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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Nauchtie, Naughty, Nachtie, a. Also: nawchtie, naughtie, naghtie. [e.m.E. naughty (1526), -ie bad, in various senses, also ME. nauȝty (Piers Pl.) needy: cf. Nochtie.]

1. Of persons: Wicked, bad. 1569 Reg. Privy C. II. 63.
Gevand evill exempill to utheris nauchtie and wickit personis to do the lyke vilipensioun 1581 Bk. Univ. Kirk. II. 498.
To … inquire diligentlie of nauchtie and vnrewlie personis 1587 Cal. Sc. P. IX. 480.
Being debarrit frome his majestis presens be sume nawchtie persons 1592 Acts III. 542/1.
To enquyre diligentlie of nauchtie and vngodly personis 1597 Crim. Trials II. 30.
To dispose the haertis of the nauchtiest and warst inclynit peopill 1655 Brodie Diary 122.
So profan, dissolut and naghtie

2. Of actions, conduct, a concern, etc.: Wicked, wrong, bad, improper. 1568 Buch. Indict. 47.
That vngodlie mariage that all the warld comptes nawchtie and a mokking of God 1587-99 Hume 6/6.
That naughtie subject of fleshly and vnlawfull loue 1645 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. II. 762.
Thair base and naughtie carriage towardis the toune

3. Good for nothing, worthless, mean, insignificant, petty, trifling, frivolous. a1585 Maitl. Q. lxv. 113.
Quhat sall I murne my nauchtie frivoll stait? 1609 Acts IV. 434/1.
Deadlie feadis … wes become … the subjectis of greatest rank and qualitie vpoun everie nauchtie occasioun 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1891) 163.
This toun … consisteth either of papists or men of Gallio's naughty faith Ib. 169.
My Lord, who taketh me, light and clipped and naughty and feckless as I am 1647 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 82.
[They] did send out thair seruant or some weake nauchtie persone in thair stead a1651 Calderwood III. 288.
His defences were naughtie and frivolous c1650 Spalding I. 223.
Thair nachtie ressonis alledgit for with halding of the nobles vncum to the King 1666 Writers Signet 300.
For base pensions or base and naughtie pryces 1684-9 Glamis Bk. Rec. 34.
No better then a company of small and naughtie cottar houses 1685-8 Renwick Serm. 346.
A very naughty mean, in His hand, is sufficient to work a great work

4. Of an object: Slight, unsubstantial. a 1696 in J. Aubrey Miscell. (1721) 211.
Taish … a shadowy substance, or such naughty and imperceptible thing, as can … scarcely be discerned by the eye