Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

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

Pithy, -ie, a. (adv.) Also: pit(h)thie; pethé. [e.m E. and ME. pithy full of strength or vigour (Cursor M., thereafter chiefly northern and Sc. in this sense), full of significance (1529), full of pith (1562), f. Pith n.]

1. Communicating vital power; life-giving. 1580 Hume Promine 75.
Sappie subtil exhalatiounis, Quhais potent pithie inspiratiounis Makis treis, frutes and flouris for to spreid

2. a. Of a person: Strong; mighty. b. Of a thing: Strong; solid, substantial. c1590 J. Stewart 6/155.
The pithie Paladine — c1590 J. Stewart 68/130.
Thair maist pithie speris vith ane crak At the first chok fla spelkit on the greine Ib. 242/168.
The nobill not That nane in hand the pithie pleuch sould tak Syn eftir luik againe behind thair bak 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 275.
To support his belief he useth ane externall object; for the more and the more pithie the objects be, the more our faith is wakened and confirmed

3. Of a statement, discourse, writing, prayer, etc.: a. Forceful in argument; convincing; compelling. b. Containing much matter in few words; terse; to the point; full of substance.Also, applied to a speaker or, transf., to an author's pen.Perh. in some instances overlapping with sense 4 below.(1) a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 1045 (Wr.).
Schow skilde and pithy reasons why That danger lap the dyke Id. Son. liii. 3.
Waill weghtie words because ȝe cannot weep For pitthie poemis prettilie out paintis My secreit sighis c1590 J. Stewart 248 § 192.
His [Christ's] pithie prudent parabols 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 289.
And that it may be the more pithie he turneth his speech to God 1600 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 88.
A piththie or pertinent propossitioun 1606 Melrose P. 17.
Persuasiue and pithie reasoning 1608 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 142.
I thocht the said lettir … baith lang, pitthie and passionat 1622 Melrose P. 471.
Pithie in wryting as your lordship hes bene to me, powerful in doing [etc.] a1639 Spotsw. Hist. (1655) 10.
A most pithy and eloquent speech a1689 Cleland 55.
Since they who do revolve the pages … Can find no pithie precident(b) 1579–80 Misc. Bann. C. II. 195.
Tua pethe sayings vpoun the Bibill(2) 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 182.
We see how pithie and effectuall the prayer of the king hath been … that in a moment it moveth the great God to retreat that same sentence 1609 Acts IV. 423/2.
And with these wordis he prostratis him self and … maid a verie pithie prayer 1614 Melvill lvii.
His prayeris were … verrie pithie with manie tearis a1639 Spotsw. Hist. (1655) 454.(3) 1609 Garden Garden 21.
The damnage done … What pithie pen in paper can imprent — 1622 Scot Course of Conformity 96.
The kirk had a pithy pleader for her precedencie in publicke

c. adv. = Pithily adv. — c1630 Scot Narr. 53.
They sett down their animadversions as pithy as shortnesse of time wold suffer

4. Of words: Full of meaning, pregnant. 1581-1623 James VI Poems I. 69/5.
[The perfect poet, expressing] With pithie wordis … His full intention in his proper leid Id. Ess. 63.
In ane heich and learnit purpose, to vse heich, pithie and learnit wordis