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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
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Wicht, Wycht, adj. (adv.). Also: vicht, uicht, wichte, wight, vight, wyght, vycht, weycht. Compar. wichtar(e, -er, wychtare, wichttar. Superl. wichtast, -est, wychtast, -est, wightest. [ME and e.m.E. wihte (Layamon), wiȝte (1297), wyȝt (14th c.), wyght (c1330), wight (Chaucer), wighte (a1400), ON vígt.]

A. adj.1. Physically strong, powerful, robust; mentally strong, brave, bold, esp. in battle. Also proverb. Freq. in collocation with other similar adjectives. Also const. in wer, etc. and of body, etc. a. Of a person. Also in comparisons, cf. 2 below. b. Of a person's attributes. c. specif. Spiritually strong. d. absol.e. transf.a. (1) 1375 Barb. xv 62.
All thar fayis tuk the flycht, Wes nane of thaim that wes sa wicht That ewyr durst abid his fer a1400 Leg. S. xxxvi 749.
A wicht man fast can hym ta Be the throt & gert bakwart ga c1400 Troy-bk. ii 1813.
Pallamydes was richt wicht And oft wan gret worschipe in ficht c1420 Wynt. ii 1533.
Ercules, That chesyt wytht hym the wychtest [C. wychtast, W. wichtest] men c1420 Wynt. iii 383.
He [sc. Samson] sulde be na wychtare [C. wichtar, W. wichtare] than Than anothir comoune man a1500 Henr. Fab. 2108.
Ane wicht man wantit neuer, and he wer wyis; Ane hardie hart is hard for to suppryis c1475 Wall. x 437.
xxx^ty thousand off Inglis men … vpon that day thai slew, Quhat be Stwart and syn be wicht Wallace a1500 Prestis of Peblis 701.
In al ȝour realme thair is na wichter man 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 1945.
I am richt glaid thow art worthin sa wicht. Lang eir me thocht thou had nouther force nor micht 15.. Sym & Bruder 10.
Thocht thay war wicht I warrand ȝow Thay had no will to wirk a1568 Bann. MS 266b/5.
Quhen Phebus in to the west rysis … And in the eist gois doun … Quhen Saturne is warme and Venus wicht … Than sal my lady luve me 1584-9 Maxwall Commonpl. Bk. 10a.
Gif thow be ane wicht man Gif nocht thy strenth to hwiris than(b) 1375 Barb. i 510.
I wate that I have rycht, And rycht mays oft the feble wycht 1375 Barb. x 430 (C).
He hym slew deliuerly; For he wes armyt and wes vycht ?1438 Alex. ii 8578.
Quhen Caleos feld that he was sa Woundit … He rais vp suyth, for he was wycht, His men him followit in the fecht a1500 Rauf C. 766.
Thir weryouris wychtest [pr. wythest] in weir a1500 Bernardus 306.
Thocht Salomon he be and Sampsone wycht a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 389.
Of that kyn come Dunbar of Westfelde knyght. That successione is hardy, wyse and wycht [C. wyth] 1513 Doug. xii vi 95 (Sm.).
The name he bair of his fore grandschir wycht c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2755.
Off wycht fute men … He had sewintene hundreth thousande(c) a1500 Sir Eger 230.
He was right lean but he was wight a1500 Sir Eger 2586.
But though a man be never so wight, He should not pas in perils ay 1513 Doug. v v 38.
Sa paysand was this cote that scarsly mycht … twa seruandis wight Bair it 1638 Adamson Muses Thr. I 151.
A ladie … Who saw wight Wallace, and brave Bruce on live(d) 1513 Doug. ix Prol. 17.
Wirk na malgre, thocht thou be nevir sa wyght, Hald with the rycht, and pres thé nevir to le(e) a1570-86 Maitl. F. 400/37.
Sir Pennye is rycht scharpe and wys The kirkis to steir he takis in hand … ouir all this land Is none so weycht dar him gane stand(f) 1596 Dalr. I 131/10.
For his armes he vsed the rid lyone, in sygne and takne of ane inuincible mynd and a wichte weiriourproverb. a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 10.
A wight [MS wicht] man wanted never a weapon a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1499.
There is manie wicht men weil thewed 1664 Pitcairn Spiritual Sacrifice 696.
A wight man (we use to say) never wanteth a weapon(2) attrib. 1375 Barb. vii 265.
Ik haiff twa sonnys wycht & hardy 1375 Barb. xvi 163.
Mony a wycht and worthi man … War duschyt dede doun to the ground c1420 Wynt. viii 3716.
[They] Purchasyd thame a cumpany, A thowsand wycht men and hardy a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 325.
Ane vight weriour, wourthy and wise c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 98/2.
Ane gentill knycht Schir Thomas Norny, wys and wycht And full off chevelry 1533 Bell. Livy II 265 (BM).
Wicht and wailȝeant campionis c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 101.
The land folk wer spuilȝeit. Fair wemen vnderfute wer fuilȝeit. Bot this ȝoung squyer, bauld and wicht, Sauit all wemen quhair he micht c1590 Fowler I 98/31.
A cumpanie & rank of men, a people warlike wyght, With valeur and with armour armed, and full of force and might 1596 Dalr. I 168/1.
Galdie that wycht and noble prince 1658 P. Gordon Diary 28.
Wee resolved, come what will, to make an end of him; and being about fifteen, with servants, six whereof might be accounted trusty, wight men, the others also indifferent, wee concluded, that [etc.]predic. 1375 Barb. i 22.
Thai suld weill hawe prys That in thar tyme war wycht and wys 1375 Barb. iv 534 (C).
Vicht a1400 Leg. S. xxix 685.
Thar-for send he … To ches men that … Lyk war to be manly & wicht ?1438 Alex. ii 3315.
He was ȝong, courtes and wicht, Ane forsy man of mekill micht c1475 Wall. i 184.
Mekill dolour it did hym in hys mynd For he was wys, rycht worthy, wicht and kynd c1475 Wall. iv 274.
The mos was strang, to ryde thaim was no but: Wallas was wicht and lychtyt on his fute 1540 Lynd. Sat. 170.
My moder bony Bess … is baith wyis, worthy, and wicht, For scho spairis nowdir cuik nor knicht(3) ?1438 Alex. i 2670.
Ane knicht that was wicht in weir c1420 Wynt. iv 1266.
The Romanys than grewe off mycht, And wes in dedys stout and wycht c1450 Cr. Deyng (STS) 149.
Thow art wycht and tholmud in-to seknes c1475 Wall. iii 390.
He in wer was besy, wicht and wis a1500 Seven S. 2266.
Ane worthy knycht And in armes baith wys & wicht(4) ?1438 Alex. ii 3251.
Emynedvs was … of body worthy and wicht 1533 Bell. Livy I 227/3.
Volero was wicht and strong of body a1568 Scott ii 33.
William wichttar wes of cors Nor Sym, and bettir knittin(5) 1535 Stewart 15522.
The montanis he, and mossis large of lenth, To Scot and Pecht wes sic refuge … Waldin thai war, and wicht as ony hors, Ouir craig and cleuche to clym and ryn on force 1535 Stewart 24274.
The Scottis quhilk wer wicht as ony aikb. a1400 Leg. S. iii 542.
Warldis wa othir is licht, And may be tholit with hart wycht. Or ellis [etc.] c1475 Wall. ii 268.
His hart was wicht, and flykeryt to and fro 1567 G. Ball. 26.
The flesche said I am stark and wycht, To wacht gude wyne … And tak my plesour day and nycht, With singing, playing [etc.] 1596 Dalr. I 185/3.
This was done throuch the wicht spirit of that noble ȝouthc. (1) Arundel MS 250/340.
And redres my hert towart Thé to hevin … so that I may be maid ane spirit and inwartlie wycht vnto Thé, be grace and birnyng lufe(2) 1581 Edinb. Test. X 32.
The said Johne being waik in body & wicht in spiritd. (1) 1375 Barb. x 45.
Schyr Alysander Fraser the wycht And Wylȝam Wysman a gud knycht ?1438 Alex. ii 58.
My brother, the wicht and wise ?1438 Alex. ii 9528.
The hardyest and maist wicht Had na mynd of menstrally, Bot dred to de c1450-2 Howlat 499 (A).
The wyis quhar the wicht went war in wa wellit 1456 Hay I 65/9.
Sampson the wicht, Absolon the faire 1460 Hay Alex. 3802.
He durst ȝow mete … Or ony of the wichtast of ȝour rout 1513 Doug. iii ii 78.
Our gret forfader Teucrus the wycht a1568 Flemyng in Bann. MS 160a/13.
Thocht wicht or waik wald fle away No dowt bot all mon ransone pay 1597 James VI Dæmonol. (STS) 49/13.
The incredible strength of the possessed creature … will farre exceede the strength of six of the wightest and wodest of any other men(2) c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 5/29.
Hale, wicht in ficht, puttar to flicht Of fendis in battalee. 1666-74 Fraser Polichron. 59.
With this motto, ‘Je su prest’, … The word Prest in French signifies ready, full dight, furnished, prepared, provided, prompt, near at hand, quick, nimble, fleet, wight

2. Of (part of) an animal, bird, etc.: Strong, powerful. b. ? Swift or, perhaps more probably, a further example of sense 2 above. ?a1450 Florimond 409.
Ane greit lyoun … That … sa stout is and felloun That na lyoun nor vycht beast Dair walk him by in ȝone forrest a1500 Henr. Fab. 2183.
Thre battis he bure or he his feit micht find Bot ȝit the volff wes wicht, and wan away c1475 Wall. v 825.
A nobill cursour bur him [sc. Hew of Morland] bath fast and weill Wallace … on him set a fellone … straik … His [sc. Hew of Morland's] speyr he [sc. Wallace] wan and als the coursour wicht Syne left his awn for he had lost his mycht c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 144/124.
Crownit scho the egle king of fowlis, … And bawd him … mak a law for wycht fowlis and for wrennis 1513 Doug. ii iv 43.
Lyke as a bull … charris by the ax with his nek wight, Gif on his forhed the dynt hyttis nocht rycht 1531 Bell. Boece I xli.
Ane hound, baith wicht, hardy, and swift 1531 Bell. Boece I xliii.
Als sone as thir salmond cumis to the lin, thay leip; and sa mony as ar wicht, or lepis weil, thay get up throw the lin and returnis to the place quhair thay wer bred 1560 Rolland Seven S. 911.
As the griffoun, [etc.] … Is at all tyme of wyng maist wonder wicht Unto thair pray na kynd of bird will balk. Ȝit than the sparhalk is als swyft of flicht As the griffoun … Will catche asweill sic birdis as scho hes vse As the griffoun will catche to him ane guse 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1738.
His halk also was sa feirce in hir flicht Sa swyft of wing and als sa wonder wicht That … without fault scho brukit ay hir pray 1581-1623 James VI Poems II 90/16.
As beares by kinde, of leggs are wonderous wightb. 1375 Barb. (1571) ii 120.
Thow sall tak Farrand my palfray For thair na hors is in this land Sa wicht [E. swytht] nor ȝit sa weill rynnand

3. Of a building, etc.: Strong, well built, able to withstand attack. Also const. of (something).(1) c1400 Troy-bk. i 217.
A fare cite, baith ryche & wicht [pr. witht] c1400 Troy-bk. i 340.
Thane enterit thai in chambris wight, That with paithment & with payntry Enlumynit war delitabily c1420 Wynt. viii 5616.
This castelle … A wycht hows made off lyme and stane c1475 Wall. viii 1015.
A ryoll sted … With turrettis fayr, and garrettis off gret prid, Beildyt about, rycht lykly to be wicht a1500 Bk. Chess 2023.
The sydis of this chekker' set on hicht Sall represent the tovnis wallis wicht 1513 Doug. ix iii 164.
The wight wallys of Troy c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1374.
Noyis arke … wes thre hundreth cubittis long, Fifty in breid, thretty in heycht; Thre chalmeris, iunit weill and wycht a1578 Pitsc. I 252/5.
Quhene this scheip [sc. the Great Michael] past to the sie and was lyand in the rade the king gart schot ane cannon at hir to say hir gif scho was wicht c1590 J. Stewart 62/181.
As ane tour maist vicht and suirlie pycht, That … may not branglit bie, Als strong and stabill vas the paladein knycht

b. Of a thing, esp. a weapon: Strong, powerful, well-made. c1475 Wall. vii 985.
With erd and stayne thai fillit dykis fast. Flaikis thai laid on temyr lang and wicht; A rowme passage to the wallis thaim dycht a1500 Seven S. 1744.
To that port thai passit richt With spaide and gavillok & mattok wicht c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 212/24.
God send thame a widdy wicht, That can not lat sic demyng be 1513 Doug. v viii 16.
He … smytis in al hys mycht, The tother keppys hym on hys burdon wycht 1513 Doug. xi Prol. 117.
Thyne acton is sa wight Nane may it pers 1584 Sempill in Sat. P. xlv 930.
He wald ride furth a whyle, To seay a bow that was sumthing wicht a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xli 42.
The freikis on feildis That wight wapins weildis 1581-1623 James VI Poems II 36/16.
Jehouas uoyce the cedres breakis Euin Liban cedres uicht(2) c1420 Wynt. viii 5444 (W).
The wardane has that castell tane, And saw it wycht of lyme and stane c1420 Wynt. viii 5618.
This castelle … sa stythe a place, That rycht wycht off it-selff [C. wicht of the self] it was

4. Of a natural phenomenon: Strong, mighty, full of force, powerful; severe. c1420 Wynt. iv 1634.
Sa gret tempest and halestayne wycht [C. withe] Fell wyth sik fors a1500 Rauf C. 36.
In thay montanis, I-wis, he wox all will, In wickit wedderis and wicht c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2957.
Gret Orontes, that montane wycht, Twenty and fyue stagis of hycht

b. Of something non-material: Powerful; overwhelming. a1561 Norvell Meroure 9b.
This heauenlie word, alwaye victorious, Bothe strong wight, permanent and glorious 1596 Dalr. I 248/1.
Quhen Eugenie had won sa wicht a victorie, with sa litle ane ouirthrawe of his awne, he hame returnis

c. Of wine: Strong, potent. Also const. of.(1) a1500 Henr. Fab. 1689.
Bachus, god off wyne, renewit hes Hir tume pyipis … With wynis wicht, and liquor off plesance c1475 Wall. iv 501.
Wittaill and wyn wicht c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 39.
As thai talk at the tabill of mony taill sindry Thai wauchtit at the wicht wyne and waris out wourdis 1533 Boece 456b.
Norowayis … of the wichtest wynes provokit vtheris to waucht c1552 Lynd. Mon. 3504.
Thay … causit hym to drynk wycht wyne, Quhilk men to lychorye doith inclyne 1584 Sempill in Sat. P. xlv 786.
He fillis his guttis, Wachting the wyne, for it was wicht(2) 15.. Clar. v 1589.
The wynis ran, that wight war of measouris

B. adv.Strongly, vigorously, skilfully. a1578 Pitsc. I 341/1.
The rest of airchouris schott far and wight, … wan the hunder crouns