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: 1375-1501
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(Nice-,) Nycete(e, Nys(e)te(e, n. Also: nyce-, nystie. [ME. (1303) and e.m.E. nycete, nys(e)te, e.m.E. nicitee, nycytee, late ME. and e.m.E. nicety, -tie, nicitie, OF. niceté.] Folly, stupidity, silliness, naïvety; an act of folly.Only early. 1375 Barb. vii. 378 (E).
Thaim thoucht it wes a nycete [C. nyste] For to mak thar langer duelling ?1438 Alex. ii. 7993.
To ly heir it war nyste c1420 Wynt. i. Prol. 45.
Swa throuch folly or nycete [W. nysetee] I dowt confowndyt for to be c1420 Ib. vii. Prol. 16. 1456 Hay I. 297/13.
For dignitee ryail with nycetee na sympilnes accordis nocht wele togeder a1500 Tale of the Colkelbie Sow ii. 4. 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 129 (L).
Thow barrant wyt … schaw now thy bad nystee [E. nystie]
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"Nycete n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/nycetee>
