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 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Putrinell, -all, Puitternell, n. Also: putry-. [e.m.E. pewternell (1611), F. potrinal, var. of poit-, poictrinal (1588 in Godef.), subst. use of poitrinal adj. ‘of or belonging to the breast or chest’ f. poitrine breast, chest, f. L. pectus, pector-, breast; ‘so called because in firing it, the butt end rested against the chest’ (OED). Cf. Petrinel n. (? and Puterling n.).] A petronel, a kind of large pistol or carbine, used in the later 16th and the early 17th c. Also comb. with -gun. — 1602 Aberd. B. Rec. II 224.
Having and vsing of ane pistoll and puitternell … and presenting the same to hawe schott at Andro Hay 1609 Reg. Privy C. VIII 308.
[That he had a pair of pistolets and a] putrinell 1610 Ib. IX 44. 1612 Edinb. Test. XLVII 142b.
Ane putrynell ane halbert ane speit staff 1639 T. Hope Diary 93.
Gevin to my sone Sir Thomas my putrinell or carabin, indentit of rowat work —comb. 1624 Edinb. Test. LII 256.
Ane braisine littill putrinall gwne