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.
Quotation dates: 1399-1650
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Licht, v.2 Also: lycht, light, lyght. P.t. and p.p. lichtit, lychtit etc., also p.p. lycht. [ME. lighte, lith etc., early lihten (Orm. lihhtenn), p.t. lihte and lighted, early lihtede, (e.m.E. lit), p.p. light, lyght, early liht, and lighted, lihhtedd (Orm), (e.m.E. lit), OE. líhtan, p.t. líhte.]
1. tr. To light, set light to (a candle, lamp, fire, etc.). Also in fig. context.(a) a1578 Pitsc. I. 67/18.
He called for his challmer chyld and caussit him to lyght candillis a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 184.
A spark coud li[ch]t fyre, if it be forced to burnefig. c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5379.
Bot those that hes auctorite … Mycht … Gar thame lycht all thare lampis agane(b) a1400 Legends of the Saints xvii. 176.
Of fyre a brand … quhar-of the sergis al Scho lychtyt 1567 Anderson Collect. Mary II. 182.
And the said Hepburn … lichtit the lunt(c) c1420 Wynt. v. 4879.
With bleisys lycht and gret tortys Syngand and dawnsand 1526 Carnwath Baron Ct. MS. 31.
He brocht the candill furth lycht in his hand c1530-40 Stewart Maitl. F. cxxviii. 12.
Alsweill as mony lampis had bene lycht(b) 1492 Myll Spectakle of Luf 279/8.
How beit he maid all the fyris in Rome to be quenchit … quhill thai ware ilkane … lichtit at hir tayll 1604 Dundonald Par. Rec. 59.
Quhen he vald haif lichtit ane visp to haif sein thame c1650 Spalding II. 229.
The barnis of the … gramar scooll … with candles lichtit in there handis
b. ? intr. (and fig.) To be kindled, to take fire. 1635 Dickson Wr. 44.
This is not good in many, that they will not let it light that God loves them, except when he claps their head
2. tr. To supply light to; chiefly fig., to enlighten or illumine intellectually or spiritually.(1) a1400 Legends of the Saints vi. 479.
That ee the vndoynge Is of oure harte & vndirstandinge, That lichtis the hart & makis it clere 1456 Hay II. 121/5.
And lychtis thyne eyne, and thy fyve wittis makis mare hable 1551 Hamilton Catechism 42.
Ye that feris our Lord … your hartis salbe lichtit with the licht of grace 1567 Gude and Godlie Ballatis 89.
O Lord … lycht my eine, That suddand sleip of deide do me na teine(2) c1515 Asloan MS I. 326/30.
Lyk as thir iiij apostlis dois licht the warld with dulce teching a1578 Pitsc. I. 336/17.
This palice … was … sett and lichtit with fyne glassin wondowis in all airttis
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"Licht v.2". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 16 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/licht_v_2>
