Middle English Dictionary Entry
prik(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | prik(e n. Also prikke, prick(e, prickke, prek(e, prekke & (in names) pirke-, pirck-, (?with voicing of k) prig(ge, prighe-, prege-, prehe-; pl. prikes, etc. & pricken & (?with kk misread as w) prew(e)s. |
| Etymology | OE prica, Merc. *preoca. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. priche. n.
1.
(a) A pointed object, something that punctures or stabs; spike; ~ wise, the fashion of a prick or point; (b) a tapering end, point; the point of a spear; (c) the sting of an insect or a scorpion; (d) a spine of a hedgehog; cook. a simulation of a hedgehog's spine in dishes; (e) a thorn of a plant, spine, prickle.
Associated quotations
a
- a1350(a1325) SLeg.Cec.(Ashm 43)195 : Þi poer..nys bote as a bleddore iblowe uol of wynde Þat be ipriked wiþ a pricke.
- c1390 Chart.Abbey HG (Vrn)359 : Þe Iewes..maden hem scorges wiþ babeles of led & scharpe prikkes on þe endes.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)192a/a : In oolde tyme þey were ymerkede with dyuers fygures..ymade on here flesshe and skynne wiþ yren prikkes.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)209a/b : In some þe vttermest parties beþ schape in a coppe wyse oþer in a prik wise and scharpe [L piramidales & acute].
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)89a : A calketrappe..haþ foure tyndes or prickes, yscharpid kene.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)89b : Somme ordeined aȝenst þese bestes footmen..hauynge on here schuldres and on here helmes scharpe prickes.
- a1450 Hrl.Cook.Bk.(1) (Hrl 279)38 : Take a litel prycke & prykke þe yrchons.
- c1450 Siege Jerus.(1) (Add 31042)910 : Prikes [vr. prikke; Ld: On þat tronchoun with his teþ he toggeþ & byteþ Tille hit was piked at þe poynt as a pokes ende].
- c1475 Wisd.(Folg V.a.354)1060 : Gode sethe: 'Lowe me souerenly, Ande þat to me more plesant ys Than yf þou went wpon a pyler of tre Þat wer sett full of scharpe prykkys.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)80/11 : Bewar also that the pricke [F l'aguillon] of thi frendis entre not into thi hondis.
- a1500 *Let.Alex.(Wor F.172)215 : In our handis we hadden long battis, staves, and speris..insette with the most sharpest prikes and stikynge instrumentis.
b
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2606 : Ther shyueren shaftes vpon sheeldes thikke; He feeleth thurgh the herte spoon the prikke [vrr. prike, prik].
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)164b/a : The 4a. instrument is punctale hauyng a poynt or a pricke [L cuspidem], smalle and rounde.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)155 : It is a spere, yf þowe canst se, with a prik to-fore.
c
- c1350 Apoc.(1) in LuSE (Hrl 874)p.69 : And þai shullen haue tailes as þe scorpyoun & sharp prickes [vr. poyntis; F aguluns] in her tailes.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Roy 1.B.6)Apoc.9.10 : Thei hadden tayles lijk of scorpiouns, and prickes weren in the tayles of hem.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.468 : Bees, whan they maken hire kyng, they chesen oon that hath no prikke wher with he may stynge.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)147a/a : The gnatte..haþ in his mouþ a pipe, as hit were a pricke, and þerwiþ he þurleþ þe fleische for to souke þe blood.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)3378 : Othir bees, prikkes han euerichon.
d
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)289a/b : An yrchon haþ a litel body and many pikes and prikkes.
- (a1399) Form Cury (Add 5016)p.79 : Make smale prews [vrr. prikkes, pryckes] of gode past and frye hem; take þese prews [vr. prickes] yfryed & seeþ [?read: set] hem þicke in þe mawes on þe fars made after an urchon withoute legges.
- (a1399) Form Cury (Add 5016)p.80 : Make of litull prewes [?read: prekkes; vr. bowes of] gode past, frye hem oþer rost hem wel in grece, & make þerof Eerys to pottes.
- c1400 Brut-1333 (Rwl B.171)107/9 : Þo tok þai Kyng Edmunde..and made Archires to him shote with Arwes til þat his body stickede alse ful of Arwes as an hirchone is ful of prickes.
- ?c1425 Arun.Cook.Recipes (Arun 334)443 : Make prikkes of paste, and fry hom, and set hom in the mawes made aftur and [read: an] yrchon.
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)117/18 : Þe yrchon goth wyth hise scharpe pryckys.
e
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)245b/a : Þis rubus..is ful of prikkes from þe roote vp to þe top, and þe prikkes þerof beþ somedel croked dounward toward þe erþe.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)247b/b : Spina, thorne, is þe prikke þat groweþ out of þe þorne or of oþere herbes and trees wiþ prikkes.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)24084 : A crun o thorn his hefd on stod, þat ilk prick broght vte þe blod.
- c1465(?1373) *Lelamour Macer (Sln 5)35b : When he is of grete age, he havith prikkys as hit were forse.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)4.432 : The prickes kitte awaie & thynges rude, But saue the gammes in the summyte.
- ?a1450(1422) Lydg.SD (McC 182)53/29 : [Calth: Thanne shulde the coroune of þe palme] be forged withowte prikkes or spynis.
- ?a1450 Agnus Castus (Stockh 10.90)150/8 : Þis herbe haȝt lewys lyk to ywy, but it haȝt quyte prykkes.
- ?a1450 Macer (Stockh Med.10.91)199 : Lupinus..beriþ large and sharp prikkes.
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)108/7 : The palmes hathe prykkes in himselfe.
2.
(a) A goad; also, a goad as an instrument of torture; also fig.; ~ of conscience, a goad to the conscience; ~ of love, the title of any of several works, including the Stimulus Amoris attributed to St. Bonaventura; (b) kiken (striven) ayenes the ~, werken (winsen) ayen the ~, of oxen: to balk, be recalcitrant; also fig. of people: be rebellious; (c) incitement.
Associated quotations
a
- c1225 Body & S.(2) (Wor F.174)11 : [D]eaþ mid his pricke pineþ þene licame.
- a1325 SLeg.Marg.(Corp-C 145)118 : Hi..Wiþ scorgen and kene pricken..made hure many a wonde.
- c1350 Cmb.Ee.4.20.Nominale (Cmb Ee.4.20)862 : Fuet et agiloun: Gode and prikke.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ecclus.38.26 : Who holdiþ þe plowȝ..with þe pricke stereþ þe oxen.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))1 Cor.15.56 : Forsoth, the pricke [L Stimulus] of deeth is synne.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.5916 : O werste of alle wicke, Of conscience whom no pricke Mai stere, lo, what thou hast do!
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)273b/a : Þe oxe is y-greued wiþ þe ache of þe prikke [L stimuli] wiþ which he is y-prikked.
- ?a1400 PConsc.(Gar 138)p.xxxiv : Here bigynneþ þe boke whiche is iclepid þe Prick of Conscience.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)153/38 : Þe same preyste red aftyr-ward in a tretys whech is clepyd 'Þe Prykke of Lofe'.
- (1440) *Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)159 : My scharp prik is sette in swech a-sise, There may no man scapen my daungere.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)413 : Pryk, or prykyl: Stimulus, stiga.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)114/19 : If þis passioun of loue moue not þe wil aȝens resoun it is good, and it is a profitable pricke to stire forþ þe wil into good choisis of good inward and outward dedis.
- a1500 Nicod.(4) (Hrl 149)109 : Dethe wher ys now thy prykke, and where ys now thy vyctorye?
b
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)190/23 : To wynci aȝein þe pricke, swiþe strong it is þe.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Deeds 9.5 : It is hard to thee for to kyke aȝens the pricke.
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)19626 : Hit is to þe ful harde & wik for to wirk a-gaine þe prik.
- (a1402) Trev.Dial.MC (Hrl 1900)23/14 : Alwey to ȝoure owne harme, ȝe kikeþ aȝenus þe pricke of kynges.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) Prol.Deeds(1) (Roy 1.C.8)4.507 : The apostlis..long tyme wynside aȝen the pricke.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)11136 : I kan wynse ageyn the prykke As wylde coltys in Arras.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)53/4 : The oxe that stryvith ayeinst the prycke is gladly double prickid.
c
- (c1454) Pecock Fol.(Roy 17.D.9)38/31 : Y holde þat beestis knowen bi argument of silogisme, and oþire men holden þat beestis knowen bi symple prick and movyng of kynde without argument.
3.
(a) A pricking, prompting with a goad; an attack; physical pain, torment; sharp pain; ~ of (his, min) flesh, with ref. to St. Paul in 2 Cor.12.7:?a bodily infirmity, ?sensual temptation; putten at ~, to subject (sb.) to (Christ's) torment; (b) mental distress; a pang, feeling of anguish; ~ of conscience; (c) ?a surgical puncture.
Associated quotations
a
- ?c1225 Ancr.(Cleo C.6)50/14 : Þe echnen beoð þe forme arewen of lecheries prickes.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))2 Cor.12.7 : And lest the greetnesse of reuelaciouns enhaunce me in pride, the pricke of fleisch [WB(2): pricke of my fleisch; L stimulis carnis meæ], an aungel of Sathanas, is ȝouun to me, the which boffatith me.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.397 : He..feng þe prikkes of þe love of God.
- a1400 12 PTrib.(1) (Roy 17.B.17)46 : Poule..askid þo prik of his flesshe to be remewid.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)2.264 : Leste þat gretenesse of Goddis telling hye Poul above himsilf, God ȝaf him a prikke of his fleish, an angel of þe fend to tempte him.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.m.7.2 : Every delit hath this, that it angwisscheth hem with prykkes that usen it.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)354/36 : I lefte wiþ him a pricke & dyuerse impugnaciouns & conflicte of his flesch.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)2183 : Envye, wyth þi slaundrys þycke, I am putte at my Lordys prycke.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)13/25 : Wherfor I conclude, seenge the feldis may nat be enhabited, that the citees through the prykke of hungre shuld be enfamyned.
b
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.pr.5.33 : What thyng is thanne this power, that mai nat don awey the bytynges of bysynesse, ne eschewe the prykkes of drede?
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)209/5 : Þeer al þis profiteþ not, I ȝeue a pricke or a remors of conscience.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)310/10 : Þe pricke of conscience is renewid, þat wrecchidly freteþ and turmentiþ hym in his conscience vnordynatly.
c
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)164b/b : The 5a. instrument is a cauterie subtile, wiþ which bene put or sette cetonez & prickez with tenaculez, i. tongez, brode & persed.
4.
(a) A pin, fastener, nail; (b) a stick or large pin used to secure a pack; sakke and ~, a customary service or its monetary value involving transport of the lord's goods [cp. sakke 6.]; (c) a skewer; (d) a pin used to secure the cords employed in setting a fracture; (e) any one of several tapering, pointed instruments; (f) a kind of candle, ?used with a pricket; (g) an obstruction in the eye; (h) in combs.: ~ hed, a pointed head; ~ takel, ?a kind of fishing tackle.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1362) Cellarer R.in Nrf.Archaeol.7163 : In virgis, prickkes, swethes, et hanchons iij s. ix d. ob.
- c1390 Disp.Virg.& Cross (Vrn)58 : My sone..In fot and hond bereþ blodi prikke.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)399 : Pynne, of metalle, as yryne, or oþer lyke (or pryke, infra): Spintrum, vel spinter.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)413 : Pryke, or pynne: Spintrum, vel spinter, cavilla.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)99a : A Prike: Cauillillus uel Cauillulus.
b
- (1374) Inquis.PM Edw.III13.241 : [4 messuages, 40a. land, 10a. meadow and 60 s. rent, held of the king in chief by service of providing a horse, a sack and a] prikke [in the Welsh war whenever the king goes to war there].
- (1375) Inquis.PM Edw.III14.29 : [Service of providing a horse, price 5 s., a sack and a] prik [in the Welsh war].
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)413 : Prykke, for pakkys: Broccus.
c
- c1450 Hrl.Cook.Bk.(2) (Hrl 4016)73 : Whan þe hete is ouer past, take oute the Capon with a prik.
- c1450 Hrl.Cook.Bk.(2) (Hrl 4016)82 : Medle al togidre..and put hit in þe pigge wombe Whan he is on þe brocche, And þen sowe the hole togidre or take a prik and prik him togidur And lete him roste.
- ?a1475 Noble Bk.Cook.(Hlk 674)75 : Tak out the fisshe with a prik.
d
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)124b/a : And loke þou haue..smalle prickes of drie tree, sotil & stronge, & canules of ellerne oþer of oþer stronge tre holed, bi þe whiche holes þe same prickes mowe entrene in.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)124b/b : Streine hem neiþer to faste neiþer to softe þat þi prickes mowe passe þurȝ þe canels þat þe ligature mowe in no manere relaxe.
e
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)126b/b : Þe eie be wele ywasshed with hote water & wele wiped & clensed with cotoun inuolued in a poyntel or pricke.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)4.214 : With a prick of tre, the pith Pike out and make hem holgh.
- ?a1475 Noble Bk.Cook.(Hlk 674)50 : Lowse the bone with a prik from the fische..then put the prik betwene the bone and the fische and drawe the bone from the taille as esly as ye may.
f
- (1358) Doc.in Riley Mem.Lond.302 : [Any reputable man shall come to the aforesaid waxchandlers and shall wish them to make..] torchiz, prykes, cirgez, [etc.].
g
- a1250 Ancr.(Tit D.18)17/3 : Þe fikelere blindes mon & puttes him pricke iþe ehe þet he wið fikeles.
h
- (1463-4) Acc.Howard in RC 57250 : To Robart Clerke for a pryketakylle for my mastyr and for botehyre.
- a1500(a1450) Ashmole SSecr.(Ashm 396)93/26 : A pryk hede is a signe of soleynesse.
5.
(a) A point in space; minute space or distance; (b) a mark or scratch serving as a reference point; ?also, a tool for making a mark or scratch; a boundary marker or point; also, a pinpoint discoloration of the eye; to the ~, according to the smallest reference point, precisely; (c) a target, esp. in archery; ?also, a particular mark on a target, bull's-eye; pl. an archery range having two such targets at opposite ends; (d) fig. a thing to be aimed for, goal; (e) ~ lof, a loaf of bread pricked before baking [cp. priked lof under priken v. 9. (b)]; ~ note (song), musical notation, or its reading, involving points or neumes [cp. priked-song under priken v. 6. (b)].
Associated quotations
a
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)118/14 : Tempte hire swa feor, ah ne schalt tu gan na forðre, ant swa feor he ȝeueð hire strengðe to wiðstonden; þe feond ne mei nawt forðre gan a pricke.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)2.pr.7.28,48 : Al the envyrounynge of the erthe aboute ne halt but the resoun of a prykke [L spatium puncti] at regard of the gretnesse of hevene..ye thanne, that ben envyrouned and closed withynne the leeste prykke of thilke prykke, thynken ye to manyfesten or publisschen your renoun?
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)51 : If þere were sette..an oþer weie so myche lenger biȝende þe firste weie..þat al þe seid first weie so doublid were not as a pricke and as a poynt in reward of þis secunde weie, [etc.].
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)907 : He Was flowen fro the ground so hye That al the world..No more semed than a prikke.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)37/95 : A pricke is wonder litel in respect of al the cercle.
b
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)150/32 : He nimþ uerst his pricke [Vices & V.(2): merke; F point] and his boune.
- (c1392) ?Westwyk EPlanets (Peterh 75)22/2 : Marke with thy moeuable poynt in the lyne of the aux of saturnus a dep prikke.
- a1400 ?Chaucer Astr.Suppl.(StJ-C E.2:Benson-Robinson)42.4 : I sette ther a prikke at my fot.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)243/1 : Sumtyme þere comeþ in þe first bigynnyng vlcera þeron, as it were white prickis or reed, & sumtyme þer ben noon siche pointis þeron þat a man mai se.
- c1425 Liber de Hyda in RS 4599 : These ben the lond-markys of Anne: Begyn fyrst at the hegge of the lond estward..than to the wudu-wey, there as the thre londys prykkys metyth to-gydere.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.pr.11.244 : Thow hast fycched in thyn herte the myddel sothfastnesse, that is to seyn, the prykke.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)413 : Prykke, merke: Meta.
- a1450(1391) Chaucer Astr.(Benson-Robinson)2.5.19 : Wayte wel where as thin almury touchith the bordure and set there a prikke of ynke.
- a1450(1391) Chaucer Astr.(Benson-Robinson)2.14.7-8 : Turne than thy ryet aboute tyl thou fynde a degre of thy zodiak according with the pricke, this is to seyn, sitting on the pricke.
- a1500 Mirror Salv.(Beeleigh)p.140 : Alle thire thinges..wille he weghe streytly thare And to the prikke thaire value tofore alle men declare.
c
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)1 Kings 20.20 : I þre arewes schal senden besides it, & schal þrowen as hawntynge me to a pricke.
- a1425(?a1400) Cloud (Hrl 674)24/20 : Þe iȝe of a schoter is apon þe prik þat he schoteþ to.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)2.104 : Men may err fro þe mark in many weies beside it, but o wey lediþ to þe pricke.
- c1450(c1400) Sultan Bab.(Gar 140)2260 : Sir Gye, my loue so free, Thou kanste welle hit the prikke.
- (1464) Acc.Howard in RC 57269 : Item, payd..for my masterys lossys att the prykkys, viij d.; Item, at the buttys, viij d.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)11916 : An Archer..Faylleth somtyme off the prykke.
- a1475 Friar & B.(Brog 2.1)p.50 : 'Schete whersoever thou wyll, Thou schalt never fayle..The pryke rydy thou schalt kepe.'
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)40/156-7 : If þat ȝour prycke had be half a myle in brede, Ȝe wolde þe pryk han hitte.
- ?a1475 RHood & K.(Fenn)9 : Have at the pryke!
- a1525 RHood & P.(Cmb Ee.4.35)st.52 : Off the marke he welde not ffayle; He cleffed the preke on thre.
d
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)528 : Than myghte siluer walke more thikke Among þe peple þan þat it doþ now; Ther wold I fayne þat were y-set þe prikke.
e
- (1384) in Löfvenberg Contrib.Lex.68 : Priklofe.
- (1447) Doc.Durham in Sur.Soc.9p.cccxv : Idem, Johannes illos monachos Dunelmenses..ad addiscendum diligenter et meliori modo, quo sciverit, tam ad modulandum, scilicet playnsange, prikenot, faburdon, dischaunte, et countre, quantum in ipso est informabit.
- (a1450) Code Laws in Willmore Hist.Walsall168 : The seid Patrons woll..admytte such Pste or Pstes as be able in conyng of pryksonge, to maynten, kepe, and uphold the queer.
6.
(a) A point in time; moment; (b) a critical time or moment; time of extreme need or distress; (c) the moment of death; a point at which death appears imminent; prike of deth.
Associated quotations
a
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)71/17 : Al oure lyf nes naȝt bote a lyte prikke nou we byeþ ine zorȝe wyþ-oute ende.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)8/32 : Eche soule is made in þe body in the same poynt and pricke of tyme in whiche it is couplid and joinyd to þe body.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)38/128 : To ben losed with god hath non ende but endlesse endureth; and thou canst nothing don aright, but thou desyre the rumour therof be heled and in every wightes ere; and that dureth but a pricke in respecte of the other.
b
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.1920 : Þe cite..Stood on þe prikke of his distruccioun.
- a1425(a1400) Titus & V.(Pep 2014)180 : Alwey þei were ylicke wycke, Tyl þe wreche come to the prycke.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)378/370 : I trowd it drew nere the prik.
c
- (?c1422) Hoccl.ASM (Dur-U Cosin V.3.9)847 : If yeeres manye..Man lyue..good is, the dirke hour & dayes wikke Remembre or þat he come to the prikke.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)6639 : He was dryuen so ney the prikke, That he myght not his lippis likke.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)16.115 : He was the Same Man That from Sevene knyhtes deliuered þe than Whanne atte the prikke of deth þou were I-browht.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)32.547 : This..me clepeth the prykke of deth Whanne that Eche man schal lesen his breth.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)236/263 : Was ther neuer man so wyk bot he myght amende when it com to the pryk.
7.
(a) A state, condition; (b) a level of attainment; point in the sun's diurnal course.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.119 : Alle the dayes of poure men ben wikke; Be war, ther fore, er thow come to that prikke.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.1029 : Hir hadde leuere a knyf Thurghout hir brest than been a womman wikke; Ther is no man koude brynge hire to that prikke.
b
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.1751 : Ȝoure hiȝe renoun Atteyned hath the exaltacioun And hiȝest prikke of Fortunys whele.
- ?a1450(1422) Lydg.SD (McC 182)64/3 : Þe sonne of his worþines was ronne so ferre vp in his spere þat hit atteyned the hiest prikke of his exaltiacion, so þat of necessite he muste discende.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)45 : Þer preued neuer nane his prik for passing of witt, Plato nor Piktagaras ne Prektane him seluen.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4630 : For quilk [read: quile] a frek is bot a fant, þan is he first simple, And quen he preues fra þat prike, þan is he proud-lokid.
8.
(a) In surnames; (b) in place names [see Smith PNElem. 2.73].
Associated quotations
a
- (1186) in Pipe R.Soc.3648 : Henricus Prig.
- (1198) CRR(1) 1207 : Gaufridus Prikke.
- (1198) in Hearne Liber N.Scac.(1728)362 : Osebertus Prigge de Asperton.
- (1205-6) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames284 : William Prike.
- (1221) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames284 : Robert Pricke.
- (1238) EPNSoc.4 (Wor.)64 : Pirkeworth.
- (1242) Chart.Cumbwell in Archaeol.Cant.6219 : Roberto Prig.
- (1250) Close R.Hen.III362 : Adam Prikeman.
- (1302) Close R.Edw.I527 : Thomas Prick.
- (1327) Sub.R.Som.in Som.RS 3200 : Radulphus Prigge.
- (1330) EPNSoc.4 (Wor.)64 : Pirkesworth.
- (1330) in Sundby Dial.Wor.216 : Pyrck.
- (1340) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames284 : Simon Prike.
- (1347-8) in Sundby Dial.Wor.216 : Prykke.
- (1377) in Sundby Dial.Wor.216 : Pyrke.
b
- (1221) EPNSoc.4 (Wor.)64 : Prikelege.
- (1251) EPNSoc.19 (Cmb.)222 : Prickewylev.
- (1275) EPNSoc.4 (Wor.)64 : Preheleye.
- (1279) EPNSoc.19 (Cmb.)222 : Prikewiluh.
- (1289) EPNSoc.4 (Wor.)64 : Pregele.
- (1292) in Ekwall PNLan.60 : Prikkeschagh.
- (1308) EPNSoc.4 (Wor.)64 : Prighelege.
- (1387) EPNSoc.19 (Cmb.)222 : Prikwylwe.
- (1438) EPNSoc.19 (Cmb.)222 : Prikwhelwe.
- (1475) EPNSoc.19 (Cmb.)222 : Prykwylowgh.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1390 Mirror St.Edm.(2) (Vrn)p.268 head. : Her beginneþ þe Prikke of loue, Þat profitable is to soule be-houe.
Note: Cp. spore n.(2) 1.(f) (per REL)
Note: Sense 2.(a) mentions specifically the Stimulus Amoris, attributed to St. Bonaventura. This quot. is not only an earlier reference to a title, but apparently a different one, if we accept Horstmann's identification 'A free translation of St. Edmund's Speculum' (per HWK).
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (1446) Invent.Lytham in Chet.n.s.6082 : j grete arke to lay all maner of clothes in, j waxbord & a plane therto wyth a prik.
Note: Apparently a stylus or pointel; belongs either under sense 4.(e) (which in that case needs to be further specified) or 5.(b) (which in that case needs to have the question mark removed from 'a tool for making a mark or scratch.'
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. prick.