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Prig vs Prim - What's the difference?

prig | prim |

As nouns the difference between prig and prim

is that prig is a person who demonstrates an exaggerated conformity or propriety, especially in an irritatingly arrogant or smug manner while prim is privet.

As verbs the difference between prig and prim

is that prig is to haggle or argue over price while prim is to make affectedly precise or proper.

As an adjective prim is

prudish, straight-laced.

prig

English

Etymology 1

Of origin.

Noun

(en noun)
  • A person who demonstrates an exaggerated conformity or propriety, especially in an irritatingly arrogant or smug manner.
  • (British, archaic) A petty thief or pickpocket
  • * William Topaz McGonagall, The Christmas Goose
    • But a policeman captur'd the naughty boy, / And gave the goose to Smiggs, / And said he was greatly bother'd / By a set of juvenile prigs .
  • (archaic) A conceited dandy; a fop.
    • Synonyms
    * (person exhibiting excess propriety) prude
    Derived terms
    * priggish

    Etymology 2

    Of origin.

    Verb

  • (Scotland) To haggle or argue over price.
  • (slang, dated) To filch or steal.
    • to prig a handkerchief

    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) ----