| 释义 |
prancer|ˈprɑːnsə(r), -æ-|
[f. prance v. + -er1.]
One who or that which prances.
1. a. Thieves' cant and slang. A horse.
1567Harman Caveat (1869) 42 A Prigger of Prauncers be horse stealers; for to prigge signifieth in their language to steale, and a Prauncer is a horse. 1622Fletcher Beggars' Bush v. ii, Higgen hath prigg'd the prancers in his days. a1700B. E. Dict. Cant. Crew, Prancer, a Horse. 1821Scott Kenilw. xxiii, I would have thought little to have prigged a prancer from the next common.
b. in general use: A mettled or prancing horse; a steed. Also fig.
1599Porter Angry Wom. Abingd. (Percy Soc.) 19 Where stands this prawncer, in what inne or stable? 1609W. M. Man in Moone (Percy Soc.) 15 ‘This prauncer’, said Opinion, ‘hath beene a wilde colt, and leaped thorough many honest men's gates in his dayes’. 1644Evelyn Diary 23 Nov., Then the Captaine..of the Castle of St. Angelo upon a brave prancer. 1815W. H. Ireland Scribbleomania 151 Thus corporal's guard I've review'd on their prancers. 1842Tennyson Sir Launcelot & Q. Guinevere 33 She whose elfin prancer springs By night to eery warblings.
†2. Old slang. A mounted robber; a highwayman. (According to Farmer, A horse-thief.) Obs.
c1600Day Begg. Bednall Gr. i. iii. (1881) 21 He wo'd be your prigger, your prancer, your high-lawyer. 1673R. Head Canting Acad. 192 The fifteenth a Prancer, whose courage is small; If they catch him horse-coursing he's noozed for al.
3. a. A rider on a prancing horse; slang, a cavalry officer. b. One who capers or dances.
1860J. Nicholson Kilwuddie, etc. (1895) 131 (E.D.D.) My fegs, but he's a prancer..Ye ne'er saw sic a dancer. a1863Thackeray White Squall 120 A Prussian captain of Lancers (Those tight-laced, whiskered prancers). 1873Slang Dict., Prancer,..in modern slang an officer of cavalry.
▸ † A rider (in quot. in figurative context; cf. ride v. 16). Obs. rare.
c1560Newe Playe in W. Copland Mery Geste Robyn Hoode sig. H.iiii.v, She is a trul of trust to serve a frier at his lust a prycker a prauncer a terer of shetes a wagger of ballockes when other men slepes. |