English

Alternative forms

• prin (dialectal)

Noun

preen ‎(plural preens)

1. A forked tool used by clothiers for dressing cloth.
2. (dialectal) pin
3. (dialectal) bodkin; brooch

Verb

preen ‎(third-person singular simple present preens, present participle preening, simple past and past participle preened)

1. (transitive) To pin; fasten.

Etymology 2

Variant of prune (by influence of preen above) Attested in Chaucer (c. 1395) in the variants preyneth, prayneth, proyneth, prunyht, pruneth, from Old French proignier ‎(“to trim the feathers with the beak”).

Verb

preen ‎(third-person singular simple present preens, present participle preening, simple past and past participle preened)

1. (of birds) To groom; to trim or dress with the beak, as the feathers.
2. To show off, posture, or smarm.
   • 1993, Scott Simmon, The Films of D W Griffith

     His preening self-satisfaction, chest thrown forward as he settles into a chair in his mansion...

   • 2004, Jude Deveraux, Counterfeit Lady

     He preened under her compliments.

3. (Britain, dialect, dated) To trim up, as trees.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Halliwell to this entry?)

Translations

See also

• primp

Anagrams

• neper

Scots

Noun

preen ‎(plural preens)

1. metal pin
2. pine needle

Derived terms

Verb

preen ‎(third-person singular present preens, present participle preenin, past preent, past participle preent)

1. to pin (fasten with a pin)
2. to dress oneself up