Prig vs Thug - What's the difference?

As nouns the difference between prig and thug

is that prig is a person who demonstrates an exaggerated conformity or propriety, especially in an irritatingly arrogant or smug manner while thug is a criminal with an intimidating and unseemly appearance and mannerisms, who treats others violently and roughly, especially for hire.

As a verb prig

is (scotland) to haggle or argue over price.

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

thug

English

(wikipedia thug) From (etyl) . Thuggee was an Indian network of secret fraternities who were engaged in murdering and robbing travellers and known for strangling their victims, operating from the 17th century (possibly as early as 13th century) to the 19th century. During of India, many Indian words passed into common English, and in 1810 thug referred to members of these Indian gangs. The sense was adopted more generally as "ruffian, cutthroat" by 1839.

Noun

(en noun)

A criminal with an intimidating and unseemly appearance and mannerisms, who treats others violently and roughly, especially for hire.

(dated) One of a band of assassins formerly active in northern India who worshipped and offered their victims to her.

Synonyms

* See also