Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Flyt(e, Flite, v. Also: flytt(e, flyit, flyet, flit(te. P.t. flat, flate, flayt, flait, flet(t, fleit. P.p. flyt(t)yn, flittin, fletten. [ME. flyte, flite, early fliten, OE. flitan (p.t. flát, pl. fliton, p.p. fliten.]

1. intr. To wrangle violently; to employ abusive language towards others; to scold.(a) c1420 Wynt. iii. 763.
Amang a pak of karlynys loud, Flytand redy for to fecht a1500 Bernardus 405.
Euery day thane wyl tha fecht and flyt 1471 Peebles B. Rec. 167.
Women at flytis, fechtis, sklanderis ony gud menys wyffis c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 13.
And I flyt, sum sege for schame sould sink Id. Tua Mar. W. 342.
I to flyt was als fers as ane fell dragoun 1513 Doug. iii. Prol. 19.
Quha kan not hald thar peice ar fre to flyte 1545 Elgin Rec. I. 84.
Gif sche beis fundin … flytand or sayand sic iniurius vordis to ony persoun 1570 Peebles B. Rec. 325.
Quhatsumeuer personis, wemen, mennis wiffis, or vtheris … , that is found flytand on the Hie Gait … to be put sax houris in the linkis c1610 Melville Mem. 233.
The parties wer not content to feicht and sched vthers bluid, bot wald flyet with injurious and blasfemus words 1653 Peebles B. Rec. II. 14.
The said Marione … to act hirself not to scold or flyte hereafter 1669 Corshill Baron Ct. 86.
He heard them flyting and scolding(b) a1400 Leg. S. iii. 524.
He flat no sadmys ony man till c1475 Wall. v. 229.
[Wallace] Flayt by him self to the Makar off buffe, Quhy he sufferyt he suld sic paynys pruff c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxxiv. 81.
The fische wyffis flett and swoir with granis 1570 Sempill Sat. P. xii. 145.
This fair ȝe well; I flait not to offend ȝow 1662 Soc. Ant. XXII. 232.
The said Andrew Hutson scolded and flett(c) a1400 Leg. S. xxvi. 373.
Quhen he had flytyn his fil 1549 Compl. 139/30.
Quhen ȝe hef flyttyn and berkit … al the lang daye, ȝe accord nocht 1604 Dundonald Par. Rec. 51.
Issobell Colveill … to haif sauld corn and beir … and to … haif flittin for the metting of it on the Saboth day

2. To quarrel, wrangle, or contend in abuse, with another or others. Also fig.(a) 1461 Liber Plusc. 387.
Quhat proffyt is it with fortoun for to flyt? a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 1009.
O cruell Ded, with thé I think to flite 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 273.
Me lyst with nane Inglis bukis flyte 1548 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 141.
That na maner of wemen … be fund on the hie gaitt flyting with vthers 1581 Lanark B. Rec. 80.
Quhasumevir burges … beis flytand with wther, and sklanderis ane ane uther [etc.] 1664 Alford Rec. 61.
If the Lord were on earth she would flyt with him if she were angrie(b) a1400 Leg. S. xl. 1219.
He … faucht & flat with Niniane a1500 Doug. K. Hart 829.
Wirschip of weir agane with Wisdome flate a1605 Montg. Misc. P. iii. 81.
Fairweill, my freinds, I bot with fortun fleat 1613 Elgin Rec. II. 135.
Fra the tyme that Elspet Cuming flet with him he hed nevir his helthe 1662 Highland P. III. 15.
His father preassing to cast downe the slap, the said Mr William flett with him(c) 1649 Cupar Presb. 130.
Item, that … his wyfe, having flittin with the said Helen, fell sicke 1662 Highland P. III. 16.
The said Ramsey haveing fletten with her and saying … he wold cause burne her