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Webster 1913 Edition

Pry

Pry

,
Noun.
[Corrupted fr.
prize
a lever. See
Prize
,
Noun.
]
A lever; also, leverage.
[Local, U. S. & Eng.]
Pry pole
,
the pole which forms the prop of a hoisting gin, and stands facing the windlass.

Pry

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Pried
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Prying
.]
To raise or move, or attempt to raise or move, with a pry or lever; to prize.
[Local, U. S. & Eng.]

Pry

,
Verb.
I.
[OE.
prien
. Cf.
Peer
to peep.]
To peep narrowly; to gaze; to inspect closely; to attempt to discover something by a scrutinizing curiosity; – often implying reproach.
“ To pry upon the stars.”
Chaucer.
Watch thou and wake when others be asleep,
To
pry
into the secrets of the state.
Shakespeare

Pry

,
Noun.
Curious inspection; impertinent peeping.

Webster 1828 Edition

Pry

PRY

,
Verb.
I.
[a contracted word, the origin of which is not obvious.]
To peep narrowly; to inspect closely; to attempt to discover something with scrutinizing curiosity, whether impertinently or not; as, to pry into the mysteries of nature, or into the secrets of state.
Nor need we with a prying eye survey
The distant skies to find the milky way.

PRY

,
Noun.
Narrow inspection; impertinent peeping.

PRY

,
Verb.
T.
To raise or attempt to raise with a lever. This is the common popular pronunciation of prize, in America. The lever used is also called a pry.

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