preen1
[preen]
- (of animals, especially birds) to trim or dress (feathers, fur, etc.) with the beak or tongue: The peacock preened itself on the lawn.
- to dress (oneself) carefully or smartly; primp: The king preened himself in his elaborate ceremonial robes.
- to pride (oneself) on an achievement, personal quality, etc.: He preened himself on having been graduated with honors.
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- to make oneself appear striking or smart in dress or appearance: No amount of careful preening will compensate for poor posture.
- to be exultant or proud.
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Origin of preen1
preen2
[preen]
- a pin or brooch.
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Origin of preen2
before 1000; Middle English prene, Old English prēon a pin; cognate with Old Norse prjōnn pin; akin to Dutch priem, German Pfreim awl
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for preen
Contemporary Examples
Hot pink takes the Preen by Thornton Bregazzi runway in London.
LFW Photo of the Day: Sept. 15September 15, 2013
This is not the first time Palin has attempted to sun and preen herself in the heat of a Thatcherite sun.
Rather than preen about whether he could win, Christie considered whether he should win.
An endless stream of 2012 presidential wannabes will preen for adoring fans and plentiful cameras.
A few moments to preen and promenade for the cameras following months of planning and fitting, hours of hair and makeup.
Historical Examples
It is these on which they preen themselves, these by which they judge and condemn others.
Erasmus and the Age of ReformationJohan Huizinga
A penny hain'd's a penny clear, and a preen a-day's a groat a-year.
The Proverbs of ScotlandAlexander Hislop
He that winna lout and lift a preen will ne'er be worth a groat.
The Proverbs of ScotlandAlexander Hislop
But when they got indoors, Mr. Preen let loose the vials of his wrath upon Oliver.
Johnny Ludlow, Sixth SeriesMrs. Henry Wood
Not much more work there than Preen can do himself, I expect.
Johnny Ludlow, Sixth SeriesMrs. Henry Wood
preen1
- (of birds) to maintain (feathers) in a healthy condition by arrangement, cleaning, and other contact with the bill
- to dress or array (oneself) carefully; primp
- (usually foll by on) to pride or congratulate (oneself)
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Word Origin
C14 preinen, probably from prunen to prune ³, influenced by prenen to prick, pin (see preen ²); suggestive of the pricking movement of the bird's beak
preen2
- Scot a pin, esp a decorative one
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Word Origin
Old English prēon a pin; related to Middle High German pfrieme awl, Dutch priem bodkin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for preen
v.
"to trim, to dress up," late 14c., perhaps a variation of Middle English proynen, proinen "trim the feather with the beak" (see prune (v.)); or perhaps from Old French poroindre "anoint before," and Old French proignier "round off, prune." Middle English prene (from Old English preon, a general Germanic word) meant "to pin," and probably influenced the form of this word. Watkins, however, connects it with Latin unguere "to smear, anoint."
Because of the popularity of falconry, bird activities formerly were more closely observed and words for them were more precise in English than today.
Youre hawke proynith and not pikith and she prenyth not bot whan she begynnyth at hir leggys, and fetcheth moystour like oyle at hir taill. ["Book of St. Albans," 1486]
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper