Obs. exc. dial. Forms: 4–5 costril(le, -ell(e, 5 costrele, -ylle, costerell, (6 kostorell, 7 castrel), 9 costril, 4–9 costrel. [a. OF. costerel, synonymous with costeret: cf. med.L. costārium, costerium, ‘poculum vinarium,’ and, in same sense, costrellus (Du Cange).
OF. costerel, -et, are generally taken as dims. of coste basket, panier; but they have the form of dims. of costier ‘that is by the side,’ L. type *costārius. Cf. the med.L. equivalent collateralis, also OF. costereau (= costerel) a dweller side by side, a neighbor.]
A vessel for holding or carrying wine or other liquid; a large bottle with an ear or ears by which it could be suspended from the waist (whence the antiquarian designation ‘pilgrim’s bottle’), or a small wooden keg similarly used, in which sense it is still in dialect use.
[a. 1400. MS., in Promp. Parv., 95. Uter, anglice a botel, sed collateralis, anglice a costrelle. De cute dicis utres, de ligno collaterales.]
c. 1380. Sir Ferumb., 510. Ac by myddel þer hongeþ her a costrel … ful of þat bame cler þat precious ys & fre.
1382. Wyclif, Ruth ii. 9. If also thou thrustist, go to the litil costrils [v.r. costretis] and drynke watris.
c. 1385. Chaucer, L. G. W., 2666, Hyperm. And therwithalle a costrel [so 3 MSS.; 3 costret] taketh he And seyde, ‘Hereof a draught, or two, or three.’
c. 1430. Lydg., Bochas, VII. viii. (1555), 172 b. His riche pymentes his ypocras of dispence Hinge nat in costretes nor botels in the spēce.
c. 1440. Hylton, Scala Perf. (W. de W., 1491), II. xxix. The costrell that is olde whan it receyueth new wyne … bolneth oute and is in poynte for to cleue & brest.
c. 1450. Nominale, in Wr.-Wülcker, 724/9. Hic colateralis, a costrille.
1454. Test. Ebor. (Surtees), I. 173. A costerell for ale.
1572. Inv. G. Cope, in Midl. Co. Hist. Coll., II. 331. Two kostorells of foure gallons a piece for drinke.
1709. Hearne, Collect., 5 Oct. In the north they say a costrel of Tarr for a barrell of Tarr.
1824–8. Carr, Craven Dial., Costril, a small barrel. It was formerly used here instead of a bottle, by labourers who took milk and beer in it.
1859. Tennyson, Geraint & Enid, 386. A youth, that following with a costrel bore The means of goodly welcome, flesh and wine.
1874. Archæol. Jrnl., Dec., 431. Mrs. Baily sent for exhibition two costrels, or pilgrims’ bottles.
