prig

1
[ prig ]
See synonyms for prig on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. 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.

Origin of prig

1
First recorded in 1560–70; formerly, “coxcomb”; perhaps akin to prink

Other words for prig

Other words from prig

  • prig·gish, adjective

Other definitions for prig (2 of 2)

prig2
[ prig ]

verb (used with object),prigged, prig·ging.
  1. Chiefly British. to steal.

verb (used without object),prigged, prig·ging.
  1. Scot. and North England. to haggle or argue over price.

  2. British Informal. to beg or entreat; ask a favor.

noun
  1. Chiefly British. a thief.

Origin of prig

2
First recorded in 1505–15; originally thieves' cant; origin uncertain

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use prig in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for prig (1 of 2)

prig1

/ (prɪɡ) /


noun
  1. a person who is smugly self-righteous and narrow-minded

Origin of prig

1
C18: of unknown origin

Derived forms of prig

  • priggery or priggishness, noun
  • priggish, adjective
  • priggishly, adverb
  • priggism, noun

British Dictionary definitions for prig (2 of 2)

prig2

/ (prɪɡ) British slang, archaic /


verbprigs, prigging or prigged
  1. another word for steal

noun
  1. another word for thief

Origin of prig

2
C16: of unknown origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012