Baretti: A dictionary of the English and Italian languages
Pénn-a, s. f. dim. Pénn-élla, Pénn-úccia, Pénn-úzza, disp.Pénn-áccia ,
1. feather; 2. a pen; 3. pen, style, way of writing. Pigliar la —, to set pen to paper;4. pen, writer, author; 5. the top, height, or peak of a hill. La — d'un monte, the top of a mountain. A — e calamajo, exactly. Cavar le penne maestre, to take away from one the best part of what he has. Penne maestre, the longest feathers of the wings of a bird. Penne maschili, the members, limbs, wings (of angels, genii, and demons). Scorso di —, scribbling. Lasciar nella — alcuna cosa, to omit a thing. Tirare un fil di —, to cancel; 6. the part of the hammer opposite to that which hammers in the nail; 7. yard-arm (of a ship). Far la —,to man the yard-arm. A —, written, manuscript.
Florio: a worlde of wordes, or most copious, dictionarie in Italian and English
penna: any kinde of feather, quill, plume, or pen. Also a whole wing Also the finne of any fish. Also the Nacre-fish. Vsed also for a writing pen, and also for any written poem or composition.