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priggish

 - 3 dictionary results

prig

1  [prig]
Use priggish in a Sentence
–noun
a person who displays or demands of others pointlessly precise conformity, fussiness about trivialities, or exaggerated propriety, esp. in a self-righteous or irritating manner.
Origin:
1560–70; formerly, coxcomb; perh. akin to prink

Related forms:
priggish, adjective
prig⋅gish⋅ly, adverb
prig⋅gish⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
prude, puritan, bluenose.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To priggish
prig   (prĭg)   
n.  

  1. A person who demonstrates an exaggerated conformity or propriety, especially in an irritatingly arrogant or smug manner.

  2. Chiefly British A petty thief or pickpocket.

  3. Archaic A conceited dandy; a fop.

tr.v.   prigged, prig·ging, prigs Chiefly British
To steal or pilfer.

[Origin unknown.]
prig'ger·y n., prig'gish adj., prig'gish·ly adv., prig'gish·ness 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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Word Origin & History

prig 
1753, "precisian in speech or manners," of unknown origin; earlier "dandy, fop" (1676), "thief" (1610, in form prigger recorded from 1561), also a thieves' cant word for "a tinker" (1567), though connection of this with the other meaning is uncertain.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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