Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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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.
Quotation dates: 1979-1993
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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 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/pintle>
