Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1934 (SND Vol. I). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BICHT, Becht, n.¹ and v. [bɪçt, bt]

1. n. Used with the same meanings as bight in Eng.ne.Sc. 1881 W. Gregor Folk-Lore of N.E. Scot. 199–200:
When it was suspected that the boat had been forespoken . . . the boat was put through the halyards. This was done by making a noose or “bicht” on the halyards large enough to allow the boat to pass through.Kcd. 1986 Review Of Scottish Culture 2 40:
The zig-zag procedure was known at Arbroath as feddin' the line, and the turning point was the bicht heid. At Gourdon each part of the fold is a bichtor wint, each of which consists usually of a whole line.Gsw. 1860 J. Young Poorhouse Lays 37:
That ye o'erlooked the tapmost bicht, O daurin' man's aspirin' micht.

2. v. To pull round (so as to form a loop).Avoch, e.Rs. 1916 (per Mry.²):
A wid shot ma nits an' bicht (hecht) them ower ma Grannie's grave gin 'er were eirn [herring] in't.