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

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Heicht, n. Also: heycht, height. [Variant of Hecht n.¹ or Hicht n.¹, influenced in spelling by Heich a. or Heicht a. The rhymes indicate the pronunciation hicht. Cf. e.m.E. and ME. heyght, height, earlier heiȝþe.] Height.

1. In material senses. a. Altitude. c1420 Wynt. vi. 1911.
A fayr man … off heycht Proportyownd wele 1542 Soc. Ant. III. 161.
The remanent of the said queir to be … in heicht … xxxij futtis c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1366.
Schawand the heycht and lenth and breid … of Noyis arke 1596 Dalr. I. 58/19.
This scheip may be comparet in heicht til a gait 1616 Conv. Burghs III. 32.
The heicht and gritnes of the bilge of the saidis barrells

b. The highest point; the top or summit. a1400 Leg. S. vii. 167.
[He] stabliste hym one the mast heycht [:rycht] Of the tempil c1420 Wynt. v. 5414.
This takyn … men suld set In to the heycht off thare foret 1533 Boece v. ix. 182.
Anthone … causit … rais heich towris … endlang the heicht of the samyn [dyke] 1542 Soc. Ant. III. 162.
The said north vall … to the heicht of the said queir 1595 Breadalbane Ct. Bk. 83 b.
Thir woddis ar weill except the heichtfig. c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4399.
Thair successouris … Full craftelye clam to the heycht, … to temporall mycht

c. concr. A high place; a hill- or mountain-top. c1420 Wynt. ii. 1438.
All the lawe … tyll strayttare heychtys fled Ib. vii. 1427.
The playnis fyrst … And syne the heycht [E. heichtis] 1533 Gau 48/9.
He is passit wp to the heicht and led the presoners with hime 1598 Crim. Trials II. 51.
In quyet cavernis of Sanden and heichtis thairof

2. A high, or the highest, point or degree (of something immaterial). 1532 M. Works Acc. II. 74.
[In] the heycht of the dais quhen the hors mycht nocht laubour for hete 1542 Treas. Acc. VIII. 139.
Chargeing all men … to be reddy at the heicht of this nixt mone c1650 Spalding II. 390.
Albeit the begining … wes of small value, yit it grew to ane gryte heicht 1661 Wodrow Hist. I. 146.
When they had put the least ... poultry in money, the height of all the rent as they themselves gave it up, is but about fifty thousand merks Scots

3. Haughtiness; pride; arrogance; insolence. Cf. Heich a. 8. 1539 Crim. Trials I. 220.
Ȝour fader said that he could get na way dressit betuix him and the said vmquhill Johne for the heicht of his sonnis c1568 Lauder Minor P. ii. 67.
In all the earth is no thing wer … Nor heicht into ane minister

4. On heicht, vpon heycht. On high, aloft; aloud, in a loud voice.(1) (a1570-86 Dunb.) Maitl. F. clx. 16.
Ful mony ane I set vpone heycht c1552 Lynd. Mon. 98.
Displayand Christis banar hie on heycht [: mycht] 15.. Clar. i. 83.
He raisit up his forcie arme on height [: might] Ib. 1056.
Syn on thair horsis muntit baith on height [: knicht](2) (a1570-86 Dunb.) Maitl. F.cxxxvi. 4.
I hard ane voce say on heycht 15.. Clar. i. 588.
Gillȝiam … spake with voice on height [; dicht] Ib. iii. 1061.
The trumpit blew ane weirlyk sound on heicht [: bricht]