▪ I. pritch, n. Obs. exc. dial.
(prɪtʃ)
Also 3 pricche, 5 prytch, 7–9 prich.
[app. a by-form of prick n., with palatalized c; perh. a southern repr. of OE. price from prick (cf. miche, much, from mice(l, quitch from cwice), or possibly assimilated to pritch v.]
I. † 1. A prick, goad, or spur; an incentive. Obs. Cf. prick n. 13.
| a 1225 Ancr. R. 60 Eien beoð þe earewen & te ereste armes of lecheries pricches. |
2. In local dialects, the name of various sharp-pointed tools or implements. Cf. prick n. 15.
| 1800–25 Forby Voc. E. Anglia, Pritch,..1. A fold-pritch is that with which holes are made in the ground to receive fold-stakes... 2. An eel-pritch is a spear for taking eels. 1823 E. Moor Suffolk Words. 1863 Morton Cycl. Agric. Gloss (E.D.S.), Pritch.., a heavy pointed iron for making holes for stakes. In Worc. a stick, iron shod, hanging at the tail of a cart, and acting as a prop when resting on a steep road. 1879 G. F. Jackson Shropsh. Word-bk., Pritch, a long pole furnished with an iron fork at one end, used by Severn boatmen for propelling their boats,—a river term. 1886 Elworthy W. Somerset Word-bk., Perch,..the iron-pointed stave often fixed by a joint to the axletree of carts and wagons, to prevent their running back when the horse stops on an ascent. The word no doubt is pritch or point. |
II. † 3. A grudge, spite, offence taken (against any one). Obs.
| 1571 Golding Calvin on Ps. xii. 1 All of them with one consent taking pritch against a good cace. Ibid. xxxix. 5 Hee taketh prytch, that hee is not delte with more meeldly. 1601 Dent Pathw. Heaven 371 If a Noblemans Secretarie be cast out of fauour with his Lord, so that he taketh a pritch against him, it is a matter of great sorrow. 1642 Rogers Naaman 270 Oh!..the least conceit taken, or pritch,..is enough to make sutes. Ibid. 274 The finer Selfe is spunne, the more she will take pritch if she be defeated. |
III. 4. Small or poor beer; perh. originally soured beer: cf. prick v. 8, pricked ppl. a. 2. dial.
| 1688 R. Holme Armoury iii. 104/2 Wort of the last drawing..is..of some called put up drink, shower-trough, or penny prich. Ibid. 105/1 Pritch Drink,..drinks sweet and sower, through a taint that it hath taken through the foulness of the Vessels. 1691 Ray N.C. Words (E.D.S.), Prich, thin drink. 1828 Craven Gloss., Prich, small beer, thin drink. |
▪ II. pritch, v. Obs. exc. dial.
Also 5 pricche.
[A by-form of prick v. with palatalized c, partly at least representing OE. *priccan, *priccean (in apriccan), from WGer. *prikjan: see prick v. Pa. tense in 3–4 priȝte, prighte:—OE. *prihte.]
1. trans. To prick; to affect with a pricking sensation. Obs. exc. dial.
| c 1250 Hymn Virg. 53 in Trin. Coll. Hom. App. 257 Þe ne stiȝte, ne þe ne priȝte, in side, in lende, ne elles where. c 1386 Chaucer Sqr.'s T. 410 And with hir beek hir seluen so she prighte. 1450–80 tr. Secreta Secret. 31 If seeknes come therin thus shalle thou knowe, þi tunge shalle be pricchid, þi mouth shalle be bittir. 1562 J. Heywood Prov. & Epigr. (1867) 103 His nostrils so pritcht. 1823 E. Moor Suffolk Words s.v. Bullock, I ha got sitch a lamentaable push,..an at night ta itch an ta pritch, an ta gaa-alva. 1903 Eng. Dial. Dict. s.v., (Worcester) I've got sharp pritching pains. |
† 2. (See quot.) Obs.
| 1688 R. Holme Armoury iii. 259/1 (Goldsmith's Work) Pritching, is to find the center of the Plate to be worked. |
3. To prick or punch holes in. dial.
| 1746 [see 5]. 1778 Exmoor Scolding Gloss. (E.D.S.), To Pritch, to prick Holes in; to make Holes for the Wires in the Leathers of Wool-Cards. 1886 Elworthy W. Somerset Word-bk., Perch v.t., to punch or prick holes in anything, chiefly in horses' shoes, with a pritchil or purchil. |
4. To catch (eels) with an eel-pritch or prick (n. 15); also intr. to use a pritch. dial.
| 1894 E. Clodd Fitzgerald's Grave 8 Ditches whence delicious eels are pritched. |
5. pritch thee! an imprecation. dial.
| 1746 Exmoor Scolding 193 Whan the young Zaunder Vursdon and thee stey'd up oll tha Neert a roasting o' Taties, pritch tha vor me! Ibid. 244 Tha art a Beagle, Chun, pritch tha! vor anether Trick. [1746 Gloss. in Gentl. Mag. XVI. 407/2 To Pritch, to check, or withstand. Note. A term for making holes in the leathers of cards to admit the wire.] |