A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1420, 1499-1529, 1582-1665
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Nicht, Nycht, v. Also: nich, night, nyghtt. [ME. nyghte(n (1303), ME. and e.m.E. night(e, nyght(e.]
1. impers. a. (It) becomes night, night falls. b. With personal object: To overtake with night, to benight.a. c1420 Wynt. viii. 3437.
It nychtyd fast and thai Thowcht till abyd thare to the dayb. a1500 Taill of Rauf Coilȝear 40.
Euill lykand was the King it nichtit him sa lait And he na harberie had a1508 Kynd Kittok 15.
Att ane ailhous neir [hevin] it nyghttit thaim thare
c. In passive. To be benighted, to be stranded for the night.1582 Wemyss Corr. 77.
Being nychtit for fault of my hors 1665 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. II. 69.
John Watson … and Alexander Watson … being nighted be the way, took up their lodging at Robert Innes his house
2. intr. To cease work for the night.1529 Stirling B. Rec. I. 35.
Quhen the day is schort till entyr to his werk at day lycht in the morwyng, laif at half hour to twelf at none, and nycht at ewyn
3. To spend the night; to lodge for the night.1632 Lithgow Trav. 335.
Leaving these mountaynes … and passing the townes of Antibo and Cana to night at Furges 1638 Lundie Poems 35.
Haill, haill, sveit groues, quher ofttyms nichted he c1650 Spalding II. 6.
Thay nichit for thair awin pay in the Oldtoun
