'Pintatu' (Etxepare 1545): 'edan'?

Abstract

The first known book published in Basque language (Etchepare 1545) may yet harbour a few surprises. As a matter of fact the verb pintatu in the following excerpt: Nyri υn∫a ez padaguit vehardicit pintatu has always been consistently translated as 'to drink' or 'to drink excessively', 'to drink like a fish', but this direct translation can be challenged by a more plausible contextualized proposal such as 'to pretend', 'to lure' or 'to hoax', which would take into account the various Castilian and French meanings of 'pintar' and 'peindre' (to paint), originated from the Latin word pingere.