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Brim vs Prim - What's the difference?

brim | prim |

As nouns the difference between brim and prim

is that brim is (obsolete) the sea; ocean; water; flood or brim can be an edge or border (originally specifically of the sea or a body of water) while prim is prime (the first note or tone of a musical scale).

As a verb brim

is to be full to overflowing or brim can be of pigs: to be in heat, to rut.

As an adjective brim

is (obsolete) fierce; sharp; cold.

brim

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl), from (etyl) brim, brym, .

Noun

(en noun)
  • (obsolete) The sea; ocean; water; flood.
    • Derived terms
    *

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) brim, brem, .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An edge or border (originally specifically of the sea or a body of water).
  • * Bible, Josh. iii. 15
    • The feet of the priest that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water.
  • The topmost rim or lip of a container.
    • The toy box was filled to the brim with stuffed animals.
  • * Coleridge:
    • Saw I that insect on this goblet's brim / I would remove it with an anxious pity.
  • A projecting rim, especially of a hat.
    • He turned the back of his brim up stylishly.
    (Wordsworth)
    Derived terms
    * to the brim

    Verb

    (brimm)
  • To be full to overflowing.
    • The room brimmed with people.
  • * 2006 New York Times
    • It was a hint of life in a place that still brims with memories of death, a reminder that even five years later, the attacks are not so very distant.
  • * {{quote-news, year=2011
    • , date=July 3 , author=Piers Newbury , title=Wimbledon 2011: Novak Djokovic beats Rafael Nadal in final , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=Djokovic, brimming with energy and confidence, needed little encouragement and came haring in to chase down a drop shot in the next game, angling away the backhand to break before turning to his supporters to celebrate. }}
  • To fill to the brim, upper edge, or top.
  • * Tennyson:
    • Arrange the board and brim the glass.

    Etymology 3

    Either from (breme), or directly from (etyl) (though not attested in Middle English).

    Verb

    (brimm)
  • Of pigs: to be in heat, to rut.

    • Etymology 4

    See (breme).

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (obsolete) Fierce; sharp; cold.

    • Anagrams

    * * ----

    prim

    English

    Etymology 1

    (etyl) prim, prin, from (etyl) (lena) .

    Adjective

    (primmer)
  • prudish, straight-laced
  • formal; precise; affectedly neat or nice
    • prim''' regularity; a '''prim person
    (Jonathan Swift)
    Usage notes
    Often used in the collocation “prim and proper”.
    Derived terms
    * prim and proper * prissy

    Verb

  • (dated) To make affectedly precise or proper.
  • (dated) To dress or act smartly.

    • Etymology 2

    See privet.

    Noun

  • (botany) privet
    • (Webster 1913) ----