A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Vehicle, n. Also: (vohicle). [17th c. Eng. vehicle a substance serving as a medium (1612), a material means of conveyance (1615), a material embodiment (1650), specif. of a malignant spirit (1683), F. véhicule, L. vehiculum.] a. A means of conveyance. b. A material embodiment (of a devil). —a. 1677 Renfrewshire Witches 61.
His transporting of witches is elsewhere explained. He [sc. Satan] can raise hurricanes … which are known to carry over tracts of sea and land very ponderous bodies as it is easy for him to condense a part of the vehicle which may protect the breathing and yet cut the air like the fence of dyvers and beak of a sloop in which also he affects the magnifying of his natural powers to be no less than of good angels, who transported Ezekiel and Elijah —b. 1681 Colvil Whig's Suppl. (1681) i 61.
He tells of bastard getting devils Of their bodies, or vohicles [1751 vehicles] 1691 Kirk Secr. Commonw. (1933) 115.
The damnable practice of evill angells, their sucking of blood and spirits out of witches bodys … to feid their own vehicles withall, leaving what we call the witches mark behind
