prickle

American  

[prik-uhl] / ˈprɪk əl /

noun

1. a sharp point.

2. a small, pointed process growing from the bark of a plant.

3. a sharp process or projection, as from the skin of an animal; a spine.

4. a pricking sensation.

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verb (used with object)

prickled, prickling

1. to prick lightly.

2. to cause a pricking or tingling sensation in.

verb (used without object)

prickled, prickling

1. to tingle as if pricked.

prickle British  

/ ˈprɪkəl /

noun

1. botany a pointed process arising from the outer layer of a stem, leaf, etc, and containing no woody or conducting tissue Compare thorn

2. a pricking or stinging sensation

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verb

1. to feel or cause to feel a stinging sensation

2. (tr) to prick, as with a thorn

Other Word Forms

• unprickled
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of prickle

before 950; Middle English prykel (noun), Old English pricel. See prick, -le

Explanation

A prickle is a thorn or a bramble, a small, sharp place on a plant. When you're climbing over your neighbor's fence to get your Frisbee back, watch out for the prickles on their blackberry bushes! In addition to "thorny spikes," another meaning of prickle is "a pricking or tingling sensation," like the prickle that runs down your back when you hear the eerie sound of a coyote howling near your campground. To prickle is to create this sensation, a feeling that, like the word itself, is a combination of prick and a tickle.

Example Sentences

Divers cottagers, who depended on farmer Prickle, were successively refused, because they could not prove that they had paid scot and lot, and parish taxes.

From The Adventures of Sir Launcelot Greaves by Smollett, T. (Tobias)

Prickle happened to be at variance with the innkeeper, and the curate durst not disoblige the vicar, who at that very time was suing the farmer for the small tithes.

From The Adventures of Sir Launcelot Greaves by Smollett, T. (Tobias)

Prickle, the first transports of his anger having subsided, began to be pricked with the thorns of compunction; he was indeed extremely mortified at the prospect of being sent to jail so disgracefully.

From The Adventures of Sir Launcelot Greaves by Smollett, T. (Tobias)

He said the others might be easily influenced in the way of admonition; but there was no way of dealing with Prickle, except by the form and authority of the law.

From The Adventures of Sir Launcelot Greaves by Smollett, T. (Tobias)