Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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WICHT, n. Also wycht. Sc. forms and usages of obs. or arch. Eng. wight, a living being, person. [wɪçt; Ork. + wəit]

1. A supernatural being, or one with supposed supernatural powers, a warlock. The guid wichts, the fairies.Edb. 1772 Fergusson Poems (S.T.S.) II. 85:
For this some ca'd him an uncanny wight; The clash gaed round, "he had the second sight."Sc. 1816 Scott Black Dwarf iv.:
Canny Elshie, or the Wise Wight of Mucklestane-Moor.Rnf. 1836 R. Allan Evening Hours 124:
O what care I for warlock wights, Or bogles i' the glen at een!Ayr. 1890 J. Service Notandums 99:
The guid wichts who winnit in the court o' Elffehame.Slg. 1932 W. D. Cocker Poems 118:
O, Winter is a warlock wight To wark this won'er.

2. A human being of either sex, a person; freq. used pityingly or with condescension, "creature," "chap" (Abd. 1974, almost obs.); also jocularly of animals.Sc. 1718 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) I. 71:
Near Bed-time now ilk weary Wight Was gaunting for his Rest.Edb. 1773 Fergusson Poems (S.T.S.) II. 183:
For ne'er sic surly wight as he Had met wi' sic respect frae me.Lnk. a.1779 D. Graham Writings (1886) II. 207:
The wight gaed mad to be married.Sc. 1817 Scott Rob Roy xxxiv.:
Every wight has his weird, and we maun a' dee when our day comes.Bwk. 1862 J. G. Smith Poems 177:
He [a cat] was a thochtfu' mensefu' wicht.Per. 1895 R. Ford Tayside Songs 293:
You see yon mud-be-draigl'd wicht That hunkers in the syvers.Bwk. 1947 W. L. Ferguson Maker's Medley 14:
Auld Homer was a wycht, they tell me, Wha traivell't Hellas far and wide.Abd. 1956 Bon-Accord (11 Oct.):
[He] nearhan' strangelt him afore the peer wicht loot go his haud.

3. Transf. the shrew, Sorex araneus (Ork. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1929 Marw., wicht, wight). Dim. wighto (Marw.).Ork. 1795 Stat. Acc.¹ XIV. 317:
A small species of mice, commonly called here wights, which I have never observed in Scotland.