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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

WICHT, adj., adv. Also wight. Sc. forms and usages of arch. Eng. wight. Only poet. [wɪçt]

I. adj. 1. As in Eng. Of warriors, etc.: valiant, bold, courageous, stout; spirited. Traditionally an epithet of Sir William Wallace (see Wallace (S.T.S.) passim). Hence wightness, boldness, valour.Sc. 1721 J. Kelly Proverbs 6:
A Wight Man never wanted a Weapon. A man of sense, and good presence of Mind, will never want means to carry on his Business, but will make a Tool of the first thing that comes to his Hands.Abd. 1748 R. Forbes Ajax 3, 7:
The wight an' doughty captains a'. . . . Gin my wightness doubted were.Sc. 1784 in G. Caw Museum 197:
Had he been as wight as Wallace was.Dmf. 1820 Hogg Winter Ev. Tales I. 266:
Thou'lt hae ilka wight chap to fight atween the head o' Liddal an' the fit o' Cannobie.Sc. 1823 Scott Q. Durward xxxvii.:
He would venture his nephew on him were he as wight as Wallace.Ayr. 1892 H. Ainslie Pilgrimage 236:
Noo Keir was wight, an' tho' nae knight, Could handle targe an' glaive.m.Sc. 1917 J. Buchan Poems 34:
When I was young and herdit sheep, I read auld tales o' Wallace wight.

2. (1) Of persons or animals, esp. horses: sturdy, vigorous, brisk, energetic. nimble (Sc. 1721 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) I. Gl.). Adv. wichtly. Deriv. wightsman, poss. erron. for wight man, a sturdy active man. if not in sense 1. above.Ayr. 1785 Burns On R. Ruisseaux iii.:
Tho' he was bred to kintra-wark. And counted was baith wight and stark.Ayr. 1786 Burns Inventory 8:
My lan'-afore's a guid auld ‘has been', An' wight and wilfu' a' his days been.e.Lth. a.1801 R. Gall Poems (1819) 49:
You wightly wag the skelping whang.Sc. 1828 Lord Livingston in Child Ballads No. 262. i.:
It fell about the Lammas time, When wightsmen won their hay.Abd. 1828 P. Buchan Ballads I. 39, II. 181:
Ye do you to my father's stable, Where steeds do stand baith wight and able . . . Willie was wight and well able.Abd. 1884 D. Grant Lays 75:
Wichtly Dobbin reached the Kirkton.

(2) Of objects: strong, stout, stalwart. Hence ¶wichtfu, id., wicht being erron. taken as a n.Sc. 1721 J. Kelly Proverbs 34:
As wight as a Webster's Westcoat, that every Morning takes a Thief by the neck.Ags. 1823 A. Balfour Foundling II. 278:
Whan the brulzie begins, put me in my post an' a wight weapon in my hand.Abd. 1845 P. Still Cottar's Sunday 147:
Lang may ye wield a wichtfu' arm.Abd. 1882 W. Forsyth Writings 14:
But noo ten thousan' buirdly briests Micht mak' a wierwa' wide and wicht.Dmf. 1894 R. Reid Poems 180:
Bare Thy wicht airm and bield us, God!

II. adv. Swiftly, nimbly, briskly.Bnff. 1787 W. Taylor Poems 65:
Down the brae I gaed fu wight, An lap an' sang.