† ˈpourcuttle, pourˈcontrel Obs.
Also 6 pourcouttell.
[Origin unascertained.
The earliest cited form is pourcouttell, of which pourcontrell might easily be a misreading. The second element would then be couttell = cuttle. But pour- remains unexplained: it can hardly stand for an earlier poul- from poulpe or polypus. (Cf. polliwog, polwygle, porwiggle.)]
An octopus.
| 1585 Higins Junius' Nomencl. 69/1 Polypus.., poulpe, poupe, a pourcouttell. 1591 Sylvester Du Bartas i. v. 87 Some have their heads groveling betwixt their feet (As th' inky Cuttles, and the Many-feet). [Margin.] Examples. The Pour-cuttle. Cuttle. 1601 Holland Pliny I. 242 Some have a tender and soft skin,..others none at all, as the Pour⁓cuttle or Pourcontrell. Ibid. II. 427 The Pulpe fish or Pour⁓cuttell. 1603 Florio Montaigne ii. xii. (1632) 260 The fish called a Pourcontrell, or Manie-feet, changeth himself into what colour he lists. 1611 Cotgr., Poulpe,..the Pourcontrell, Preke, or many-footed fish. 1638 Mayne Lucian (1664) 384 You are to eat a raw Pourcontrell, or Cuttle-fish, and so to dye. 1758 Baker in Phil. Trans. L. 778 The Polypus, particularly so called, the Octopus, Preke, or Pour-contrel. |