichtis doth ullceratt 1596 Dalr. I. 289/11.
All war … condemnet and heidet … thair bwelis apned, thair lychtes ar takne out and castne in the fyre 1622 Crim. Trials III. 521.
For the treuth is that the man deceissit of ane consumption of his lichtis(b) c1590 Fowler I. 72/154.
And brusteth furth his rageing sobbs from bouldned breast and lighs Ib. 142/ § v. 6.
And how my lighs, lyke bellowes full of wynd, Dois blaw furthe deadlye sighsb. 1535 Stewart 1982.
The inwart breidis als of the beist but delt Amang the houndis, bayth leuer, lichtis and melt
