A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Pencil(l, -sill, -sile, -sel, n. [e.m.E. and ME. pencel, -sel(l (14–15th c.), pensill (1581), -cil(l (16–17th c.), artist's paint-brush, etc. (Chaucer), crayon or pencil (1612), var. of Pinsel(l n.2: cf. L. pēnicillum dim. of pēniculus brush.] a. A pencil: an instrument of black lead or the like having a tapering point, for drawing lines. b. ? A fine paint-brush. c. The penis. = Pinsel(l n.2 b. —a. 1581 Transcribed Accts. (1577–1613) in Argyll Mun. 16 June.
As his tiket subscryvit with my ladeyis hand pencil upone compt bearis c1590 J. Stewart 78/201.
Thair amorus consent Quhilk proper poyntit pensile haid done prent On fontans, rocks, [etc.] Ib. 86/219.
Vith cake, vith coll, And pensile scharp alway 1672 Aberd. Trades 301.
The whole trades common necessaries such as … box, writs, bonds, pencills —b. 1611-57 Mure True Crucifixe 1333.
The prototype … in his [sc. the painter's] brest must first engraved bee Before his pensill … can [etc.] 1686 Lauder Notices Affairs II. 749.
In the criminall proces raised by James Bunton, painter, against [etc.] … for robbing his house and taking away his pencills and colours —c. 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 174/12 (see Pinsel(l n.2 b).
Pensel
