Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

MICHTY, adj., adv., n., int. Also michtie. Gen.Sc. forms and usages of Eng. mighty.

Hence michtily, michtilies (Ags. 1894 F. McKenzie Glenbruar xiv.), adv., mightily (Edb. 1872 J. Smith Habbie and Madge 72, ne.Sc. 1888 D. Grant Keckleton 143). [′mɪçte]

I. adj. 1. Stately, haughty (Sc. 1808 Jam.).

2. Disgraceful, terrible, scandalous (ne.Sc., Ags. 1962).Ags. 1889 Barrie W. in Thrums iii.:
“It's most michty”, said Jess, turning on her husband, “'at ye should tak a pleasure in bringin' this hoose to disgrace”.Per. 1896 I. Maclaren Kate Carnegie 3:
Muirtown platform'll be worth seein'; it'll juist be michty.Mry. 1903 J. Mackinnon Braefoot Sk. 44:
“Jist look at that”, said Tibbie, pointing to her feet, “the boddams o' twa broken bottles! It's been the loons. Isn't — that — most — michty?”

3. Strange, surprising (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.).

II. adv. With great severity and thoroughness, terribly, drastically; to a great extent, deeply, strongly (Ags. 1962).Ags. 1889 Barrie W. in Thrums ix.:
“A' I can say”, said Hookey, “is 'at she taks me most michty”.Ags. 1891 Barrie Little Minister x.:
If the men got it frae him in the forenoon, the women got it in the afternoon. He redd them up most michty.

III. n. With def. art.: the Almighty, God (Sh., Kcb. 1962).Abd. 1879 G. Macdonald Sir Gibbie xlii.:
I wadna dee the like again to save my life. But the Michty cairried me throu'.

IV. int. An exclamation of astonishment, surprise or exasperation (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 11.4), a reduced form of God Almichty, used expletively. Gen.Sc. Also phrs. michty be here!, michty me!, michty on's!, etc., id.w.Sc. 1869 A. Macdonald Love Law & Theology vii.:
Eh, mighty! that surely canna be.Ags. 1894 J. B. Salmond My Man Sandy v.:
“Michty tak' care o' me, Sandy”, says I, I says; “what's happened?”Dmf. 1913 J. L. Waugh Cracks wi' R. Doo 12:
Michty me, that's a deevilish lot o' siller.Bnff. 1924 Swatches o' Hamespun 34:
Michty on's, ye speak like's gin my loon wir a big-wig.Kcd. 1934 L. G. Gibbon Grey Granite 51:
Michty be here, have you seen a ghost?Sc. 1955 J. Beith The Corbies 207:
“Michty me!” exclaimed Uncle John dryly, “a verra fine leddy we have here!”ne.Sc. 1991 Ken Morrice in Tom Hubbard The New Makars 60:
My man's no in yet, as you can see.
Fit did you say your name wis again?
A psychiatrist! Michtie me, Sc. 1999 Scotsman (10 Apr) 3:
Multi-ethnic, multi-skilled, michty me, we could be the most splendidly unassuming little place in the world, quietly creating wealth, looking after the elderly, helping the Third World. Sc. 2002 Sunday Herald (22 Dec) 20:
Michty me! What mighty oaks grow from such tiny acorns! Sc. 2004 Daily Mail (5 Oct) 38:
Howard, general manager of the Lochter Fishery, Oldmeldrum, Aberdeenshire, said: 'When I hooked it, I thought, "Michty me, it's a big, big salmon".