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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.¹ Also: -at(e; -it; pistulat, -et; pistellett(e; pestilet, -elet, -il(l)ot; pestolet, -at. [e.m.E. pystolett (1561–2), pistolet (1583), the earlier name of the pistol, F. pistolet a small fire-arm (1546 in Larousse), f. pistole Pistol(l n.¹] A pistolet, the fire-arm.For further examples, see Carcas n.², Culverin(g n. 1, Dag n., Firewerk n., etc.; also Bend v. 1 b, Bendit ppl. a.¹, Delasch v., Misgif v. 3, etc.Also attrib. with gun.(a) 1554 Irons Leith II. 41.
Pistolettes 1567 Reg. Privy C. I. 593.
That nane beir, weir nor use culveringis daggis pistolettis nor sic uther ingynis of fyrewerk upoun thair personis 1567 Digest Justiciary Proc. G. 2.
Hurting of Wm Kinmounth … be schot of pistolet throuche his thie with dubbill billettis 1570 Leslie 282.
Thair was … hat scarmishing … with harcabushers, culveringis and pistolettis 1582 Jurid. Rev. IV. 109.
[For] bering and wering pistolettis, lettin and schuttin therewith at George Auchinleck 1586 Ib. 293. 1587 Writers Signet xlviii.
Pistollettis 1590 St. A. B. Ct. 8 April. 1594 Reg. Privy C. V. 194.
[He] shoit three or foure schoitis of pistollettis at him 1595 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 138.
The … slaying of Jhonn M^cmorane, baillie … be ane schott of ane pistolett … schott furth of the hie schole be ane of the bayrnes 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 86/3.
My lawis maid aganis gunnis & tratrouse pistolettis 1600 Black Bk. Taymouth 336.
Ane brasin pistolet with rowet werk 1600 Reg. Privy C. VI. 141.
Efter the schuiting of the quhilk pistollett the said Mr. Patrik tuke the same … charget and morsit hir of new, and [etc.] 1601 Ib. 261, etc.
He, with the dogheid of his uther pistolet, gaif his sone a deidlie straik upoun the heid 1603 Moysie 95.
[He] schot thrie pistoletis in takin of his onlovping 1607 Reg. Great S. 680/1.
Cum bombardis lie hagbuttis et machinis lie pistolettis 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. ii. 156. a1633 Hope Major Pract. II. 166. 1636 Edinb. Test. LVIII. 18.
Ane pair of pistolettis indentit in the stokis with silver & giltit(b) 1550 Reg. Privy C. I. 95.
That nane of oure soverane ladyis legeis tak upoun hand to schut with halff haige or culvering or pistolate, at dere, ra [etc.] 1566 Ib. 494.
That nane presume to weir … daggis pistolattis or uther kynd of armour … quhatsumevir, sword and quhinȝear allanerlie exceptit a1578 Pitsc. II. 310/27.
Schot throche the thighes with ane pistolat 1581 Burne Disput. 166.
Dene Johne Durie vith his tua pistolatis, his lang gun and bricht murreon 1583–4 Perth B. Ct. 10 March.
Ane ratsche of ane pistolat 1591 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. I. 265.
Daniell Hair to pey to Donnald McYm v merkis for ane pistolat he bocht fra him c1615 Chron. Kings 175.(c) 1562 Digest Justiciary Proc. D. 39.
Thrie hundreth men armit with iakis pistulattis culveringes … and wtheris wappinis invasiue 1576 Crim. Trials I. ii. 61.
Pistulet — 1580 Crail B. Ct. 6 Dec.
The actis of parliament maid anent presenting off hagbuttis or pistolittis to ony persoun — 1600 M. Napier Mem. J. Napier 309.
Pistellettes(d) c1578 Reid Swire 107.
We had pestelets anew And shot amang thame as we might 1577 Reg. Privy S. VII. 167/2.
Pestilettis 1595 Culross I. 133.
Pestolatts 1596 Dalr. II. 353/24. 1598 Paterson Ayr & Wigton II. 46.
They dischargitt sindrie shottis of pestillottis at him 1626 in Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. I. 676.
Thair is many that beiris pestolatis in thair pocattis and behind thair bakis 1642 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. II. 669.
Pestolet 16.. Canongate Hammermen in Bk. Old Edinb. C. XX. 108.
Pestilotattrib. 1600 Paisley B. Rec. 234.
Four punds money as for the price of ane pistolat gun