Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
PENSIL, n. Also pensile, -sel, -cell, -sall; erron. pennel, -il. A pennon, banner, streamer, a standard, a set of colours, specif. the standard carried at the celebration of the Common Riding in Hawick. Arch. or hist. in Eng. since 16th c. See also Pinnet.Rxb. 1703 W. S. Robson Hawick (1947) 99:
In that year [1703], the Town Council voted James Scott, called laird, to “carry the pencell”.Rxb. 1706 J. Wilson Ann. Hawick (1850) 116:
The person elected cornet having declined to carry the pennil [sic], or colour, caused ane great disturbance, confusion, and mutiny amongst the otherwise civil inhabitants.Sc. 1805 Scott Last Minstrel iv. xxvii.:
Pensils and pennons wide were flung.Fif. 1827 W. Tennant Papistry Storm'd 66:
That squadron cam' in sicht Wi' bannerols and pensels bricht.Sc. 1830 Fraser's Mag. I. 38:
With pensiles fluttering in the breeze.
