Prig

/pɹɪɡ/ · noun

Meaning

A deliberately superior person; a person who demonstrates an exaggerated conformity or propriety, especially in an irritatingly arrogant or smug manner..

Definitions by Sense

1. A deliberately superior person; a person who demonstrates an exaggerated conformity or propriety, especially in an irritatingly arrogant or smug manner.
2. (archaic) A conceited dandy; a fop.
3. (UK, Ireland, archaic, thieves' cant) A tinker.
4. (UK, Ireland, archaic, thieves' cant) A petty thief or pickpocket.
5. (slang, archaic) To filch or steal.
6. To ride.
7. (obsolete) To copulate.

Example Sentences

What spruce prig is that?

I have always had a regard for dunces; — those of my own school-days were amongst the pleasantest of the fellows, and have turned out by no means the dullest in life; whereas many a youth who could turn off Latin hexameters by the yard, and construe Greek quite glibly, is no better than a feeble prig now, with not a pennyworth more brains than were in his head before his beard grew.

A prig is a fellow who is always making you a present of his opinions.

A rap now at the door made all resound, / And in two bouncing blowings did rebound, / With two flash-men, a dandy, and a prig', / With whom they had been running of the rig.

The manner of the scholar had nearly disappeared; still more the manner of the drawing-room young man. A prig would have said that he had lost his culture, and a prude that he had become coarse.

These droncken Tynckers, called also Prygges.

Out upon him! Prig, for my life, prig! He haunts / wakes, fairs, and bear-baitings.

Oh, why didn't he rob some rich old gentleman of all his walables, and go out as a gentleman, and not like a common prig, without no honour nor glory!

Synonyms for prig

Antonyms for prig

Related Words

Word Forms

• prigs
• prigging
• prigged

Usage Notes

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