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.
Pitill, n. [OE. pittel, pyttel, glossing L. sor-, scoricarius (a hawk), perh. f. same root as e.m.E. puttok (mod. Eng. puttock) kite or glede, also buzzard. Cf. mod. Eng. dial. dun-piddle kite or moor-buzzard (Dorset., 1863), dun-pickle marsh-harrier (Wilts., 1873).] A bird of prey, prob. some kind of hawk. —c1450-2 Howlat 642 (see Pipe-gled n.).
