Prick

Prick, prik, n. that which pricks or penetrates: a sharp point: the act or feeling of pricking: a puncture: a sting: remorse: (Shak.) a thorn, prickle, skewer, point of time: (Spens.) point, pitch.—v.t. to pierce with a prick: to erect any pointed thing: to fix by the point: to put on by puncturing: to mark or make by pricking: to incite: to deck out as with flowers or feathers: to pain.—v.i. to have a sensation of puncture: to stand erect: to ride with spurs:—pa.t. and pa.p. pricked.—adj. Prick′-eared, having pointed ears.—ns. Prick′er, that which pricks: a sharp-pointed instrument: light-horseman: a priming wire; Prick′ing; Prickle (prik′l), a little prick: a sharp point growing from the bark of a plant or from the skin of an animal.—v.t. to prick slightly.—v.i. (Spens.) to be prickly.—ns. Prick′le-back, the stickle-back; Prick′liness; Prick′ling, the act of piercing with a sharp point: (Shak.) the sensation of being pricked.—adj. prickly.—adj. Prick′ly, full of prickles.—ns. Prick′ly-heat, a severe form of the skin disease known as lichen, with itching and stinging sensations; Prick′ly-pear, a class of plants with clusters of prickles and fruit like the pear; Prick′-me-dain′ty (Scot.), an affected person.—adj. over-precise.—ns. Prick′-song (Shak.), a song set to music: music in parts; Prick′-spur, a goad-spur; Prick′-the-gar′ter (cf. Fast-and-loose); Prick′-the-louse (Scot.), a tailor. [A.S. pricu, a point; Ger. prickeln, Dut. prikkel, a prickle.]