Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
OCHT, v. Also oucht. Gen.Sc. forms of Eng. ought. The hist. Sc. form Aucht, v.2, q.v., has been since the 16th c. restricted to its orig. meaning of “possess,” and ocht has taken over the sense of obligation. The enclitic neg. -Na is freq. suffixed. [oxt]Rxb. 1868 Trans. Hawick Archaeol. Soc. 29:
He ocht to be laid in Jethart jail for a calendar month.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xiii.:
I think ye raelly ocht to tak' an order o' these fanatics.Wgt. 1880 G. Fraser Lowland Lore 172:
We ochtna to forget a'thegither that his labours began on that same spot o' grun!Fif. 1894 J. W. M'Laren Tibbie and Tam 13:
Ye ochtna to tak' things in haun' sae rashly.Sh. 1898 J. Burgess Tang 95:
The shildren oucht relly to be learned more about their Saviour.Arg. 1936 L. McInnes Dial. S. Kintyre 19:
He kens fine whut he ocht tae dae.
