| E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898. |
| | | Prig. | | |
|
A knavish beggar in the Beggar’s Bush, by Beaumont and Fletcher. | 1 |
|
Prig. A coxcomb, a conceited person Probably the Anglo-Saxon pryt or pryd. | 2 |
|
Prig. To filch or steal. Also a pickpocket or thief. The clown calls Autol’ycus a “prig that haunts wakes, fairs, and bear-baitings.” (Shakespeare: Winter’s Tale, iv. 3.) | 3 |
| |
In Scotch, to prig means to cheapen, or haggle over the price asked; priggin means cheapening. |
|
| |
|
|
