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

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Dicht, Dycht, v. Also: dight, dyicht; decht, deicht. [ME. dyghte, dighte, diȝte, early dihten, OE. dihtan. The p.t. and p.p. are usually dicht, dycht, etc., in later use also dichtit. In senses 1 and 2 mainly confined to verse.]

1. tr. To array with armour, clothing, or other equipment; to make ready in this way. 1375 Barb. ii. 565.
His men in hy he gert be dycht, And buskyt of the toune to ryd Ib. xvi. 374.
Fifty, that worthy war and vicht, At all poynt armyt weill and dicht a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii. 979.
In armys dicht In al thing as it ware a knycht c1420 Wynt. viii. 6740.
The Franche men ware gayly dicht Wyth cowerit hors in irn and steile ?1438 Alex. i. 1218.
He saw neuer knycht That him thocht sa gaily dicht c1475 Wall. xi. 991.
Sexte full sone Schyr Ihone gert dycht Off his awyn kyn and off alya born a1500 Seven S. 422.
To the set day come mony knycht And he him self in armes dicht 1513 Doug. v. x. 7.
Se gyf Ascanyus hes now reddy dycht Hys falloschip … Arrayt for the rynkis and the play 15.. Clar. iv. 175.
Within ten dayis thay war all redie dight c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2875.
Quhen scho wes intyll armour dycht, Mycht no man knaw hir be one knycht

b. refl. To array, equip, or dress (oneself); to make (oneself) ready. 1375 Barb. xiv. 423.
He … gert his menȝhe halely Dicht thame in the presoners aray a1400 Leg. S. xix. 570.
The king … gert four hundreth knychtis wicht, With bow & arowis sone thame dycht ?1438 Alex. i. 1225.
The child … dicht him in his armour swith Ib. 1381.
He dicht him in his apparell a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 835.
The king … In armour dewly hym dight, be the day sprang 15.. Clar. ii. 861.
Clariodus … Full lustilie into his weidis him dichts 15.. Christis Kirk .
To dance the damisellis thame dicht

2. To put in good order or proper shape; to arrange or prepare. Also const. for (a person or purpose), and with immaterial object.Occasionally implying decoration or ornament.(1) 1375 Barb. xi. 128 (E).
Men mycht se than … mony ane armur gayly dycht a1400 Leg. S. xvi. 129.
The vnguyment, scho dicht with cure To gere hire flesche haf swet sawure Ib. xvii. 155.
Martha … bad hyr madynis thai suld dycht Candelis yneucht c1420 Wynt. iv. 292.
The wallys ware … At alkyne poynt perfytly dycht Ib. v. 940.
There wes na fygure he gert dycht, … Than it off sylvyr fyne made he ?1438 Alex. i. 3302.
Quha had na tent, ane ludge hes dicht Of branchis c1450-2 Howlat 342.
The burde … Dicht as a dyademe digne deir to behold a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 998.
Thus drese thai wedis sa deir, That dantely wes dight a1500 Bk. Chess 462.
A crovne of gold apon hir hed weile dicht 1513 Doug. iii. iv. 43.
Thar vp agane our tabillis haue we dicht Ib. vii. iv. 195.
Thar harnessing of gold rycht deirly dicht 15.. Clar. ii. 1350.
He ordanit eike ane fair hall sould be dicht Of turnour warke(2) a1400 Leg. S. xxix. 1007.
Cristine men … for thai martiris can dicht Ful reuerently fare sepulture a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 647.
O man, … Mak rowme to reuth, a place for piete dycht a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 392.
Deuilbeir … hes in hell for the ane chalmer dicht 1513 Doug. iv. xii. 65.
Is this the thyng thai haue onto me dycht? Ib. vi. ix. 151.
Vndir ryche tablys dight for maniory(3) a1400 Leg. S. xxiv. 460.
Ful butlas bale thu has me dycht a1447 Bower Chron. II. 423.]
[I beer a falcon, fairest of flicht; quha so pinches at hir, his deth is dicht 1513 Doug. xi. Prol. 120.
Thy ded is dycht 1560 Rolland Seven S. 831.
Gif we delay, and bring ȝow not him till Our deid is dicht

b. To finish off or decorate with something. 1394 Liber Aberbr. 43.
He sal dycht it abowt wytht lede … as his craft askys c1420 Ratis R. 1137.
And be rycht besy thar about To dicht it fetesly with flouris a1500 Henr. Fab. 868.
[A] croun of massie gold … With … mony diueris dyamontis dicht 1513 Doug. iii. i. 48.
Myne altare forto dycht With burgyonys and with branchis 1535 Stewart 37598.
Of gold ane apill … With rubeis reid, and diamontis wes dicht

c. To prepare (food) for eating. 1375 Barb. vii. 155.
Thai … askit the kyng gif he vald et, And rest hym till the met war dicht a1400 Leg. S. vii. 613.
Than Iosaphus the met gert dycht c1420 Wynt. vi. 2002.
As sone as hys supere wes dycht a1500 Rauf C. 133; Ib. 144.
He callit on Gyliane … thair supper to dicht c1475 Wall. iv. 286.
Sodeynly thar fresche venesoun thai dycht 1502 Treas. Acc. II. 148.
To the wiffis that aucht the weschale the kingis dynar wes dicht in a1540 Freiris Berw. 122.
Scho had maid ane tryst that samyn nicht Freir Johine hir iuvis supper for to dicht a1568 Scott ii. 89.
The fyre … [that] Thair dennaris suld haif drest and dicht a1598 Fergusson Prov. (1641) 2 b.
A friends dinner is soon dight

d. To prepare by a special process or treatment; spec. to dress or plane (wood). 14.. Acts I. 33/2.
Fleschewaris … sal serve the burges … of the flesche in thar lardyner to be graythit and dycht Ib. 303/2.
Of ane hundreth gray gryse and skurel dycht and letheryt viij d. 1512 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 109.
Na tre to be put in the said stule bot new aik, a large fute of the squar quhen it is dychtit 1521 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 98.
The haill toun … feit ane Flemyng … till clenge, graitht, and decht thair artailȝery a 1568 Sat. P. xlviii. 63.
The quhyt [cloth] hes bene dicht in mony mirk nicht 1572 Inverness B. Rec. I. 225.
To waik the said haill clayth and cause the samyn be dycht 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. 127.
Gif they dicht, or prepair the flesh not well, they sall restore the skaith to the awner of the beast 1649 Dunferm. Kirk S. 30.
To warn Elspit Walker … for dichting lint on the last fasting day 1662 Crim. Trials III. 615.
I haw sein the elf-arrowes maid. The Divell dights them, and the elf-boyes quhytes them 1683 Ellon Presb. 223.
106 of the said deals dighted upon both syds

e. To dress (a wound). a1400 Leg. S. xlvi. 101.
Mekly vald scho wesch thar fet, & with soft sawis thare saris bet, & dicht thame 1533 Bell. Livy I. 92/6.
The wound was … now latelie vesyit and dicht Ib. 162/31.
He deceissit sone eftir that his wound was dicht

3. To clean by sweeping or the removal of dust or rubbish.(a) 1444 Aberd. B. Rec. I. ii.
That the fleschowaris dicht and mak clene the fleschous ilke ouke on Friday 1494 Ib. 422.
That ane persone sall halde the haill common gaitis and venellis … clene and weill dichtit 1528 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 90.
That all nychtbouris haiffand foir tenements dicht the calsay fornent the samyn 1532 M. Works Acc. II. 65.
To four werkmen … servand the gardnaris … and parand & dychtand allayis 1543 Elgin Rec. I. 76.
He … sall clens and dycht the vell filit be him 1553 Edinb. Old Acc. I. 75.
Gevin to four men that dicht all the schoir and bure away the red 1554 Ib. II. 29.
For bussomis to dicht the kirk with at Youle, Candilmes [etc.] 1607 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 290.
[The council] ordanit the deane of gild to caus clense and dicht the said forentrie and cloise 1623 Rec. Univ. Aberd. 282.
The haill worcke of the buttressis to be mendit, the aistlearis dichtit, punttit and poyntit 1658 Melrose R. Rec. I. 190.
[The judge] ordaines aither partie to soupe efter thair mucking and dighting in the entrie, and when they doe not mucke to dicht and soope day about the entriesabsol. 1530 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 29.
That … euery man and woman dicht and mak clene befor ther durris and closisfig. 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. iii. 854.
Delite thé tite me quite of site to dicht 1531 Bell. Boece I. p. xii.
Siclik my werk … dois the saule fra all corruptioun dicht With odoure dulce(b) 1554–5 Edinb. B. Acc. I. 149.
To deycht the Tolbuith heych and laych Ib. II. 43.
For bussumis to deycht the kirk with 1582 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 124.
xvj hadder bussumis to decht the sclattis & gutteris Ib. 149.
For mending of the coll raik that dechtis the gutteris on the kirk riging(c) 1641 Acts V. 641/1.
To … red and dight the current of the said Pow 1656 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 325.
That evrie indwaler in foir frunt … sall dight and clat the calsayis foiranent themselfis 1662 Ib. 492.
To Williamsoune and his commerad that dightis the tolbuith 1671 Forbes Baron Ct. 288.
That all gras men and cotteris … sall com in to the wood of Bithny to dight and clens the vood 1701 Foulis Acc. Bk. 299.
To James Crichtoune and his men to drinke when they pointed the house and dight the spouts 1706 Stirling B. Rec. II. 108.
To sight the hieway … and cause clear and dight the same

b. To clean by wiping or rubbing. 1513 Doug. v. iv. 38.
The auld Meneyt … Sat on the dry rolk, and hym self gan dycht 1533 Bell. Livy I. 282/9.
Als sone as his govne was dicht fra suete and duste of powder, he clothit him tharewith 1548 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 141.
That na paynsches be weischein nor dycht at ony wallis bot priuatlie in houssis c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 996.
With hir hair scho dicht hir ene 1568 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 5.
Tua elnis hardin to dicht the daskis in the kirk 1583 Sat. P. xlv. 775–6.
He … sat thair till his schone wes dicht. He gave thame leive to dicht his schone 1593 St. A. Kirk S. 755.
Ilk tyme that ony persoun salbe fund … dryand, dichtand or flaikand woll in the kirk yaird 1596 Dalr. I. 94/33.
Thay take the hail meklewame of ane slain ox, thay turne and dicht it 1600-1610 Melvill 69.
He ryves his buik, and dightes his nease with the leaves thairof 1611 Reg. Privy C. IX. 209.
He … hoipit to sie his airmes riven at the Croce, that he micht dicht his ers thairwith 1651 Stirling B. Rec. II. 306.
For thrie sheep skins to dight the cannon 1681 Colvil Whig's Suppl. . 81.
Rub my horse belly, and his coots, And when I get them, dight my boots

c. To clean (grain) from chaff, etc.; to sift (meal). 1492 Acta Conc. 231/2.
Ane chalder of aulde quhete clene dicht and myll dry 1529 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 11.
Ane furlot of aitis quhilk was dicht in Richert Ioysis barn 1547 Blackfriars Perth 240.
Ane haill crop … to … be led to yard or barne to be thrashin, windoit, and dycht 1566 Dundee B. Laws 22.
That na man … dyicht his mault in the kirkȝeard 1593 St. A. Kirk S. 755.
Ilk tyme that ony persoun salbe fund … drying or dichtand cornis … in the kirk-yaird 1616–7 Montgomery Mem. II. 281.
To four men and twa wemen, for thresching, schaiking, and dichting the aitis 1680 Foulis Acc. Bk. 29.
To Thomas Hunter to pay the women for dighting victuall 1688 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. XIII. 231.
The quantities of victuall … wes dight, measured and delyvered by the tennants 1696 Wemyss of Bogie MS.
Meall … good and sufficient clean coller, weel dight 1702 Seafield Corr. 353.
The bear is sold. They complened that it was not so weall dighted as the sampell was

d. To clean up, make bright, polish. (Cf. Dichting vbl. n. 2.) 1513 Doug. viii. viii. 133.
The fyreflaucht … wirkand fast, That ane part polist, burnyst weill and dycht 1578 Inverness B. Rec. I. 263.
[I] deliverit him my sourd to poleis and dycht a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xli. 34.
All curageous knichtis Aganis the day dichtis The breist plate that bright is

e. To wipe off or away. 1601 Crim. Trials II. ii. 363.
[They] causit dicht the blude fra his woundis 1681 Colvil Whigs Suppl. (1751) 120.
With his hankerchief he dights off Tears from his eyes

4. To deal with, treat or handle, in a certain way. a1400 Leg. S. xxvi. 931.
Sancte Nicholas to thame aperyt Bla and bludy, and at tham speryt Quhy suld he sa be dycht ?1438 Alex. ii. 9032.
Thay war sa countred and dicht, So reuin, sa rent, into the fecht Ib. 9495.
Coit-armouris bricht and schene Reuin and rent and euill dicht c1450-2 Howlat 65.
Sum will me dulfully dicht, Sum dyng me to deid a1500 Henr. Bludy Serk 61.
Vnlusum was his likame dicht Ib. 68.
One that dulfully now is dicht c1475 Wall. ii. 228.
Compleyne for him was thus in presone dicht 1513 Doug. i. vii. 120.
Seand … the corps of his derrest frend sa dight Ib. xiii. vii. 46.
Enee, … Throu sa feill chancis catchit and evill dycht c1550 Rolland C. Venus i. 753.
Neir the deith all maist he hes him dicht a1585 Polwart Flyt. 816 (T).
Thowse be dicht lyk a draikellipt. 1618 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 356.
Gif he wer out of the towne the said Mr. Henry suld dicht him

b. To do to death. (Also with dede adj.) 1375 Barb. xv. 388.
Had nocht beyne his gret bounte, … His men till ded had all beyne dicht a1400 Leg. S. xvii. 159.
Ore [= ere] scho to the ded was dycht c1420 Wynt. iii. 296.
Off the Phylisteis wycht A thousand men to ded was dycht Ib. v. 3626.
His fayis to dede he dycht c1450-2 Howlat 482.
My deir, … art thow deid dicht? c1475 Wall. ii. 232.
To the dede fele Sothroun ȝeit he dicht 1513 Doug. viii. ix. 54.
That he … thrys behwyt to the ded be dicht 1535 Stewart 14729.
Quhair suddantlie mony to deid wes dycht 1567 G. Ball. 119.
The voce of thame that to the deid ar dycht

c. To put or place. a1400 Leg. S. iii. 77.
All the kyne of this ȝong man … Deide, & in a grawe war dycht c1475 Wall. vi. 507.
The thrid thousand in the rerward he dycht

d. To attend to or groom (a horse). 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1614.
At the Palice he lichtit of his hors, Quha suld him dicht, he tuke bot lytill force 1604-9 Grahame Anat. Humors 37 b.
When a man hes an horse of his own, he will … see him well … fed, and well dicht