‖ pratique
(ˈprætɪk, ‖ pratik)
Forms: 7 pratticke, -ike, -iq, 7–8 -ick, -ic, 7– pratique.
[a. F. pratique practice, intercourse, pratique = It. pratica, OSp. prática, ad. L. practica (see practic); orig. spelt pratticke (var. of practic); subseq. conformed to F. spelling.]
Permission or licence granted to a ship to hold intercourse with a port after quarantine, or on showing a clean bill of health. Especially used in connexion with the South of Europe.
| 1609 W. Biddulph in T. Lavender Trav. (1612) 4 Zante. We staied ten daies in the rode of this city, before we could get Pratticke, that is: leaue to come amongst them, or to vse traffique with them. 1615 G. Sandys Trav. 6 Not to suffer any to traffike or come ashore before they haue a Pratticke from the Signiors of Health. 1656 Blount Glossogr., Pratique (from the Span. Pratica),..among Merchants it is a Licence to Traffick; as in the Ports of Italy, and the Streights. 1663 Pepys Diary 14 Dec., To remove the inconveniences his ships are put to [at Leghorn] by denial of pratique;..a thing that is now-a-days made use of only as a cheat. 1753 Hanway Trav. (1762) I. ii. xviii. 80 Ships can neither leave the port, nor be permitted to prattic but by his permission. 1817 Byron Beppo xxv, And when he lay in quarantine for pratique..His wife would mount, at times, her highest attic. 1897 Daily News 14 Jan. 3/5 The P. and O. steamer Nubia arrived in the Thames from Plymouth yesterday afternoon... Dr. Collingridge gave the ship pratique, and the yellow flag was then hauled down amid loud cheers. |
b. attrib. pratique boat, house, the boat, and house, of the quarantine officer.
| 1644 Evelyn Diary 16 Oct., We..came on shore by the Prattiq-house [at Genoa]. 1798 Nelson in Nicolas Disp. (1845) III. 175 The boats..to attend the embarkation at the Mole near the Pratique House. 1836 Marryat Midsh. Easy xl, The pratique boat will not come off after sunset. |