Dictionary.net

prik, n. that which pricks or penetrates: a sharp point: the act or feeling of pricking: a puncture: a sting: remorse: (Shak.) a thorn, prickle, skewer, point of time: (Spens.) point, pitch.--v.t. to pierce with a prick: to erect any pointed thing: to fix by the point: to put on by puncturing: to mark or make by pricking: to incite: to deck out as with flowers or feathers: to pain.--v.i. to have a sensation of puncture: to stand erect: to ride with spurs:--pa.t. and pa.p. pricked.--adj. PRICK'-EARED, having pointed ears.--ns. PRICK'ER, that which pricks: a sharp-pointed instrument: light-horseman: a priming wire; PRICK'ING; PRICKLE (prik'l), a little prick: a sharp point growing from the bark of a plant or from the skin of an animal.--v.t. to prick slightly.--v.i. (Spens.) to be prickly.--ns. PRICK'LE-BACK, the stickle-back; PRICK'LINESS; PRICK'LING, the act of piercing with a sharp point: (Shak.) the sensation of being pricked.--adj. prickly.--adj. PRICK'LY, full of prickles.--ns. PRICK'LY-HEAT, a severe form of the skin disease known as lichen, with itching and stinging sensations; PRICK'LY-PEAR, a class of plants with clusters of prickles and fruit like the pear; PRICK'-ME-DAIN'TY (Scot.), an affected person.--adj. over-precise.--ns. PRICK'-SONG (Shak.), a song set to music: music in parts; PRICK'-SPUR, a goad-spur; PRICK'-THE-GAR'TER (cf. Fast-and-loose); PRICK'-THE-LOUSE (Scot.), a tailor. [A.S. pricu, a point; Ger. prickeln, Dut. prikkel, a prickle.]

Pricking, puncture; (fig.) pp. (stinging reflections) of conscience; mark made by pricking; (archaic) goad for oxen, esp. fig. kick against the pp., hurt oneself by useless resistance (Acts ix. 5); p.-ears, erect pointed ears of some dogs &c., conspicuous ears of person, esp. of Roundheads. p.-eared, having such ears. [old English]

Pierce slightly, make minute hole in; (fig.) cause sharp pain to, as my conscience pricked me; make a thrust (at, into, &c.); (archaic) spur, urge on, (horse), (intr.) advance on horseback; mark off (name &c. in list) with a prick, select (sheriff) thus; mark (pattern off, out) with dots; p. in, out, off, plant (seedlings &c.) in small holes pricked in earth; p. up one\'s ears, (of dog) erect the ears when on the alert, (fig., of person) become suddenly attentive. [old English]

p. a or the bladder or bubble, show the emptiness of a person or thing that has passed for important or formidable.

n. [Anglo-Saxon, Dutch] A sharp, thin, piercing instrument ; a goad ; a spur ;-a sharp stinging pain ; remorse ;-a point ; a mark ;-a puncture; a hole made by piercing ; the print of a hare on the ground ;-among seamen, it small roll, as of spun yarn or tobacco.