Prize-packet, subs. phr. (theatrical).—1. A novice who pays to go on the boards.
1899. Globe, 27 July, 7, 1. Another man spent a happy holiday as a strolling player, having got an engagement through an agent in a small company as a prize packet.
Pro, subs. (theatrical).—1. An
actor: i.e., one who belongs to
'The Profession' = acting.
Hence, pro's-Bible = The Era
newspaper; pro's-Testament =
The Sunday Times.
c.1860. Music Hall Song, 'Oh She was such a Beautiful Girl.' Oh, why did she bolt with another pro.
1880. Sims, Ballads of Babylon, 'Forgotten.' And the quiet pro.'s pass onward To the stage-door up the court.
1886-96. Marshall, 'Pomes' from the Pink 'Un ('The Merry Stumer'), 8. It was told me by Tinribs, a Fleet-street pro.
1893. Milliken, 'Arry Ballads, 38. All our pros. felt their nose out of joint when this Comerdee Frongsay lot came.
2. (University).—A pro-proctor: a second in command in the proctorial police.
1823. Hints for Oxford, 10. They [Freshmen] cap the Pro.'s too in the street. . . .
1869. Bradwood, O. V. H., x. The proctor (more strictly a pro.) backed out of the room with wholesale apologies.
Proboscis, subs. (common).—The
nose: see Conk.
1888. Sporting Life, 10 Dec. Atford again became the aggressor, and landing very heavily on the proboscis again drew copious supplies of claret.
Procession (or Procesh), subs.
(colloquial).—1. A matter of
following. Hence, to go on
with the procession = to
maintain continuity; to stand
at the head of the procession
= to lead.
1883. Graphic, 24 March, 303, 1. The [boat] race can hardly be spoken of as a procession, which is a title only applicable to an ignominious defeat.
1891. Daily Chronicle, 23 Mar. The feeling seemed to be general that nothing better than a procession could be looked for.
1899. Daily Telegraph, 7 Ap., 8, 2. "A reg'lar procession o' the proprieties!" said Perce.
2. (circus).—A street parade.
Proclamation. To have one's
head full of proclamations,
verb. phr. (old).—'To be much
taken up to little purpose.'—B. E.
(c.1696); Ray (1760).
Proctour, subs. (old).—(1) See
quot. Also (2, Halliwell) =
one who collected alms for lepers,
or other incapables. Also (Kennett)
beggars of any kind.
1560-1. Awdeley, Fraternitye of Vacabondes, 'XXV. Orders of Knaues,' 12. Proctour is he, that will tary long, and bring a lye, when his Maister sendeth him on his errand. This is a stibber gibber knaue, that doth fayne tales.
Prodigious, adj. and adv. (colloquial).—Very;
exceedingly;
immensely: cf. awful.
d.1744. Pope [quoted by Todd]. I am prodigiously pleased by this joint volume.
Profession (The). See Pro.
Prog, subs. (common).—Food.—B.
E. (c.1696); Dyche (1748) 'a
cant word for provisions, goods,
or money laid up in store';
Johnson (1755) 'a low word';
Grose (1785). Also as verb. =
to beg; prog-basket = a beggar's
wallet; prog-shop = an eating-house:
see Grub.
1440. Prompt. Parv., 414. Prokkyn or styfly askyn, procor, procito.
1622. Fletcher, Spanish Curate, iii. 3. That man in the gown, in my opinion, Looks like a proguing rogue.
