Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Pricklouse

Prick′louseˊ

,
Noun.
A tailor; – so called in contempt.
[Old slang]
L’Estrange.

Webster 1828 Edition


Pricklouse

PRICK'LOUSE

,
Noun.
A low word in contempt for a taylor.

Definition 2024


pricklouse

pricklouse

English

Noun

pricklouse (plural pricklice)

  1. (pejorative, now archaic, historical) A tailor; a lousy person.
    • 1603, John Florio, translating Michel de Montaigne, Essayes, London: Edward Blount, OCLC 946730821, II.32:
      that woman [] by no threats or stripes would leave to call her husband pricke-lowse [transl. pouilleux], and being cast into a pond and duckt under water, lifted up her hands, and joyning her two thumbs-nailes in act to kill lice above her head, seemed to call him lousie still [].