pricklouse en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˈpɹɪklaʊs/ (UK)
Etymology
From prick + louse.
Meanings
-
(archaic, derogatory) A tailor.
When she was under Water, and could call him Pricklouse no longer with her Lips, she held up her Hands over her Head
1692, Roger L’Estrange, “ (please specify the fable number.) (please specify the name of the fable.)”, in Fables, of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists: […], London: […] R[ichard] Sare, […], →OCLC:
-
(archaic, derogatory) A lousy person.
that woman […] by no threats or stripes would leave to call her husband pricke-lowse [translating pouilleux], and being cast into a pond and duckt under water, lifted up her hands, and joyning her two thumbs-nailes in act to kill lice above her head, seemed to call him lousie still […].
, II.32
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| pricklice | Number=Plur | lexicographic |