Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
PLICHT, n. Also plycht (Lnk. 1922 T. S. Cairncross Scot at Hame 22). Sc. forms and usage of Eng. plight, state, condition (Edb. 1866 J. Smith Poems (1869) 14, Rnf. 1870 J. Nicholson Idylls 110; Abd. 1928 J. Baxter A' Ae 'Oo' 15). The form plichen, plight, predicament (Fif. 1825 Jam.) appears to be a deriv. [′plɪçən].
Phr. plight of the season, the height of the season (Sc. 1782 J. Sinclair Ob. Sc. Dial. 50), sc. the prime condition. Cf. Eng. plight, good condition, health.
[The Eng. word in this sense has no orig. guttural ( < O.Fr. ploit, fold, condition), and the Sc. forms are 16th c. creations developed on the analogy of nicht, night, etc. (cf. Delicht). It is unlikely that there is any influence from Eng. plight, †danger, pledging, O.Sc. plycht, blame, a.1400.]
