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.
Pilli(e)-, Pilnie-, Pinnywinkis, -es, -win(c)ks, n. (Sc. altered forms of late ME. pyrewinkes ( ? 1401), also pyrwykes (1397), ‘an instrument of torture for squeezing the fingers; supposed to resemble the thumbkins or thumb-screw’ (OED.). Of unknown origin. Also in later use in Sc.) —1590–1 Crim. Trials I. ii. 215.
Her maister … did with the help of others torment her with the torture of the pilliwinkes upon her fingers 1631 Sc. N. & Q. 1 Ser. II. 78.
[Tosh was put] first to the tortour of the buittis … next to the tortour of the pilliewinkis 1684 Lauder Notices Affairs II. 548.
Spence … is again tortured and his thumbs crushed with pilliwincks or thumbikins. It's a new invention used among the coilȝiars when transgressors and discovered by Generalls Dalȝeell and Drummond, they having seen them used in Musco[vy] —1594 Law Memor. Pref. xlvi.
Hir guidman being in the stokes … and hir daughter in the pilniewinks —1596 Dalyell Darker Superst. 646.
The dochter being sevin yeir auld put in the pinnywinkis to the effect that [etc.]
