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Prig

//pɹɪɡ// noun, verb, slang

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A deliberately superior person; a person who demonstrates an exaggerated conformity or propriety, especially in an irritatingly arrogant or smug manner.

    "What spruce prig is that?"

  2. 2
    a person regarded as arrogant and annoying wordnet
  3. 3
    A conceited dandy; a fop. archaic

    "A rap now at the door made all resound, / And in two bouncing blowings did rebound, / With two flash-men, a dandy, and a prig', / With whom they had been running of the rig."

  4. 4
    A tinker. Ireland, UK, archaic

    "These droncken Tynckers, called also Prygges."

  5. 5
    A petty thief or pickpocket. Ireland, UK, archaic

    "Out upon him! Prig, for my life, prig! He haunts / wakes, fairs, and bear-baitings."

Verb
  1. 1
    To filch or steal. archaic, slang

    "to prig a handkerchief"

  2. 2
    To ride.
  3. 3
    To copulate. obsolete

    "Wapping thou I know does love, / Else the ruffin cly the mort; / From thy stampers then remove, / Thy drawers, and let's prig in sport."

Etymology

Etymology 1

UK 16th century. Of unknown origin. Earlier noun senses ("tinker" and "thief"), as hyponyms of "undesirable person", may have informed later senses ("conceited person").

Etymology 2

UK 16th century. Of unknown origin. Earlier noun senses ("tinker" and "thief"), as hyponyms of "undesirable person", may have informed later senses ("conceited person").

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