A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1399-1599
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Nich, v. Also: nych(e, nygh, nicht, ny(c)ht, nyicht, nyth. P.t. and p.p. nichit etc., nicht, nychd; nychlit (? erroneous for nych(t)it). [Sc. var., with vowel shortening, of Nech(e v.: cf. ME. (14th c.) niȝe, nigh, nyghe etc.] intr. and tr. To come near, approach; also, to be near.intr. (1) c1450-2 Howlat 887 (B).
Dame Nature the nobillest nychit in ane(2) a1400 Legends of the Saints xliii. 50.
Gif he persawe thi wil That thuu with lust nicht me til, He sal thé sla(3) a1400 Legends of the Saints xxvii. 1139.
The thing that ȝe ma neuir nicht nere a1400 Ib. xxix. 90.
Nycht ?1438 Alex. ii. 4493.
Nych c1420 Wynt. i. 1160 (A).
Nyche c1420 Ib. viii. 6941 (C).
Nyche [W. Nyth] a1500 Golagros and Gawane 240.
Micht nane … nygh thame to neir c1450-2 Howlat 908 (B).
Nygh a1568 Bannatyne MS 227 b/20.
And I may nych hir neir than gon wer neuer my glewp.t. and p.p. a1400 Legends of the Saints xxvii. 264.
Thai … fand the barne hale & fere As watir neuir had nychd it nere a1400 Ib. xlix. 218.
Syne come a lyone fel & fere & to sla Tecle nichit nere c1450-2 Howlat 47 (B).
Nycht a1500 Golagros and Gawane 1017.
Thair with the nobill in neid nyghit hym nertr. a1400 Legends of the Saints iii. 135.
Thar[for] fand nocht to nyicht me For farly thinge I se on thé a1400 Ib. xxvii. 180.
The fyre that was sa gret That nane mycht nicht it for het c1420 Bute MS. 162.
The streme aw to be fre in swa mykyl that a swyne … may turne hym wyth in it, that is to say that nowthir the gorge nych the tayle na the sayme of the swynep.t. 15.. Christis Kirk 16 (M).
They war so nyce quhen men tham nicht [: dicht, richt, licht] Thay squeild lyk ony gaitis
b. To cause to approach, to bring together. — 1563 Crail Kirk S. 24 Oct.
Thay nyht nocht thayr bodeis wyll thay be marit
c. Appar., to touch. — a1400 Legends of the Saints vii. 48.
Sa that thai stryfe wald quha mycht fyrst Of his kirtil mycht nycht the liste
d. fig. To touch or concern (one). — c1450-2 Howlat 276 (B).
Sen it nychlit [A. nechit] Nature thair alleris maistris
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