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.
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Origin of prig
1First recorded in 1560–70; formerly, coxcomb; perhaps akin to prink
OTHER WORDS FROM prig
priggish, adjectiveprig·gish·ly, adverbprig·gish·ness, nounun·prig·gish, adjectiveDefinition for prig (2 of 2)
prig2
[ prig ]
/ prɪg /
verb (used with object), prigged, prig·ging.
Chiefly British. to steal.
verb (used without object), prigged, prig·ging.
Scot. and North England. to haggle or argue over price.
British Informal. to beg or entreat; ask a favor.
noun
Chiefly British. a thief.
Origin of prig
2First recorded in 1505–15; originally thieves' cant; origin uncertain
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for prig
British Dictionary definitions for prig (1 of 2)
prig1
/ (prɪɡ) /
noun
a person who is smugly self-righteous and narrow-minded
Derived forms of prig
priggery or priggishness, nounpriggish, adjectivepriggishly, adverbpriggism, nounWord Origin for prig
C18: of unknown origin
British Dictionary definitions for prig (2 of 2)
prig2
/ (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
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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