Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1721, 1786-1838, 1897-1928
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HYTE, adj. Also †hyt, hite. [həit]
1. Mad, crazy, in a highly excited state, enraged. Freq. in such phrs. as like hyte, like mad; to gae (gang) hyte, to go off one's head with rage, passion, etc., fly into a hysterical state (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.; Cai., Kcb. 1957). Also used adv.Sc. 1721 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) I. 231:
The cauldrife Carlies clog'd wi' Care, Wha gathering Gear gang hyt and gare.Ayr. 1786 Burns Ep. to Maj. Logan x.:
The witching, curs'd, delicious blinkers Hae put me hyte.Ags. 1790 D. Morison Poems 176:
I may rin hyte for ought she cares for me.Lnk. 1808 W. Watson Poems 58:
I just wan this length wi' my flyte, Cockin' my birses up like hyte.Slk. 1819 Blackwood's Mag. (Sept.) 680:
He's just gaen a' hyte thegither.Bch. 1832 W. Scott Poems 80:
I didna want to tak' her fae the gype, An' yet her picture haunted me like hyte.Rnf. 1833 J. Cairnie Curling 92:
The Paisley Curlers were hyte and writhing with anger at the cheering.Kcb. 1897 T. Murray Poems 63:
Aye drivin' some innocent hyte.Sc. 1928 J. G. Horne Lan'wart Loon 22:
He ran fair hyte intill his faither.
2. Excessively or madly keen (Rnf. 1788 E. Picken Poems Gl.).Ayr. 1838 Galt in Tait's Mag. (Jan.) 42:
Really the man's hite for the connexion, and says the cotton trade will be gold in gowpens to the king's realm or all be done.Ayr. 1913 J. Service Memorables 72:
I had mind o' my lord's business in London, and was juist hyte to be awa.
3. In comb. hyte-styte, adj., adv., (acting) as if mad (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 86); also used as a n. = wreck and ruin, physical and moral collapse and, by association with Styte, Hyter-Styter, = arrant nonsense, also excl. = nonsense! (Gregor).
[Orig. somewhat uncertain; phs. for heyt, hoyt, pa.p. of Hey, v., to shout "hey!", Hoy, to incite, sc. "worked up," goaded into a frenzy. Cf. Hyte, int.]
