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.
Pistol-, Pistollet, -ett, n.2 Also: pistolat(t, pistulet; pestol(l)att, -et, -it; pestulat; peistollit. [e.m.E. pystolette (1553), pistolet (1556), F. pistolet (late 16th c. in Larousse). Of doubtful ulterior origin. Cf. Pistolet,n.1] One or other of certain (foreign) gold coins current after c 1550; a pistolet.Scottis pistolat, ?Also comb. with -croun. (Cf. F. escus-pistolet (16th c. in Littré) = the Spanish half-escudo of gold.)(a) 1565 Treas. Acc. XI. 440.
To the Quenis graces majesteis self … xxti pistolattis of gold 1567 Edinb. Test. I. 75 b.
Ane emperiour pistolat, price of the pece xxxj s. … twa Scottis pistolattis price of thame bayth xliiij s. 1573–4 Reg. Privy C. II. 329. 1583 Edinb. Test. XII. 55 b.
Ane papis pistolat price xlvj s. iiij d. ? 1590 Burntisland B. Ct. 17 April.
Ane pistolat off guild pryce l ss. 1591 Acts III. 527/1.
That na forayne gold sall haue cours … except the spaces following … The pistolet of Spayne of wecht [55/-] 1592–3 Ayr B. Acc. 176.
[For a] dubill pistollat [£5, 12 s.] 1594 Edinb. Test. XXVII. 218.
Thair was in his bag nyne doubill pistolettis … and ane horneis gudling 1597 Cochran-Patrick Coinage I. xciv. 1598 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 165.
The Spanis pistolatt 1599 Crim. Trials II. 100.
The said Arthour forgeit ane pair of yrnes for the prent of the saidis pistulettis 1604 Inverness Rec. II. 22.
That thai war false gold, beinge all half pistolettis, false fenȝeit cunȝie 1610 Reg. Privy C. VIII. 830.
Pistollett 1635 Justiciary Cases I. 248.
In taikin of thair familiaritie thay socht ane lane fra him of ane pistolet 1637 Black Bk. Taymouth xxiii.
Ane Spanisch pistolet(b) 1562 Dumfries B. Ct. fol. 120.
Resawit fra Jon Cunnyngham merchand burges of Drumfres xix crovnis of the sone ane pestolatt & tua sovss 1595 Skipper's Acc. (Morton) 6 ab.
xix crouns xxviii s. for the pestoletis ryellis 1589–1600 Ib. 74 a.
vii sengell pestoletis 1602 Dundee Shipping P. 73.
He send haim … ane hownder pestollitis to his wayf 1612 Cochran-Patrick Coinage I. c.
Pestulat(c) 1600 Dundee Shipping P. 68.
Y haid med raydei yowr monnay in peistollitiscomb. 1560 Stirling B. Rec. I. 74.
Sax pistolat crownis 1564–5 Perth B. Ct. 258 (27 Feb.).
Ane pestulat croun of xliiij s. 1567 Edinb. Test. I. 47.
Sex pistolat crounis price of the pece xxvj s. 1574 Elgin Rec. I. 145. 1591 St. A. B. Ct. 23 April.
Ane insufficient pistolet crown
