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

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Kittill, a. Also: kittel, -le, kitl(e. [North. e.m.E. kittle (1641), otherwise only Sc. In the mod. dial., distributed as Kittill v.For the etymology, cf. the parallel history of the Eng. word tickle: ME. tikil adj. (c 1325), tikelle v. (c 1330).]

Ticklish, in various senses, chiefly transf. or fig.

1. Easily tickled or stimulated. Said of persons or animals and also const. of the sensitive part.(1) 1560 Rolland Seven S. 8005.
[Women] ar sa kittill of the came 1568 Sempill Sat. P. xlvi. 60.
My pretty pynnege, … be scho emptie … Scho will be kittill of hir dok a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 667.
As kitle of her cunt as a kw of her horne(2) a1605 Montg. Son. xvi. 8.
My hope is high, houbeit my hap be ill, And kittle aneugh, and clau me on the kame a1689 Cleland 29.
As to his lady … To bring her west, would mend but little, For highland lairds are very kittle Ib. 65.
Apply these [points of law] to the kittle places, That makes you wink and throw your faces

b. Of a horse: Sensitive, apt to shy. 1600-1610 Melvill 259.
Ryding … upon a kitle hat-ridden hors … he cust me ower on the uther banktransf. 1609 Acts IV. 421/2.
Let nather ony knawlege come to … my brotheris earis … for [he] is kittill to scho behind and dar not interpryse for feir

c. Of a person's conscience: Sensitive, squeamish. 1596 James VI Lett. to Huntly in Spotswood (1655) 438.
Resolve youre self ather to satisfey the Kirke … or ellis gif your conscience be sa kittell as it can not permitt you, make for ane other lande

d. Of a trap, hook or the like: Delicately poised, to be approached with great caution. a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xlvii. 87.
Love is so slie … be war … On kitlest huiks the sliest baits they ar

2. Of persons. a. Touchy, easily upset or offfended, difficult to deal with. Also said of a country or nation. 1580-92 James VI Lusus Reg. 51.
In so kittill a lande quhaire feu remember can For to haue seine gouuerning thaire a king that uas a man 1614 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 221.
He is ane kittill, mutinous, and onsatled man, full of consaittis, readie to rase and steir maa broylis his alane, nor [etc.] c 1628 Annandale Corr. 280.
It seameth … that ye haue bein sum hardlie vsit be my lord Herreis … Bott sieing he is and haith ever bein this kittill to deill with, be the more war 1662 Stirlings of Keir 498.
I requeist yow not to be to rassh, for they [the English] ar very kittill, or as yea ous to say wher ye ar, ticklish

b. Inconstant, unreliable, fickle, fidgety. 1585 Calderwood IV. 478.
My brother-in-law, how kittle is he! … There is one onlie of whose steidfastnesse … I darre assure my self … the Erle of Mar a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 668.
He is als kittle als ane eg on a kaik

3. Difficult or hazardous to deal with, delicate, critical, tricky (affair, task, problem, etc.). Also, quasi-adv. in the phr. to go kittill.(1) 1571 Maitl. F. clxxvii. 22.
We haiff thé chosin … Our tossit galay to gowerne … Cast weill thy cours: thow hes ane kittill [v.r. kittle] cure 1610 Calderwood VII. 80.
Anent definitiouns in generall … they are verie kittle in their strict lawes, and nothing worth without them 1644 Wemyss Corr. 93.
[The prisoners] are now als farr on as Coupar, so that … we are free of that burthen and fasherie, being the weightiest and kittelest that ever I sustaind 1682 Wodrow Hist. (1828) III. 415.
Being interrogate, whether the King be lawful king, [he] answers, these are kittle questions, and will say nothing of them, being a prisoner a1689 Cleland 15. Ib. 85.
It would be a difficult task … Foresooth it were a kittle put(2) 1601 Mackie Denmilne MSS. 39.
Our materis heiraway gois sumthing kittill(3) 1661 Brodie Diary 226.
I found how kitl it was and hard to walk uprightli, and safelie, and wyslie a1665 W. Guthrie Lett. Horning 7.
The people of God will slight religion at a tyme … and get pardone … and it is very kittle to do so, when all is done 1686 Reg. Privy C. 3. Ser. XII. 404.
I supose it may be found kitle to intercept ane publict persons letters unles peyment were refuised

b. Unstable, insecure. 1622 Lett. Eccl. Affairs II. 699.
Hall binkis ar sliddrie, … and earthlie courtis ar kittill