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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

HEICHT, n., v. Also hicht, hecht (Abd. 1929 Sc. Readings (Paterson) 48); heecht. Dim. hichtie (Ags. 1886 Brechin Advertiser (2 Nov.)). Sc. forms and usages of Eng. height. [Sc.(exc. I. and s.) hɪçt, hɛçt]

I. n. Sc. forms of Eng. height.em.Sc.(a) 1991 Kate Armstrong in Tom Hubbard The New Makars 113:
Ah spak wi the tung o thon angels seemin
adrift in the auld reek, an aye shiftin
on endless stairs tae the heichts, liftin
the likeliestLnk. 1991 Duncan Glen Selected Poems 32:
We had time
to haud haunds lookin oot to the country
frae the heichts o the UniversityAbd. 1996 Sheena Blackhall Wittgenstein's Web 17:
Bit ma Da is nae wee, he's near twice ma hicht an I jalouse mebbe Ma jist wints a big bosie noo an then, ...

Sc. usages:

1. As in Eng., a height, elevation. Phr. h(e)ichts and howes, = heichs and howes s.v. Heich, IV. (Abd. 1956). See also Howe, n.¹Sc. 1703 W. Fraser Annandale Family Bk. (1894) II. 216:
With some hights and hoowes of a batlment.Edb. 1816 W. Glass Songs of Edina 22:
When ruggit winter's surly blast Raves o'er the hights and hows sae fast.Lth. 1849 M. Oliphant M. Maitland xvii.:
I . . . watched the bits of totums mony a day, creeping about the heights and howes of the cobbly earthen floor.

2. The heavens, the vault of heaven. Height is now obs. in Eng. in this sense. Arch.Edb. 1928 A. D. Mackie Poems 17:
Binnae the snell winnd blawin' coom and reek Aboot the rhones, and smeekin' a' the hicht, There is nae storm.

3. A high pitch, degree, state, condition, used of behaviour, emotion, etc., which has nearly reached the bounds of moderation (ne.Sc., Ags., wm.Sc., Kcb., Uls. 1956). Phr. at a dooble heicht, in some extremely foolish or wild prank (Abd. 1956).Sc. 1721 R. Wodrow Sufferings I. Intro. ii.:
The tory high-flying Laudean faction, whose successors, headed by Chancellor Hyde, put King Charles II. upon all the heights he ran to in England.Abd. 1921:
Gin ye'd seen him at a dooble hicht.Abd. 1928 P. Grey Making of a King 44:
Cairryin' on at a gey heicht wi' that lozengers ye ca' “Cupid's whispers” — jist in fun, ye ken.

†4. An increase, as of a rent or other charge. Cf. v. 2.Abd. 1760 W. Smith MS. Diary (1 March):
The 12 Bolls of height claimed by Shelagreen for Mill of Lesly.Abd. 1775 Abd. Journal (2 Oct.):
The Farm will either be set for a Grassum or Height, as Parties can agree.

†5. Fig. An encouragement, a lift-up. Cf. Heeze.Lnk. 1873 A. G. Murdoch Doric Lyre 56:
I'se be doun some antrin nicht To gie your furthy heart a hecht An' share your crack.

6. Phr. i' da heicht, well off-shore, on the high seas. Sh. 1964 Nordern Lichts 55:
Shö [a boat] wis weel ta wadder o da Skult, a piece i da heicht still.

II. v. 1. To raise higher, to heighten, raise, lift (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Abd. 1956). Also used fig. = to elevate, exalt, cheer; to rouse to a high pitch of anger, to infuriate (Ags. 1825 Jam.). Cf. n., 3. Pa.p. heichtit, heicht. Now obs., arch. or dial. in Eng.Gsw. 1717 Burgh Rec. Gsw. (1908) 612:
It is necessary the same be cassayed and the ledges heighted.Ork. 1771 P. Fea MS. Diary (Aug.):
Got a part of the Park of Whegoe heighted.Ags. 1790 in A. Shirrefs Poems 25:
Poor Scota now in vain will moan, Nae thing can for his loss atone, Her heart to hight.Bnff. 1868 W. Garden Meg's Wedding 75:
O, come an' hicht the pillow That supports my aged head.Gsw. 1877 A. G. Murdoch Laird's Lykewake 208:
Then, 'Odsake! he heighted him high in the air.Per. 1883 R. Cleland Inchbracken vii.:
It's nane o' yer orra bodies 'at's to hecht their tail on thae chairs.Ags. 1993 Mary McIntosh in Joy Hendry Chapman 74-5 112:
He mynded thir faces whan he had heichted the gun, het atween his fingirs, an the tyauvin whan the bullets skelpit intae thaim.

†2. To raise (a price or impost), to increase. Cf. n. 4.Sc. 1711 Rec. Conv. Burghs (1885) 8:
Why the toun of Aberdeen should not be heighted or any imposition laid upon them.Sc. 1717 Lady G. Baillie Household Bk. (S.H.S.) 160:
I highted her wages at Whit 1717 to £5 0 0.Abd. 1760 Abd. Journal (1 Dec.):
Both Possessions very improvable and well accommodate. . . . Neither of them have been highted; and they will be set by Grasssum or Hight, as Tacksmen incline.Per. 1811 J. Sim Poems 21:
He gar'd them hight their costly ware, Two-pence a peck.