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.
Pintil(l, Pintle, n. Also: pyn(n)- and -tyll. [Early ME., ME. and e.m.E. pintel (a 1100), pyntell (c 1410), pintle (a 1500), pyntyll (1541) the penis, also (1486) a pin or bolt. Cf. OFris. pint, penth, Dan. dial. pint, pintel, LG. and Du. pint, penis. Of unknown ulterior origin. Cf. Pindle n.] The penis.As the second element of a compound in gowkispintil = the plant, Cuckoo-pint.Also attrib. in pintill-hide, the foreskin or prepuce.(1) c1420 Wynt. iv. 1905.
In to Rome a barne wes borne That had foure handys … foure fete [etc.] … And before had pyntillis [v.r. -yllis] twa 1541–2 Elgin Rec. I. 69.
Allegeand the forsaid Janat … callit hyr commownd hwir, pintill in pintill out hyr 1581 Sat. P. xliv. 262.
Bennet but pintle may be the hand thé leid 1584 Sempill Ib. xlv. 698.
[He] His pintle against the palice wall Puld out to piss 1604 Shetland Sheriff Ct. (ed.) 129.
And giffing him thrie straikis with … ane ox pintill 1621 Perth Kirk S. MS. 24 Sept.
That the said Alexander come to hir with his pynntill stiff in his hand c1635-80 Edwards Commonpl. Bk. 79 b marg.
Jonet Goldman loves a pintilproverb. a1598 Ferg. Prov. MS. No. 637.
He is als good a man as ever pissed with a pintle a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1260.
Pishing and pintle shaiking puts of the day(2) 1500-1699 Herbarius Latinus Annot. xvii. (Adv.).
Aaron gowkispintilattrib. c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 17339.
Quhill that the barne baith borne and babtesit was And cuttit of his pintill hide before
