prig
1[ prig ]
/ prɪg /
noun
a person who displays or demands of others pointlessly precise conformity, fussiness about trivialities, or exaggerated propriety, especially in a self-righteous or irritating manner.
Nearby words
priestess, priestfish, priesthood, priestley, priestly, prig, priggery, priggism, prigogine, prill, prilosec
Origin of prig
1First recorded in 1560–70; formerly, coxcomb; perhaps akin to prink
Related forms
prig·gish, adjectiveprig·gish·ly, adverbprig·gish·ness, nounun·prig·gish, adjectiveDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for priggish
British Dictionary definitions for priggish (1 of 2)
prig
1/ (prɪɡ) /
noun
a person who is smugly self-righteous and narrow-minded
Derived Forms
priggery or priggishness, nounpriggish, adjectivepriggishly, adverbpriggism, nounWord Origin for prig
C18: of unknown origin
British Dictionary definitions for priggish (2 of 2)
prig
2/ (prɪɡ) British slang, archaic /
verb prigs, prigging or prigged
another word for steal
noun
another word for thief
Word Origin for prig
C16: of unknown origin
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