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: 1459-1504, 1568-1700+
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Nicht-, Nycht-walking, vbl. n. Also: -yn. [In sense a, Sc. var. of Nicht-waking (and cf. Nicht-walk n.); in sense b, e.m.E. nyght-walkynge (1494), night-walking.] a. Staying awake at night at revelry or riotousness; also, an instance of this, a wake or celebration by night. b. Going about or being abroad at night. 1459 Ayr B. Ct. 29 Oct.
In will for common nychtwalkyn & distrubulance of Marion Boyde in the aldermannis hous 1504 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 101.
That thai … consider … the rewle of thair seruands in al maner of gyding, playing, nychtwalking and vtheris 1568–9 St. A. Kirk S. 314.
[That] he suffer na opin cairting and dysyng nycht walking and drynking in his hows 1584 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 346.
For … eschewing of trubill and nicht walking … at ten houris at evin … the greitt bell gif fourty jowes or thairby 1594 Elgin Rec. II. 38. 1597 St. A. Kirk S. 836. 1598 Ib. 864.
Dauid Mathow … confest his playing at the kairdis and nycht walking 1598 Elgin Rec. II. 69.
Nycht walking and guysing forbiddin 1614 Fraserburgh Kirk S. 27b (2 Jan.).
Convict of drunkinnes and nicht walking c1650 Spalding II. 101.
[The soldiers] daylie deboshing, in drinking, hureing, nicht walking, combatting [etc.] 1701 Brand Orkney & Shetl. 108.
About which [chapels] also men and women of old had their night walkings, which occasioned much uncleanness
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"Nycht-walking vbl. n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/nycht_walking>
