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, 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.
