A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Sich, Sigh, n. Also: siche, sicht, sych, seych, sy. [ME and e.m.E. sigh (Cursor M.), sygh(e (Chaucer); Sich v.] A sigh.(a) ?1438 Alex. ii 2568.
Of sichis distrenȝement … Thay had plente 1456 Hay II 8/20.
He gave a sare sob, with a grete siche 1513 Doug. xiii v 115.
Drawand the sobbys hard and sychis smart 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 1140.
It war to lang to mak narratioun Off sychis sore [etc.] 1535 Stewart 24916.
With mony sich and sob a1585 Maitl. Q. 103/3.
A thousand sichtis … Dois throw my bowellis lance a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 246 (W).
With siches I went about c1590 J. Stewart 19/173.
Than sychs as fume from Etna mont out vent c1600 Montg. Suppl. xx 2.
My sichis ar windis and tempestis of my cair 1662 Crim. Trials III 607.
I sall goe in till ane catt With sorrow and sych and a blak shot 1667 Highland P. II 10.
His uncle heard him give a great sich and asked him the reason(b) c1552 Lynd. Mon. 214.
With sorrowful seychis ascending frome the splene(c) c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) viii.
Thou may complain with sighis lamentable c1590 Fowler I 142/7.
And how my lighs, lyke bellowes full of wynd, Dois blaw furthe deadlye sighs c1590 Fowler I 174/11.
The tribut … Of teares, and sighs, of prayers oft denyed a1605 Montg. Sonn. liii 4.
My secreit sighis as sorouis gritest heep 1666-74 Fraser Polichron. 244.
The Lady Lovat, parting with the king, never (as she said) wanted her sigh to the day of her death(d) a1561 Norvell Meroure 12b.
In promessing, thou euer hast an sy, That rather garres man in to langour ly
