Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
PINTLE, n.
1. (1) The penis (Lnk. 1780 Session Papers, Petition M. Inglis (23 Nov.) Proof 8; Sc. 1786 Merry Muses (1959) 59; Ork. 1929 Marw.; I.Sc., Cai., Ags., Per., wm.Sc., Kcb., Rxb. 1965). Also in Eng. dial. Hence pintle-conneckit, jocularly of persons: connected by marriage (Peb. 1962); pintle-keek, a leer of sexual invitation (Sc. 1902 Farmer and Henley Slang V. 210). wm.Sc. 1979 Robin Jenkins Fergus Lamont 5:
Because I was nervous and my pintle felt chilly and unharboured, I was no sooner out of the door than I needed to pee.
(2)
A term of abuse.Edb. 1993:
Shut up, ya wee pintle!
2. The ling fish. Molva molva (e.Sc. c.1935 Fishery Board Gl.). Cf. Pill. Comb. pintle-fish, the sand-eel (Fif. 1718 Burgess Ticket Buckhaven 1).
3. The yarrow or milfoil (Abd., Bch. 1920 Abd. Wkly. Jnl. (20 Jan.)). Also dog-pintle, id.
[O.Sc. pyntill, = 1., c.1420, pintill-fish, lance or sand-eel, c.1549, O.E. pintel, penis. In meaning 3., the usage originates in a corruption or popular alteration of Finkle, q.v.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Pintle n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 28 Apr 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/pintle>
