A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Picht, n. Also: Pycht, Pych, Pight. [OE. Pihtas, Pyhtas pl.: cf. Pecht and Pict.] A Pict, one of the Pictish people of ancient north Britain.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xxvii. 804.
Pychtis thane in it [Scotland] ware duelland c1500-50 Brevis Cronica 321.
About the quhilk tyme ane [people] callit the Pichtis come furth of Sythia to Ireland 1531 Bell. Boece I. xxii.
The secound and mid part becaus it wes inhabit be Pichtis wes namit Penthland Ib. xxvi; etc. a1538 Abell 63 a.
Our all the kinrik of Pichtis a1568 Bellenden Bann. MS. 367 a/29.
Ay fechtand … With Romanis Danis Inglismen and Pichtis [: michtis, richtis, wichtis] 1602 Colville Parænese Ep. 50.(b) a1538 Abell 4* b.
Dissencyon fyrst betwix the Scottis & Pychys(c) c1420 Wynt. iv. 1815 (W).
And forthy Pightis callit were thai, Payntit men that is to say 1626 Garden Worthies 168.
In the overthrow … of the Pights Id. Kings 31. 1639 Sc. Ant. III. 133.
The old towne of the Pights called Abernithie a1688 Wallace Orkney 106.
The Teutonick which is supposed to be the language the Pights used a1693 Essay conc. Thule 15 in Ib. (ed. 2).
The wall betwixt Tyne and Solway Firth … was built to exclude the Pights(2) 1701 Brand Orkney & Shetl. 14.
Several old houses both here and in Zetland … to this day are called Picts or Pights houses
