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.
Nochtie, Noughtie, a. Also: nochtthy, nouchtie, noughty. [e.m.E. and ME. noughty, ME. noȝty (14th c.): cf. Nauchtie.]
1. Good for nothing, worthless, mean, insignificant, frivolous.c1520-c1535 Nisbet III. 347/14.
As this is anne nochtthy [T. naughtie] argument su[a is] the vthir 1568 Lyndesay Pref. 398.
Thay denudit of thair vpmaist garmentis, thay war fund bot verray fulis, hypocrites, flatteraris & nouchtie persones 1568 Charteris Ib. Adhort. 404/50.
Cum nouchtie newtrallis with ȝour bailfull band! 1579, 1617 Despauter (1579).
Argutiae, nochtie subtelnes c1590 J. Stewart II. 88/291.
In drawing of this nochtie noysum dyt 1620 Grant Chart. 332.
[To] be hard befoir the counsall in sic idle and nochtie actiounes 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1891) 393.
The noughty and feckless creatures 1653 Lesmahagow Ann. 128.
Lykewise the session, taking into their consideration, that Mr. Thomas' school has been very nochtie, and scarce worth the waiting upon
b. Of objects: Trifling, insignificant. —1579, 1617 Despauter (1579).
Fallin leiffis from treis or vther nochtie thingis
2. a. Of persons: Evil-disposed, wicked, bad. b. Of feelings or the like: Wicked, wrong, vile.a. 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 68.
To mak wyser men suspicious, and to give nouchtie men schrewit occasionis c1590 J. Stewart II. 217 § 70.
Ȝour nochtie naturs coustumat to tort No God cognoscisb. 1575 Knox VI. 379.
Preserve us … from the noughtie lustes and affections of the fleshe
