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.
Pinsel(l, -cell, n.1 Also: pyn- and -sal(l, -sale, -saill, -saile, -sill. [Sc. var. of Pensel(l n.] A small pennon or streamer; a pennoncel.a. One borne, or to be borne, on a lance or the like. b. One flown on a ship. c. Attrib. with -claith.a. c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 792, 1338 (see Pen(n)oun n. (b)).
Pinsall, pinsallis 1513 Doug. xi. x. 72.
Set thou apon the Tuscan horsyt rowt, With pynsellis semlyt sammyn with a schowt 1532 Treas. Acc. VI. 27.
Ane quartar blew taffate to be ane pinsall to the kingis speir at his riding in forrest to the huntis Ib. 78.
Pynsaile 1532–3 Ib. 80.
Pynsale 1535 Stewart 12687.
Mony pynsall panetit wes full proude 1547 Treas. Acc. IX. 112.
To the browdstar for making and browdering of my lord governoures pynsaill c 1560 Perth Convener Ct. Bk. No. 23.
Thai [the craftsmen] erectit ane baner and pynsell calland the sammyn ane blew blancat 1582 Cal. Sc. P. VI. 208.
With displayit pinsellis & enseigneis, as in time of open war 1597–8 Ib. XIII. 161. 1600 Treas. Acc. MS. 71.
To the painters for Schir Johnne Ramsayis pinsell 1616 Stirling B. Rec. I. 143.
That in all wapinchawingis thair sall be na baneris nor pinsallis … careit, bot onlie the kingis standart c 1620 Sutherland Corr. 351.
Let him hawe his pincell folded vp when yours is displayed 1624 Stirling Merch. Guild 44.
Johne Cowane, den of gild, resavit the handsenȝie and pinsell 1625 Chron. Perth 28.
The Erll of Mortoun buir the Scottis pinsill 1626 Garden Worthies 16.
My regiment Took Achon … And plac'd the lion pinsell on her ports 1634 Buccleuch Mun. I. 265.
The grate pincell of black taffata, caried one a lance poynt 1649 Strathbogie Presb. 119.
The presbytry finding some pinselis in memorie of the dead hinging in the kirk [etc.]b. 1512 Treas. Acc. IV. 295.
Complet with Alexander Chaumer, paintour, for all expens made be him one the standaris, pinsalis and banaris of the kingis schippis in gold colouris [etc.] 1513 Doug. iii. vi. 4.
For the sowth wyndis blast Our piggeis and our pynsalis wavit fastc. 1570 Canongate Ct. Bk. 206.
Ane heid of ane cannabie, twa slevis of pinsall claith
