Proud, adj. (common).—1. Pleased; gratified. Hence, to do one proud = to flatter; to honour; to do oneself proud = to be pleased.
1836. Clark, Ollapodiana Papers. With my brain reeling with fancies of wine and women, I really thought, for the moment, that 'she did me proud.'
1838. Selby, Jacques Strop, i. 2. Flon. Certainly! how can we refuse? especially as he is so pressing. Ber. You do me proud.
1887. Sidney Luska, Land of Love [Lippincott's Mag., 241]. Ah? So? The frank confession does you proud.
1892. Chevalier, 'The Little Nipper.' And 'e's a little champion, Do me proud, well, 'e's a knock out!
1900. Kipling, Stalky & Co., 4. 'Beetle, give me the hammer.' 'All right. I'm not proud. Chuck us down that net on top of the lockers, Stalky.'
2. See Pride.
Prov. On the prov, phr. (work-*men's).—Out
of work and on the
Provident Fund of a trade society.
Provender, subs. (Old Cant).—'He
from whom money is taken
on the highway: perhaps providor,
or provider.'—Grose
(1785).
Provost, subs. (military).—A
garrison or other cell for prisoners
whose sentences are for a week
or less.
Prow, subs. (old naval).—A bumpkin:
see Buffle.
Prowl, subs. and verb. (old).—(1)
(Hugh Prowler) = a thief or
highwayman; (2) prowling (or
prowlery) = robbery; (3) to
womanize; to grouse (q.v.);
to go after meat (q.v.), B. E.
(c.1696); (4, theatrical) = to
wait for the ghost (q.v.) to walk.
1557. Tusser, Husbandry, xxxiii. 25. For fear of Hugh Prowler get home with the rest.
1635. Quarles, Emblems, ii. 2. We pry, we prowl . . . we prog from pole to pole.
1692. Hacket, Life of Williams, 1. 51. Thirty-seven monopolies, with other shocking prowleries.
1885. Daily Telegraph, 4 Sep. There are so many young prowlers on the look-*out that they'd precious soon empty a bin.
Prox, subs. (American).—A proxy:
specifically a ticket or list of
candidates at elections, presented
to voters for their votes.
Pruff, verb. (Winchester School).—Sturdy;
'proof' against pain.
1881. Pascoe, Public Schools. Deprive a Wykehamist of words . . . such as quill . . . pruff . . . spree . . . cad . . . And his vocabulary becomes limited.
Prugge, subs. (old).—'A partner
or doxy.'—Nares (1822);
Halliwell (1847).
1631. Clitus's Cater-Char., 32. If his prugge aspire to so much stock, or so great trust, as to brew to sell, he will be sure to drinke up all the gaines.
Prunella, subs. (old).—A clergyman:
see Skypilot. Also Mr.
Prunella.—Grose (1785).
[Clerical gowns were largely made
of this material.]
1838. Jerrold, Men of Character (John Applejohn), viii. The finest lawn [bishop] makes common cause with any linen bands—the silken apron shrinks not from poor prunella.
Prunes. See Stewed prunes.
To have prunes in the voice, verb. phr. (American).—To speak huskily; from emotion.
1888. St. Louis Globe-Democrat. There seemed to be prunes in my voice, and it seemed strange to me.
