A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1499-1500, 1567-1647
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Ocht, Oucht, Owcht, Ought, v.1 p.t. a. (After e.m.E. and ME. ought(e, ME. oghte, ouȝte, taking the place of acht, aucht, p.t. of Aw v. 2–4, to have a claim or right, to deserve, to be under an obligation, to do or be something.) = Ought, should. b. = Aw v. 4 b (to be incumbent upon).a. (a) a1568 Bannatyne MS 270 a/75.
His be the sklandir as it by ressoun ocht a1568 Ib. 272 a/264.
To clerkis les ocht suffyse a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xlii. 6.
The fruit that curage ocht to chuse 1645 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 39.
And that they ocht and sould be satisfied and payit for [etc.] 1647 Ib. 85.(b) 1581 Rec. Convention of Royal Burghs I. 114.
Quhair mentioun is maid … of Sanctandrois, thai fynd it owcht and suld be St. Minanes(c) c1590 Fowler II. 60/22.
For nathing ought to be impute to the Halie Gaist quhilk [etc.]b. a1500 Lancelot of the Laik 2993.
Well it oucht o prince or o king Til honore and til cheris in al thing O worthi man
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"Ocht v.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/ocht_v_1>
