Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

(Nichter-,) Nichtir-, Nychtertale, n. Also: nychtyrtale, nythterdaill, nychttirdall, nychtirdaill. [ME. nighter- (Cursor M.), nithertale, late ME. and e.m.E. (? latterly chiefly north.) nyghtertall, -tale, nightertaile, ME. also naghtertale (Cursor M.), naȝtter-, ? of Scand. origin: ? altered f. ON. (á) náttarþeli (earlier *nahtar-) ‘at dead of night’, f. náttar gen. of nátt night and þel groundwork, heart, bottom, with tale reckoning, count, substituted for the latter.In Sc. only 14th and 15th c.: cf. also Nythtdale.]Be, o(n) nichtertale, during the night, by night. 1375 Barb. xix. 495 (E).
Thiddyr thocht the lord of Dowglas Be nychtyrtale [C. nychtir daill] thar ost to bring a1400 Leg. S. xxxvi. 737.
A man … Dalf vpe his graf be nichtirtale c1420 Wynt. ix. 79 (W).
The Inglismen … Be nythterdaill attour Tweid raid 14.. Acts I. 34/2.
And na fleschewar sal sla na by na beste on nychtertale bot on lycht day 1492 Dunferm. B. Rec. I. 35.
The qwhilk day Andro Bouer is conuickit of strublans of Wilyam Longowaill o nychttirdall