Now local. Forms: α. 5, 8–9 tuchet, 6 tuechit, 9 teuchit, -at, tchuchet; β. 7 tuewhite, tequhyt, terwhite, 9 tuquheit, tewhit, teewheep, -whoap; γ. 6 tuwyte, 7– tewit (7–9 tewet, 7 teewitte); δ. 8–9 tewfet, tufit, 9 tufat, teufet, teufit, teafit. [Orig. echoic: see PEWIT. The α and β forms are Sc.; the others are cited in the Eng. Dial. Dict. from Scotland to Yorks. and Chesh.] The common Lapwing or Pewit, Vanellus cristatus.
α. c. 1450. Holland, Howlat, 834. The Tuchet gird to the Golk, and gaif him a fall.
1549. Compl. Scotl., vi. 39. The tuechitis cryit theuis nek, quhen the piettis clattrit.
1746. Forbes, Dominie Deposed, III. iii. ’Tis strange what makes kirk-fouks so stupid,… Far better for them hunt the touchit.
1815. G. Beattie, John o’Arnha (1826), 63. The timid teuchit slouch’d its crest.
1899. J. Colville, Scot. Vernacular, 12. The teuchat … wailed out in circles round the intruder.
β. 1629. Orkney Witch Trial, in Dalyell, Darker Superstit. Scotl. (1834), 150, note. Get the bones of ane tequhyt, and carry thame in your clothes.
1824. Mactaggart, Gallovid. Encycl., s.v. Pirr, Eggs, somewhat like tewhit eggs in size and colour.
1835. J. M. Wilson, Tales Borders, I. 185/2. He was just in the situation o’ a tewhit that had lost its mate—te-wheet! te-wheet! it cried.
γ. 1592. Shuttleworths’ Acc. (Chetham Soc.), 76. Towe tuwytes and a snype, iijd.
1678. Ray, Willughby’s Ornith., 307. In the North of England they call it the Tewit, from its cry.
1688. J. Clayton, in Phil. Trans., XVII. 997. The Tewits are smaller than the English, and have no long Toppins.
1828. Craven Gloss., Tewet, a pewit or plover.
δ. 1787. Grose, Provinc. Gloss., Tewfet, a lapwing. North.
1788. W. Marshall, Yorksh., Gloss. (E. D. S.), Tufit,… the peewit, or green plover.
1878. Cumbld. Gloss., Teufet.
