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 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Pecht, n. Also: Pech, Peth; Peicht, Peycht, Peyth(t, Peight; Paycht. [North. ME. and e.m.E. Peghtt(e (Morte Arth.), Peght(e, e.m.E. Peighte (1566), OE. Peohtas, Pehtas pl.: cf. Picht n.]

1. A Pict.plur. (a) a1400 Leg. S. xxvii. 851.
Bot ȝet than Sanct Machor Furth preichit … The Pechtis ? a 1500 Rec. Kinloss Mon. 113.
Rune Pictorum, the carne of the Pethis or the Pechts feildis 1535 Stewart 17359.
To King of Pechtis 15.. King Berdok 33.
Thair wes the Kingis of Pechtis and Portingaill 1583 Sempill Warning xv. 7.
Romanis, Pechtis, Inglismen & Danis 1596 Dalr. I. 138/23.
The Pechtis war compelled … to flie frome Britannie … intil Orknay Ib. 172/2.
Pechtes(b) c1420 Wynt. ii. 854.
Than wes in it thre natyownys Scottis, Peychtis [C. Peythis, W. Pightis] and Brettownys Ib. iv. 1755.
A cumpany … Come off Peychtis [C. Peythtis, W. Pightis] in Irland 1596 Dalr. I. 4/4.
For the grett affinitie [etc.] … betuene the Scots and Peichtis Ib. 262/15.
A leagge … with the Scotis and Peichtis against the Inglismen Ib. 280/15, etc.
Peychtis 1683 Martine Reliq. Divi Andreae 15.
The Peights, Pights, or Picts, … inhabited of old all the east coast of this kingdome(c) 1596 Dalr. I. 13/2.
S. Martine, doctour … of the Paychtes, the Scottis, and the Britanissing. 1535 Stewart 3119.
With Pecht and Brit Ib. 31733.
Richt mony Pecht Gaiff lytill traist … to his hecht

b. attrib. as adj. (used ellipt. or absol.) Pictish (language). c1420 Wynt. i. 1376.
Off langagis in Bretayne … fyff thare were: Off Brettys fyrst and Inglis syne, Peycht [W. Pichtis] and Scot and syne Latyne

2. As a nickname.In the mod. dial. (chiefly of the north-east): A small or undersized person. 1622 Linlithgow B. Rec. 13 Sept.
James Wauch … deacoun of the cordineris gaiff wp … Patrik Ȝibbiesoun callit the Pech … to be elyitt with himselff 1623 Ib. 21 Nov.
Patrik Gibbesoune, cordiner, callit the Pecht