pinnace
(ˈpɪnəs)
Forms: 6 pennis, pinase, -esse, pinnes, pynice, -asse, pynneis, -esse, 6–7 pynn-, pinace, pinnesse, -is(e, -as(e, -ass(e, 7 pinise, pinnaisse, pynnis, pynace, -esse, 6– pinnace; (Sc. 6 pinag, pynnage, pynnege, 6–7 pinnage).
[a. F. pinasse, pinace = Sp. pina{cced}a (1252–84 in Jal), Pg. pina{cced}a (1326 in Jal), It. pinaccia, -azza (Florio). The earlier form in Eng. and Fr. was ME. 15th c. spinace, spinas, spynes, OF. espinace (1451), espinasse = med. (Anglo-) L. spinachium (1338 Knighton).
F. pinasse and its Romanic cognates are by Diez and others taken as derived from pīn-us, pino, pin pine-tree (cf. Cotgrave ‘pinasse the Pitch tree; also a Pinnace’), L. type *pinācea. But this leaves the form in esp-, sp-, unexplained.]
1. A small light vessel, generally two-masted, and schooner-rigged; often in attendance on a larger vessel as a tender, scout, etc., whence probably the use in 2. Since c 1700 only Hist. and poet.
| [1321–7 Anc. Corr. (P.R.O.) LVIII. 8 Kaunt ioe departi de Portismuth oue le espynasse le vent fust en countre.] |
| 1546 in R. G. Marsden Sel. Pl. Crt. Adm. (1894) I. 138 In dictis navibus vocatis pynneis. c 1550 Sir A. Barton in Surtees Misc. (1888) 68 His pennis hath ninescorre men and more. a 1552 Leland Itin. IV. 23 The old Toun was brent by the Pinesses of the Spaniardes. 1559 W. Cuningham Cosmogr. Glasse 143 Pincke, Pynice, Gally, or what so euer name they haue. 1565–73 Cooper Thesaurus, Catascopium, a spiall ship: a brigantine or pinneise [1548–52 spinner]. 1569 T. Stocker tr. Diod. Sicul. iii. xi. 120 The Shippes..were haled out by the Gallies and other small pynnaces rowed with ores. 1591 in Heath Grocers' Comp. (1869) 85 That six shippes of war and one pynasse should be furnyshed and set forth by the Cittie. 1598 Sylvester Du Bartas ii. i. Eden 27 Thou canst safely steer My ventrous Pinnasse to her wished Peer. 1600 Holland Livy x. ii. 352 The soldiors were transported in lighter barkes and small pinnaces. 1612 S. Mountagu in Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.) I. 243 This afternoon hath been the sea fight with some 15 or 16 pynesses and half a score galleys. 1622 R. Hawkins Voy. S. Sea (1847) 170 We..gave the bigger shippe to the Spaniards againe, and the lesser wee kept, with purpose to make her our pinnas. 1624 Capt. Smith Virginia i. 5 Full of flats and shoulds that our Pinnasse could not passe. 1650 S. Clarke Eccl. Hist. i. (1654) 83 He entered into a Pinnace, and went up the River Nilus. 1666 Despaut. Gram. Inst. (Jam.), Phaselus, a Barge or Pinnage. 1710 J. Harris Lex. Techn. II, Pinnace,..a small Vessel, with a Square Stern, going with Sails and Oars, and carrying three Masts;..used as a Scout for Intelligence, and for Landing of Men. 1725 Pope Odyss. xiii. 187 The winged Pinnace shot along the sea. 1842 J. Wilson Chr. North (1857) I. 247 A fair pinnace to glide and float for aye! |
| fig. 1589 Warner Alb. Eng. vi. xxix. (1612) 144, I will..toogh the Pinnesse of my thoughts to kenning of your Eyes. 1610 Boys Exp. Epist. & Gosp. Wks. (1629) 165 First, we must be shipt with Christ in baptisme; After saile with him in the Pinnesse of the Church. |
2. A double-banked boat (usually eight-oared) forming part of the equipment of a man-of-war; also applied to other small boats.
| 1685 Lond. Gaz. No. 2054/3 The Larks Boat being Commanded by Captain Leightons Brother, the Bonadventures Pinnace by Mr. Harrises,..and the Yaule by Mr. Brisbane. 1745 P. Thomas Jrnl. Anson's Voy. 55 We mann'd and arm'd our Barge, Pinnace, and the Trial's Pinnace. 1769 Falconer Dict. Marine (1789) F iv, Pinnaces exactly resemble barges, only that they are somewhat smaller, and never row more than eight oars. 1840 R. H. Dana Bef. Mast xxiii. 68 There were five boats belonging to the ship—launch, pinnace, jolly-boat, larboard quarter-boat, and gig. |
† 3. Applied in figurative context to a woman; also
spec. a mistress; a prostitute.
Obs.| a 1568 in Bannatyne Poems (Hunter. Cl.) 1080 Now, gossop, I must neidis be gon, And leive my prettie pinnage to your guyde. 1568 Sempill Margret Fleming viii, Now is my pretty pynnege reddy. 1607 Dekker & Webster Northw. Hoe v. D.'s Wks. 1873 III. 78 If I like her personage..Ile stand thrumming of Caps no longer, but board your Pynnis whilst 'tis hotte. 1614 B. Jonson Bart. Fair ii. ii, Shee hath beene before mee, Punke, Pinnace and Bawd any time these two and twenty yeeres. 1693 Congreve Old Bachelor v. vii, A goodly pinnace, richly laden..Twelve thousand pounds, and all her rigging. |