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.
Quotation dates: 1735-1857
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PINNET, n. 1. A small flag or standard, an ensign, streamer.Gsw. 1735 J. Hill Memorabilia (1835) 494:
To pay Robt. Fulton coppersmith, £2. 3s. 2d. for making a new jack pinnet and new ensign.Sc. 1779 N. British Misc. (3 Sept.) II. 188:
[The commander of Bergen] further. ordered him to pay a guinea for every day he should hoist his pinnet in the harbour.Ayr. 1822 Galt Provost xviii.:
Ribbons of all colours, hanging down in front, and twirling like pinnets in the wind.Sc. 1857 H. Miller Scenes and Leg. 422:
A miniature mast, furnished, like that of a ship, with shrouds and yards, and bearing atop a gaudy pinnet.
¶2. A pinnacle. Appar. a misunderstanding of 1. by Scott.Sc. 1805 Scott Last Minstrel vi. xxiii.:
Blazed battlement and pinnet high, Blazed every rose-carved buttress fair.
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"Pinnet n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 20 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/pinnet>
