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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Pingill, Pingle, v. Also: pyngil(l, -yl; pingl-, pyngl-. [e.m.E. pyngle to meddle, trifle (1574), nibble (1600). Cf. Pingill,n. Of obscure ulterior origin. Cf. also Swed. dial pyngla to work in a trifling way, Du. dial. pingelen to haggle, chaffer.Also in the mod. dial. as pingle, pengle, paingle.]Only Sc. in senses 1–3.

1. intr. To contend or compete (with a person or power); to vie with one another.(1) c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 114.
Bettir thow ganis to leid ane doig to skomer … than with thy maister pingill 1513 Doug. x. v. 83.
Als swyft as ganȝe or feddyrrit arrow fleys, That stryvys forto pyngill [Ruddim. pyngil] with the wynd Ib. i. iv. 14. a1599 Rollock Wks. II. 392.
Woe to them that impair the authority of the scripture. We may pingle with them a while here but we remit them to that great day that the Judge appear 1635 Dickson Wr. 27.
Albeit they stood long out pingling with God Ib. 177.
If thou be pingling with sin within thee [etc.](2) 1513 Doug. xii. x. 55.
Thai pyngill thraly quha mycht formest be

2. tr. a. To press or force (a boat) forward, as in a contest. b. To challenge (another's superiority); to contend or compete with (a person); to oppose. 1513 Doug. v. iv. 122.
Quham fynaly to persew he addrest And pynglys hir [a ship] onto the vtyrmest — a1605 Montg. Son. xv. 14.
I pingle thame all perfytlie in that parte [poverty] Ib. xliv. 12.
Let Mercure language to me len … To pingill Apelles pynsell with my pen 1600-1610 Melvill 755.
Howbeit all the nobillmen [etc.] … voitit to the Bisschop Law, yit a number of the best of the ministerie pingled them

3. intr. To exert oneself (in, at some matter); to strive (to, for till do something or for some specified end).Also pingill out, to struggle on against difficulties. 1511 Acta Conc. MS. XXIII. 84.
The said Lard of Cunyngham grantit that sen euir the Lardis of Rowallane wes thai war pingillan at it 1513 Doug. v. iv. 75.
With al thar fors than at the vtyrance, Thai pynglyt arys vptobend and haill Ib. vii. ii. 87.
For ioy thai pyngill than fortill renew Thar bankettis Ib. xii. xiv. 9.
We pyngill [Ruddim. pingyl] not for speid na curs to ryn — a1599 Rollock Wks. II. 109.
Let us strive to get that spirit to pingle out, and get the victory against this canker in the heart