prick

[ prik ]

noun

1. a puncture made by a needle, thorn, or the like.
2. a sharp point; prickle.
3. the act of pricking:

   the prick of a needle.

4. the state or sensation of being pricked.
5. a sharp pain caused by or as if by being pricked; twinge.
6. the pointed end of a prickspur.
7. Slang: Vulgar.
   1. penis.
   2. an obnoxious or contemptible person.
8. Archaic. a goad for oxen.
9. Obsolete. a small or minute mark, a dot, or a point.
10. Obsolete. any pointed instrument or weapon.

verb (used with object)

1. to pierce with a sharp point; puncture.
2. to affect with sharp pain, as from piercing.
3. to cause sharp mental pain to; sting, as with remorse, anger, etc.:

   His conscience pricked him.

4. to urge on with or as if with a goad or spur:

   My duty pricks me on.

5. to mark (a surface) with pricks or dots in tracing something.
6. to mark or trace (something) on a surface by pricks or dots.
7. to cause to stand erect or point upward (usually followed by up ):

   The dog pricked his ears at the sound of the bell.

8. Farriery.
   1. to lame (a horse) by driving a nail improperly into its hoof.
   2. to nick:

      to prick a horse's tail.

9. to measure (distance, the size of an area, etc.) on a chart with dividers (usually followed by off ).
10. Horticulture. to transplant (a seedling) into a container that provides more room for growth (usually followed by out or off ).

verb (used without object)

1. to perform the action of piercing or puncturing something.
2. to have a sensation of being pricked.
3. to spur or urge a horse on; ride rapidly.
4. to rise erect or point upward, as the ears of an animal (usually followed by up ).

prick

/ prɪk /

verb

1. 1. to make (a small hole) in (something) by piercing lightly with a sharp point
   2. to wound in this manner
2. intr to cause or have a piercing or stinging sensation
3. to cause to feel a sharp emotional pain

   knowledge of such poverty pricked his conscience

4. to puncture or pierce
5. to mark, delineate, or outline by dots or punctures
6. also intrusually foll byup to rise or raise erect; point

   the dog pricked his ears up at his master's call

7. usually foll byout or off to transplant (seedlings) into a larger container
8. often foll by off nautical to measure or trace (a course, distance, etc) on a chart with dividers
9. archaic.
   to rouse or impel; urge on
10. archaic.
    intr to ride fast on horseback; spur a horse on
11. prick up one's ears
    to start to listen attentively; become interested

noun

1. the act of pricking or the condition or sensation of being pricked
2. a mark made by a sharp point; puncture
3. a sharp emotional pain resembling the physical pain caused by being pricked

   a prick of conscience

4. a taboo slang word for penis
5. slang.
   an obnoxious or despicable man
6. an instrument or weapon with a sharp point, such as a thorn, goad, bee sting, etc
7. the footprint or track of an animal, esp a hare
8. obsolete.
   a small mark caused by pricking a surface; dot; point
9. kick against the pricks
   to hurt oneself by struggling against something in vain

Other Words From

• pricker noun
• pricking·ly adverb
• un·pricked adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of prick¹

before 1000; (noun) Middle English prike; Old English prica, price dot, point; (v.) Middle English priken, Old English prician; cognate with Dutch, Low German prik point

Word History and Origins

Origin of prick¹

Old English prica point, puncture; related to Dutch prik, Icelandic prik short stick, Swedish prick point, stick

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. kick against the pricks, to resist incontestable facts or authority; protest uselessly:

   In appealing the case again, you will just be kicking against the pricks.

2. prick up one's ears, to become very alert; listen attentively:

   The reporter pricked up his ears at the prospect of a scoop.

Example Sentences

III Good knights of many a region and many a foreign tongue Prick'd before King Etzel, that all the champaign rung; Christian and heathen squadrons, careering wide around, Advanc'd in dazzling splendor to where the queen they found.

From Project Gutenberg

This brown bride had a little penknife, That was both long and sharp, And betwixt the short ribs and the long, Prick'd fair Ellinor to the heart.60 "O Christ now save thee," Lord Thomas he said, "Methinks thou look'st wondrous wan; Thou us'd to look with as fresh a colour, As ever the sun shin'd on."

From Project Gutenberg

Nor wail'd to all in vain: some here and there, The well-disposed and good, their pennies gave; I meantime at his feet obsequious slept; Not all-asleep in sleep, but heart and ear Prick'd up at his least motion: to receive At his kind hand my customary crumbs, And common portion in his feast of scraps; Or when night warned us homeward, tired and spent With our long day and tedious beggary.

From Project Gutenberg

This brown bride had a little penknife, That was both long and sharp, And betwixt the short ribs and the long, Prick'd fair Ellinor to the heart.

From Project Gutenberg

The Explanation shall follow the Peal; intending here to put an end to my Epitome of the Art of Ringing, and therefore shall first present you with this Prick’t thus.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• puncture
• slit