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Definition of preen - 6 dictionary results
Preen
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preen

1  [preen]
Use preen in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. (of animals, esp. birds) to trim or dress (feathers, fur, etc.) with the beak or tongue: The peacock preened itself on the lawn.
2. to dress (oneself) carefully or smartly; primp: The king preened himself in his elaborate ceremonial robes.
3. to pride (oneself) on an achievement, personal quality, etc.: He preened himself on having been graduated with honors.
–verb (used without object)
4. to make oneself appear striking or smart in dress or appearance: No amount of careful preening will compensate for poor posture.
5. to be exultant or proud.
Origin:
1480–90; late ME prene, var. of ME prunen, proynen (see prune 3 ), perh. by assoc. with prenen, to stab, pierce (v. use, now dial., of prene preen 2 ), from the pricking action of a bird's beak in preening

Related forms:
preener, noun

preen

2  [preen]
–noun Chiefly British Dialect.
a pin or brooch.
Origin:
bef. 1000; ME prene, OE prēon a pin; c. ON prjōnn pin; akin to D priem, G Pfreim awl
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To preen
preen   (prēn)   
v.   preened, preen·ing, preens

v.   tr.
    1. To smooth or clean (feathers) with the beak or bill.
    2. To trim or clean (fur) with the tongue, as cats do.
  2. To dress or groom (oneself) with elaborate care; primp.
  3. To take pride or satisfaction in (oneself); gloat.
v.   intr.
  1. To dress up; primp.
  2. To swell with pride; gloat or exult.

[Middle English proinen, preinen, blend of Old French proignier, to prune; see prune2, and Old French poroindre, to anoint before (por-, before from Latin prō-; see pro-1 + oindre, to anoint from Latin unguere).]
preen'er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Preen

Preen\, n. [AS. pre['o]n a clasp, bodkin; akin to D. priem punch, bodkin, awl, G. pfriem, Icel. prj[=o]nn a knitting needle, pin, Dan. preen a bodkin, punch.] A forked tool used by clothiers in dressing cloth.

Preen

Preen\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Preened; p. pr. & vb. n. Preening.] [See Preen, n.; or cf. Prune.]

1. To dress with, or as with, a preen; to trim or dress with the beak, as the feathers; -- said of birds. --Derham.

2. To trim up, as trees. [Prov. Eng.] --Halliwell.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : preen
Spanish: arreglar, *alisar con el pico,
German: putzen,
Japanese: 羽を整える
More Translations »

preen 
"to trim, to dress up," c.1386, perhaps a variation of prune (v.), or from O.Fr. poroindre "anoint before," and O.Fr. proignier "round off, prune." O.E. preon meant "to pin," and probably influenced this word. Due to the popularity of falconry, Words for bird activities were formerly much more precise 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]
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Preen
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