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pricklen.1 Origin: Formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: prick v., -els suffix, -el suffix1. Etymology: In α. forms < prick v. + -els suffix. In β. forms apparently < prick v. + -el suffix1. With use in senses 7b, 7c compare prickle v. and (with sense 7c) earlier prickly adj. 3a. Compare later pritchel n. (which some of the Old English forms could alternatively be interpreted as showing).Compare Middle Dutch prēkel , prickel , prijckel , (plural) prikellen goad, piercing instrument, iron point of a weapon (Dutch prikkel , †prickel , (rare) prekel sting, thorn, goad, also denoting various other pointed instruments), Old Saxon prikil goad (Middle Low German prēkel sting, thorn, goad, spur, also denoting various pointed instruments, (figurative) emotional pain, restlessness, torment, German regional (Low German) Prickel , Preckel , Prekel sting, wooden pin), Middle High German prickel , preckel sting, piercing iron (German (now regional: Central, Rhineland) Prickel , Preckel ). In Old English usually a strong masculine pricels (later pricel ); however, weak masculine (and feminine) forms pricla , priccla (and pricle ) are also attested. In sense 9 after German Stachel (M. Schultze 1864, in Virchows Archiv f. pathol. Anat. u. Physiol. 30 262). With prickle tree n. at Compounds 2 compare earlier prick-timber n. 1, prickwood n. 1, and also prick tree n. (which is first attested later in this sense). I. A pricking or piercing instrument, and its effect. the mind > will > motivation > [noun] > incitement or instigation > that which incites or instigates the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > general equipment > [noun] > goad OE (Northumbrian) Pref. Paulus..quem diu contra stimulos recalcitrantem dominus elegisset : Paulus..ðone long wið priclom eftdrægend drihten gecease. lOE x. 17 Tu deuicto mortis aculeo, aperuisti credentibus regna cælorum : ouerswiþdon deaþes pricele þu antyndest gelæffullum rice heouenan. ?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng (Petyt) (1996) i. l. 15474 Penda poyned him as a prikille. c1425 (c1400) 6578 Wel ney his flanke his strok he tecles, And strikes him with spere and pricles. (Harl. 221) 413 Prykyl, stimulus. ?c1475 (BL Add. 15562) f. 99 A Prikkyll [1483 BL Add. 89074 Prykelle], punctorium. 1570 P. Levens sig. Kiii/1 A Prickle, stimulus. 1610 II. Ecclus. xxxviii. 26 That holdeth the plough, and glorieth in the goade, driveth oxen with the prickle, and converseth in their workes. 1862 A. M'Gilvray 327 Lay by the prickles, slips, and pins The barrels, broads, and setters. the world > physical sensation > touch and feeling > sensation of something creeping on skin > [noun] OE tr. Defensor (1969) xxi. 171 Dum satietate uenter extenditur aculei libidinis excitantur : þænne mid oferfylle wamb byð aþened pricelas galnysse beoð awehte. OE Byrhtferð (Ashm.) (1995) ii. i. 64 Ac seo ræding pingð þæne scoliere mid scearpum pricele. a1400 (c1303) R. Mannyng (Harl.) 8485 (MED) Y fele a ful hard prykyl Þat my flesshe tempteþ me mykyl. †3. the world > relative properties > quantity > smallness of quantity, amount, or degree > [noun] > a small quantity or amount > the smallest amount > a jot OE (Northumbrian) v. 18 Iota unum aut unus apex non præteribit a lege : foruord uel pricle an uel enne uel enne pricle uel stæfes heafod ne foreade uel ne forgæs from ae. OE (Northumbrian) xii. 59 Non exies inde donec etiam nouissimum minutum reddas : ne gaes ðu ðona oðð uutedlice ðone hlætmesto pricclu [OE Rushw. ðone lætemestu pricla]..ðætte ðu forgelde. the world > time > period > hour > [noun] > specific part of an hour OE On Length of Year (Titus) in H. Henel (1934) 65 Þæs bið twa and fifti wucena; and eahta þusend tida and seouan hund and sixti; hund eahtatig ðusenda hwila and six hund, ða man hateþ minuta, and seouan ðusenda and six hund; þonne bið ðæs eac þara beorhtan hwila ðreo hund ðusenda, and fifti ðusenda, fif hund and twentig; ðonne bið þæs fif and þrittig þusenda pricla and feowortig. II. A spinelike growth, and its effect. the world > animals > animal body > general parts > [noun] > instruments of defence or offence > sting the world > space > shape > unevenness > projection or prominence > sharp unevenness > [noun] > a sharp prominence > small the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Arachnida > [noun] > order Scorpiones > member of (scorpion) > parts of > sting the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > order Hymenoptera > [noun] > suborder Apocrita, Petiolata, or Heterophaga > group Aculeata (stinging) > superfamily Apoidea (bees) > sting of bee ?c1425 (c1412) T. Hoccleve (Royal 17 D.vi) (1860) 121 Senek seithe how the kyng and the leder Of bees prikles hathe he right none..other bees prikles han everychone. (Harl. 221) 413 Prykyl (or tyynde, infra)..aculeus. the world > plants > part of plant > thorn or prickle > [noun] c1484 (a1475) J. de Caritate tr. (Takamiya) (1977) 178/12 He þat pullyth vppe þe flourys with þe leuys and prykyllis, and þan sokyth þe flouris thynkyng on ony woman, it settyth her afyr in hys loue. 1580 J. Lyly (new ed.) f. 86 Nettells..haue no prickells, yet they sting. 1610 J. Guillim iii. vii. 108 There is a kinde of Holly, that is void of these Prickles. a1672 P. Sterry (1675) 157 It hath prickels to guard those Roses from rash and rude hands. 1715 F. Borland 15 There is a great Variety of Trees and Shrubs..among which are Cedar trees, Locust and Bullet-trees.., Maccaw-trees full of sharp prickles like needles [etc.]. 1776 W. Withering (1796) II. 188 The prickles at the edge of the leaves..readily distinguish this from the G[alium] montanum. 1881 P. Henderson 263/1 Aculei, or prickles, proceed from the bark; spines or thorns proceed from the wood. The former fall off when ripe; the latter do not. 1891 ‘Q’ 159 I sat down under a dusty gorse-bush..and tugging off a boot, searched for a prickle that somehow had got into it. 1914 F. E. Fritsch & E. J. Salisbury ii. 22 In the case of the Hop the grip of the climbing plant is greatly aided by the presence of curved prickles. 2002 99 2458/1 The fruit is a spongy berry covered with stout prickles. the world > animals > animal body > general parts > covering or skin > [noun] > hard or protective covering > spine the world > space > shape > unevenness > projection or prominence > sharp unevenness > [noun] > a sharp prominence > specifically of a natural object 1567 J. Maplet f. 89 Almost on euerie prickle or brestle he getteth an Apple or Grape. ?1577 J. Northbrooke 58 Histrix is a little beast with speckled prickles on his back. 1661 R. Lovell 74 [The Urchin] of the Sea, drunk with the prickles, expelleth the stone. 1709 A. Hill xxxii. 234 There is found in Egypt..a little Bird about the Bigness of a common Quail.., and both the Wings containing Feathers, at the ends whereof are certain Prickles, not unlike the Bristles of a Hog. 1740 R. Brookes ii. xliii. 161 The Red-Gurnard or Rotchet..has a large Boney Head arm'd with Prickles. 1840 T. Hood Miss Kilmansegg iii, in 60 394 He lies like a hedgehog rolled up the wrong way, Tormenting himself with his prickles. 1909 70/2 Some of the globe-fishes have the body covered with a most formidable armour of prickles or spines. 1954 May 24 8/3 Tenrecs..look much like hedgehogs with hair instead of prickles. 1982 W. L. Heat Moon v. xi. 208 An improbable bag of prickles, a big porcupine, all thirty thousand quills. 7. figurative and in extended use. 1638 R. Baker tr. J. L. G. de Balzac II. 128 The wisedome of M. the Cardinall will strip off all the thorny prickles of passions. 1682 J. Dryden 9 The Man who laugh'd but once..Might laugh again, to see a Jury chaw The prickles of unpalatable Law. 1705 tr. A. Cowley Plants in (1711) III. 364 The Rose has prickles, so has Love, Though these a little sharper prove. 1821 M. Edgeworth 29 Jan. (1971) 236 I will trample..upon all the prickles of the impossibilities and flatten them womanfully. 1924 H. de Sélincourt iv. 105 They would be a team, and not eleven men fenced off from each other by a thousand prickles. 1984 2 Sept. vii. 3/1 He even managed to smuggle in some of his sardonic world view, purged of its prickles, or some of them. 2005 10 Sept. (Guide Suppl.) 83/3 New dad Brett is volunteering for overtime to avoid ‘cactus hour’, traditionally attributed to the hours before baby sleeps, but the prickles in this marital unit are due to Kim's nagging. the mind > emotion > anger > irritation > [noun] > action of irritating > irritating sensation 1895 I. K. Funk et al. II. Prickle, a prickling or stinging sensation. 1898 N. Munro xxiii. 223 A prickle's at my skin that tells me here is dool. 1975 M. Duffy i. 48 I shall feel the prickle of heat and grass. 1985 J. Winterson 109 I felt a prickle at the back of my neck. 2000 13 Mar. 5/1 He says he was struck by the ‘pringles’—a combination of prickles on the scalp and tingling on the neck. the mind > emotion > anger > irascibility > touchiness > [noun] 1956 C. P. Snow l. 358 The prickles and self-assertiveness which made them snack. 1975 L. Gillen ii. 38 ‘You've got the McCourt prickles, anyway,’ he told her tactlessly. 1993 June 71/1 Disappointment deepens our crotchets, prickles, maggots, jaundices that were there already. the world > animals > fish > superorder Acanthopterygii (spiny fins) > order Perciformes (perches) > order Tetraodontiformes (puffers) > [noun] > family Balistidae (trigger-fish) > Balistes (file-fish) 1681 N. Grew i. v. iii. 113 The Prickle or longest File-Fish..on the sides hinderly grows a little short Prickle upon the centre of every Scale. the world > life > biology > substance > cell > types of cells > [noun] > other types of cells > spine on a prickle-cell 1872 H. Power tr. S. Stricker II. 226 They are homogeneous in structure, with a distinct membrane which in most parts of the skin gives off small hairlike processes or prickles which penetrate the immediately adjoining cells. 1899 T. C. Allbutt et al. VIII. 881 The prickle cells in the neighbourhood of the lacunæ, which are found here and there over the papillæ, have lost their prickles. 1934 27 333 The nuclei of the germinal layer and of the prickle cells are close together, indicating great diminution or absence of cytoplasm of the cells. 1989 B. Alberts et al. (ed. 2) xvii. 969 Above the basal cells are several layers of larger prickle cells..whose numerous desmosomes..are just visible in the light microscope as tiny prickles around the cell surface (hence the name). Compounds C1. attributive and parasynthetic. c1620 T. Robinson (1899) i. xxxiv. 310 No thistle heere was seen, no pricle-armed thorne. 1921 48 328 Scape rather slender, shorter than the basal leaves, bearing several prickle-armed small leaves. 1948 M. J. Cuthbert 35 (caption) Prickle-armed, reclining-climbing plants with angled stems. a1883 C. H. Fagge (1886) I. 102 Not infrequently some of the cells [of keratoid carcinoma] have prickle-edges, exactly as in certain layers of the normal epidermis. 1857 P. H. Gosse 136 Its great prickle-edged stiff leaves grow in long diagonal rows. 2001 (Nexis) 27 Jan. (Weekend Suppl.) 74 This has clustered strands of pale yellow flowers surrounded by a ruff of prickle-edged, pinnate leaves. 1681 N. Grew i. vii. ii. 162 The Prickle-Nos'd Beetle..hath only a small short Prickle. 1796 W. Withering IV. 105 Leaves..edged with prickle-shaped substances the same as those on the surface. 1855–60 408 The coronoid process is small and prickle-shaped. 1992 17 471 Leaves... Trichome-shape: prickle-shaped (0). C2. the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > particular types of fruit > [noun] > tropical exotic fruit > of South America or West Indies > sour-sop 1578 H. Lyte tr. R. Dodoens iii. lxxxvii. 441 The Names..Thornie apples, Prickle apples, and Stramonia. 1681 N. Grew ii. i. ii. 186 Part of a Prickle-Apple... The Fruit is remarkable for the several Tussucks or Bunches of Thorns wherewith it is armed all round about. a1700 (B.L. Egerton MS 2395) f. 612 Cashues, prickell peares, prickell Apples, Soursops, Custard Apples. 1768 (ed. 2) VI. 217 The pine-apple, the prickle-apple, oranges, lemons, and limes are found here in plenty. 1979 9 Apr. 6/4 In Jamaica the prickle-apple was an old name for what fruit?.. The soursop. the world > life > biology > substance > cell > types of cells > [noun] > other types of cells 1872 H. Power tr. S. Stricker II. 226 Rib or prickle cells of Max Schultze. 1962 G. C. Blake & J. R. Trott ii. 17 This epithelium consists of a few layers of prickle cells. 2000 118 678 The keratinocyte plasma membrane localization of aquaporin-3 was confirmed at the electron microscope level in prickle cells. the world > animals > fish > superorder Acanthopterygii (spiny fins) > order Perciformes (perches) > order Gasterosteiformes (sticklebacks) > [noun] > family Gasterosteidae > member of (stickleback) 1668 W. Charleton 144 Atherina..the Prickle-fish. 1834 T. Crookenden in J. Couch (1847) xv. 250 The Pricklefish..in a large dock for shipping on the river Thames, thousands of these fish were bred some years ago. 1927 48 302 Prick, prickle, prickleback, prickle-fish ‘stickleback’. 1961 E. S. Herald 158/2 The very spiny pricklefishes (family Stephanoberycidae) are known from two small species. 1997 G. S. Helfman et al. xv. 249/1 The primitive stephanoberyciforms (gibberfishes, pricklefishes, cetomimoid whalefishes) are largely deep-sea forms. 1890 Prickle-layer, the lowest stratum of the epidermis... It is formed of prickle-cells. 1899 T. C. Allbutt et al. VIII. 542 The prickle layer is thinned or absent, and the prickle cells flattened horizontally. 1907 B. 79 551 In implanted skin a variable amount of the prickle layer always died. 2002 (Nexis) 1 May s1 These..films possess a rheology enabling creation of mono-layers of functional ingredients on the skin, allowing them to be easily absorbed by the stratum corneum, even as far as the prickle layer. 1905 103 The prickle-machine..has a disk set with long parallel needle-like spikes which make numerous holes through the cheese to let in the air for the growth of mold. the world > plants > particular plants > trees and shrubs > non-British trees or shrubs > palm trees > [noun] > other palms 1684 tr. A. O. Exquemelin 179 The Prickle Palm is so full of prickles, from the Root to the top, that there is scarce a fingers-breadth free. 1737 T. Salmon XXX. 231 Hispaniola... They have also several sorts of palms, as the Latimer-Palm, the Prickle-Palm, [etc.]. the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular cultivated or ornamental plants > cultivated or ornamental trees and shrubs > [noun] > spindle-tree(s) 1607 E. Topsell 240 The prickle or spindle tree (called also Euonimus). 1750 G. Hughes vi. 167 The Prickle-Yellow-Wood... This is a Timber-Tree, growing large enough to be saw'd into Planks, or Boards, for Tables, and other Uses. 1858 P. L. Simmonds 302/1 Prickle-yellow, a very common West Indian wood, the produce of Xanthoxylon clava Herculis, used for furniture, flooring, and inlaying. 1927 28 Oct. 15/2 A large prickle yellow tree gave way in a landslide. 1979 66 162 Zanthoxylum setulosum..is known as prickle yellow..in English, and as acabu, alcabu,or arcabu in Spanish. Derivatives the world > space > shape > unevenness > projection or prominence > sharp unevenness > [adjective] > having (a) sharp projection(s) > having points like prickles or bristles 1698 J. Petiver in (Royal Soc.) 20 328 The..Leaves stand on a pricklish or rough Footstalk. 1933 5 July 5/2 The couch had a wooly covering that was lovely in a winter firelight and pricklish in the summer heat. 1981 ‘C. J. Cherryh’ iii. 29 She strode off, pricklish in her dignity. 1997 L. Wolpert & A. Richards ii. 16 On the whole the reviews have been very complimentary, but a few scientific ones..were much more pricklish. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2007; most recently modified version published online June 2022). pricklen.2 Origin: Of uncertain origin. Perhaps a variant or alteration of another lexical item.. Etymon: prickle n.1 Etymology: Origin uncertain. Perhaps a transferred use of prickle n.1 (compare quot. 1825). Now English regional (chiefly southern). society > occupation and work > equipment > receptacle or container > basket > [noun] 1543 Will 27 Apr. in (1967) 120 I owe to Michael the frewterer..for a prekele off ware 18d. 1604 N. F. 17 When your baskets or prickels be ful. c1634 in H. Hall & D. J. Nicholas (1929) (Camden) 3rd Ser. XLI. 53 Baskettes called prickles, conteyneing 4 Pecks and sometimes not soe much. 1674 (London Court of Common Council) For each Prickle or Basket, holding not above one Bushel, one halfpenny per Day. 1693 J. Evelyn tr. J. de La Quintinie ii. vi. iv. 181 The prickle Baskets, and Hand-barrows should at this time be plyed with the greatest vigour and diligence. 1825 J. T. Brockett Prickle, a basket or measure of wicker work among fruiterers. Formerly made of briers. Hence, perhaps, the name. 1851 H. Mayhew I. 27/2 The prickle is a brown willow basket, in which walnuts are imported..from the Continent; they are about thirty inches deep, and in bulk rather larger than a gallon measure; they are used only by the vendors of walnuts. 1883 J. A. Symonds (1900) ix. 278 Nymphs, carrying prickles, or open wicker baskets. 1887 W. D. Parish & W. F. Shaw Prickle,..a basket containing about ten gallons, used at Whitstable for measuring oysters. Two prickles equal one London bushel. One prickle equals two wash (for whelks). But the prickle is not exact enough to be used for very accurate measuring. 1912 T. Okey viii. 84 Cages, prickles (generally used for the transport of empty glass bottles), cradles, shoulder baskets and numerous other articles of common use. 1973 W. Elmer iv. 244 (caption) Hythe.., 7-stone prickle-basket. 1992 G. Pike et al. Gloss. Prickle, a local measure for oysters; one half of the basic unit, the tub. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2007; most recently modified version published online June 2022). pricklev.Origin: Of multiple origins. Partly formed within English, by conversion. Partly formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: prickle n.1; prick v., -le suffix. Etymology: Partly < prickle n.1, and partly < prick v. + -le suffix (compare -le suffix 3).Compare Middle Dutch prickelen, prikelen, prijkelen, prēkelen to prick, to sting, to pierce, to incite (a person or animal), to goad, to affect with a prickling sensation or (figurative) a feeling of pain (Dutch prikkelen, †prickelen), Middle Low German prickelen, prikelen, (rare) preckelen to pierce, to pinch, to cause a piercing pain, (figurative) to cause distress to, to worry or disquiet, prēkelen to prick, to sting, to goad, (figurative) to cause distress to, to worry or disquiet (German regional (Low German) prickeln, prikkeln to pierce, to affect with a prickling sensation, to cause a slight piercing pain, prekeln, preckeln to pierce, to prick; > German prickeln to goad (now obsolete), to itch, to sting, to titillate (a person), to have or feel a pricking sensation, to itch, to tingle (late 17th cent. or earlier; originally regional)). the world > space > relative position > vertical position > be vertical [verb (intransitive)] > be or become upright > stiffly ?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng (Petyt) ii. 305 (MED) Þer foyntes forward prikelle. 1820 J. Galt xliv The very first sound o't made the hair on my old grey head to prickle up. 1897 W. Beatty 327 My hair prickling, and the cold shooting down my back. 1905 Sept. 305/2 The roofs of gray shingles or red tiles prickling up through the mass of greenery. 1966 B. Malamud (1969) v. vi. 162 The hair on the back of his neck prickled. 1998 T. Hughes (1999) 132 I heard the bellow in your voice That made my nape-hair prickle when you sang How you were freed from the Elm. the mind > emotion > suffering > mental anguish or torment > cause of mental anguish or torment > cause anguish to or torment [verb (transitive)] > afflict with pangs a1513 W. Dunbar (1998) I. 194 My panefull purs so prikillis me. 1533 J. Gau tr. C. Pedersen 62 Thay war priklit in thair hartis and said to hime..quhat sal we dw? 3. the mind > will > motivation > motivate [verb (transitive)] > incite or instigate the world > health and disease > ill health > pain > types of pain > affect with type of pain [verb (transitive)] > cause pain by pricking a1522 G. Douglas in tr. Virgil xii. Prol. 299 So pryklyng hyr grene curage for to crowd In amorus voce and wowar soundis lowd. 1570 P. Levens sig. Kiii/1 To Prickle, stimulare. 1579 T. Lupton i. 17 The outwarde part of the nettle, doth styng, prickle or burne. 1693 W. Congreve iii. ii. 28 You have such a Beard, and would so prickle one. 1707 C. Cibber i. 21 He has buss'd and slaver'd me here..; and has prickled my Face till my Eyes are all of a Water. 1828 W. Carr (ed. 2) Prickle, to prick. 1876 T. S. Egan tr. H. Heine 222 If that point I shall once unpack, 'Twill prickle and hackle your faces. 1898 R. Blakeborough 431 Ah've prickl'd my han's all ower. 1904 M. M. Dodge 132 Buzzing all over him, Singing and tickling, In and out, round about, Nipping and prickling. 1935 H. Heslop ii. i. 171 The bairn likes the flowers. I have to stop and pick her a few. Mrs. Smith gives her a rose nows and thens, but they prickle her so. 2001 (Nexis) 25 Sept. 19 Miller's group had to wade through thick dust that prickled their skin like shards of fibreglass. the world > physical sensation > touch and feeling > sensation of something creeping on skin > [verb (transitive)] the mind > emotion > fear > quality of inspiring fear > causing physical symptoms > cause physical symptoms [verb (transitive)] > cause horripilation the world > health and disease > ill health > pain > types of pain > affect with type of pain [verb (transitive)] > cause pain by pricking > affect with pricking 1612 J. Smith 13 The chiefe roote they haue for foode is called Tockawhoughe... Raw it is no better then poison, & being roasted, except it be tender..it will prickle and torment the throat extreamely. 1655 Duchess of Newcastle cxciv. 151 The sharpness, prickling or tickling the stomach, provokes a straining, as tickling in the nose doth sneezing. 1855 Ld. Tennyson Maud xiv. iv, in 49 I..Felt a horror over me creep, Prickle my skin and catch my breath. 1954 G. Vidal vii. 186 The heat prickled me unpleasantly. 1983 J. Gordon iv. 29 The horsehair stuffing prickled the backs of her legs. 2001 T. Winton (2003) 8 A bird's wings whopped by,..close as a whisper; the sound prickled Georgie's skin like the onset of the flu. 4. the world > health and disease > ill health > pain > types of pain > suffer or cause type of pain [verb (intransitive)] > prick or tingle > suffer pricking or tingling a1661 W. Brereton (1844) 42 His finger burned and prickled. 1872 Ld. Tennyson 86 Sir Gareth's head prickled beneath his helm. 1898 R. Blakeborough 431 Ah prickle all ower. 1947 E. Berridge Prisoner in (2000) 151 The Germans went about the fields with a hunched, defensive walk, as if their flesh prickled with cold under the thick, rough khaki. 1974 J. Heller 445 ‘Don't be such a worry wart.’ ‘Don't use that phrase. It makes my skin prickle.’ 2002 A. Phillips iv. i. 285 His exposed chest and arms prickled with silvery, slivery cold. the mind > emotion > anger > [verb (intransitive)] > become angry > react angrily 1972 21 Aug. 4/2 She prickled at a newspaper headline which read along the lines of ‘Reds Under the Pails’. 1983 G. Harris ii. 29 You're easy to tease and I like to watch you prickle, like a marsh kitten refusing to be stroked. 1997 J. Updike 29 The primitive man within me prickled at this casual uncalled-for protrusion of insolent mock-nakedness. 2004 (Nexis) 28 July 1 He prickles when the word brave is mentioned, pointing out he didn't ask for cancer. the world > space > shape > unevenness > projection or prominence > sharp unevenness > project as sharp prominence [verb (intransitive)] > be or become covered (as) with bristles 1871 May 102/1 Spinea and hawthorn prickle with minute leaves. 1927 M. de la Roche xx. 276 The organist Mr. Fennel proposed Grandmother's health, in a toast..glowing with metaphor and prickling with wit. 1967 23 Dec. 17/8 It is all certainly a most formidable problem, but also one that prickles with potentialities. 2004 (Nexis) 14 Nov. (Special Suppl.) 2 Canary Wharf, prickling with glass skyscrapers. the world > matter > colour > variegation > spot of colour > spot [verb (transitive)] > speckle 1888 Apr. 753 Evening shadowed; the violet deepened and prickled itself with stars. a1908 B. E. Baughan in V. O'Sullivan (1987) 4 And the opposite rampart of ridges Bristles against the sky, all the tawny, tumultuous landscape Is stuck, and prickled, and spiked with the standing black and Grey splinters. 1984 C. H. Sissons 46 The white hill-side is prickled with antlers And the deer wade to me through the snow. 1996 11 May (Weekend Suppl.) 50/2 The whole landscape is prickled with spinifex, a jaggy little spiny desert plant that gives even its own species a wide berth. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < |
