• PRINCE ALBERTS
n. L19 Aust. sl. – dress trousers
• PRINCE ALFREDS
n. L19 Aust. sl. – dress trousers
• PRINCESS OF THE PAVEMENT
n. a prostitute …20C Aust. sl.
• PRINCIPAL VERB
n. the chief or most important thing …1616 obs.
• PRINCOCK
n. a pert, forward, saucy boy or youth; a conceited young fellow; a coxcomb …1540 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
• PRINK
vb. to dress in a finical manner …Bk1905 Amer. dial.
• PRINKLE
vb. 1. to have a thrilling sensation, such as the feeling of ‘pins and needles’; to tingle, to prickle …1721 Sc.
vb. 2. to twinkle, to scintillate, to sparkle …1724 Sc.
vb. 3. to touch; to cause to tingle …1868 Sc.
vb. 4. of a boiling pot: to send up small bubbles …B1900 Sc.
• PRIORS
n. prior convictions; a criminal record …1978 US sl.
• PRITTLE-PRATTLE
n. 1. chatter; empty or idle talk; the innocent chattering of children …1556 now rare or Eng. dial.
n. 2. a silly chatterer, a gossip …1725 now rare or Eng. dial.
vb. to chatter, to prate, to talk idly …1552 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
• PRIVATE BUSINESS
n. extra tuition …1900 Eton College usage
• PRIVATEER
n. an independent prostitute …19C euphemism
• PRIVATE HARDWARE
n. the penis …Urquhart usage
• PRIVATE PARTS
n. the genitals …16C euphemism
• PRIVATE PROPERTY
. the genitals …19C colloq.
• PRIVATES
n. the genitals …1602 sl.
• PRIVITIES
n. the genitals …16C euphemism
• PRIVY-HOLE
n. the vagina …19C Brit. euphemism
• PRIVY MEMBER
n. the penis …17C Brit. euphemism
• PRIZE
n. 1. sexual intercourse …16C literary
n. 2. something excellent …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
• PRIZE BULL
n. nonsense …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
• PRIZE EXHIBIT
n. 1. something beautiful or attractive …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
n. 2. something excellent …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
• PRIZE PACKAGE
n. 1. a fool …1920s US sl.
n. 2. a kidnap victim …1920s US criminals’ sl.
n. 3. something beautiful or attractive …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
n. 4. something excellent …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
• PRIZE SAPPY
adj. foolish; silly; witless …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
• PRIZE WINNER
n. something excellent …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
• PRO
n. 1. an actor …Bk1891 theatrical sl.
n. 2. a prostitute …1937 euphemism
• PROBABILITIES
n. the weather bureau or its staff …L19 US sl.
• PROBANT
adj. proving, demonstrating, convincing …1908 rare
• PROCACIOUS
adj. forward, insolent, impudent, saucy, pert, petulant …1660 rare
• PROCACITY
n. forwardness, petulance, sauciness, pertness, impudence …1621 rare
• PROCEED TO PUCKER
vb. to make ready to do or act …Bk1913-17 Amer. dial.
• PROCELLOUS
adj. stormy, tempestuous …1650 obs.
• PROCEROUS
adj. tall, lofty, high; long …1599 obs.
• PROCLIVITOUS
adj. 1859 obs. rare – steep
• PROCURER
n. a pimp …16C
• PROD
n. a Protestant …1942 Anglo-Irish sl., derogatory
vb. of men: to copulate …19C sl.
• PRODDY
n. a Protestant …1954 Anglo-Irish sl., derogatory
• PRODDY-DOG
n. a Protestant …1954 Anglo-Irish sl., derogatory
• PRODDY-HOPPER
n. a Protestant …1954 Anglo-Irish sl., derogatory
• PRODDY-WODDY
n. a Protestant …1954 Anglo-Irish sl., derogatory
• PRODITORIOUS
adj. treacherous, traitorous, perfidious; apt to betray or reveal what is hidden or in the mind; apt to disclose or make known …c1475 obs. or arch.
• PROF
n. a professor …1838 sl., orig. US
• PROFANATIC
adj. infatuated with profanity …1689 nonce word obs.
• PROFESH
n. a community of professional tramps …1901 sl.
• PROFICUOUS
adj. profitable, advantageous, beneficial, useful …1622 obs.
• PROG
n. someone who is progressive in their political or social views …1958 sl.
• PROGGLES
n. the spines of a hedgehog …B1900 Sc.
• PROGRAM
n. a promoting something for one’s personal benefit …1960s Amer. sl.
• PROGRAMME
vb. in prison: to follow the rules and avoid trouble in hope of an early release …1981 US sl.
• PROHI
n. a federal law enforcement official; used by those in the illegal production of alcohol …1974 US sl.
• THE PROHIBITION ERROR
n. Prohibition era …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
• PROLE
adj. of the working-class …1965 US sl.
n. a member of the proletariat (working class); a lower-class person …1887 US sl.
• PROM
n. a dance at a school or college …1894 US sl.
• PROME
n. a neighbour …c1400 obs. rare
• PROMISE BELLTINKER
vb. of persons: to give a good thrashing, or a scolding; of things: to do anything thoroughly or in good style …1859 Eng. dial.
• PROMISED LAND
n. the female genitals …19C euphemism
• THE PROMISE OF ODIN
n. a promise of marriage supposed to be particularly binding …Bk1905 Sc.
• PROMISING POLITICAN
n. one who makes many promises …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
• PROMISSIVE
adj. making or implying a promise; promissory …a1635 now rare
• PROMMER
n. a member of the audience, esp. a promenader, at a Henry Wood Promenade Concert …1982 UK sl.
• PROMO
adj. promotional …1963 US sl.
n. public relations; promotional item(s); in the music business: an advance copy of an unreleased tune sent to an influential DJ …1966 US sl.
• PROMOSSING
adj. talking rubbish, playing the fool, mooning about …Bk1892 Aust. sl.
• PROMOTE
vb. 1. to obtain exploitatively …1930 sl., orig. US
vb. 2. in the circus or carnival: to obtain illegally something that is badly needed …1980 US sl.
• PRONEPHEW
n. 1. a great-grandson …c1425 Sc. obs.
n. 2. the son of a nephew …B1900 obs.
• PRONG
n. 1. a branch of either a tree or a river …Bk1913-17 Amer. dial.
n. 2. the penis …1969 sl.
• PRONG AT
vb. to urge, to annoy, to importune …Bk1913-17 Amer. dial.
• PRONK
n. a foolish person …1959 sl.
• PRONTO
adv. immediately; shortly …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
• PROP
n. a diamond or valuable piece of jewellery …1914 criminals’ sl.
• PRO-PACK
n. a small kit or envelope containing a sheath, strong soap, and an astringent, for use as a protection against venereal disease …Bk1974 Amer. sl.
• PROPER
adj. 1. good-looking or handsome …c1390
adj. 2. complete or thorough …c1430 colloq, chiefly Brit.
adj. 3. excellent; capital; fine …20C colloq.
adv. thoroughly or completely …1508 colloq.
• PROPERATE
vb. 1. to hasten or press forward; to go quickly …1623 obs.
vb. 2. to quicken the growth of …1675 obs.
• A PROPER CHARLEY
n. a complete fool …c1960 sl.
• A PROPER CHARLIE
n. a foolish person …1946 sl., chiefly Brit.
• PROP GAME
. a fraud racket by which householders are coaxed into paying heavily for unnecessary repairs …1966 Brit. sl.
• PROP-GETTER
n. a pickpocket …1901 sl.
• PROPHYLACTIC
n. a thin rubber sheath worn over the penis during sexual intercourse, usually as a contraceptive device, but legally available only for ‘prevention of (venereal) disease’ …Bk1974 sl.
• PROPINQUANT
adj. near, neighbouring, adjacent …1633 rare
• PROPINQUATE
adj. immediate, proximate …1665 obs. rare
vb. to approach, to draw near to …1623 obs. rare
• PROP-MAN
n. 1. a pickpocket …1901 sl.
n. 2. a fraudster operating the prop game …1966 Brit. sl.
• PROPOSITION
vb. to approach a person with an offer of employment or suggest a mutually profitable plan of action, esp. an illegal or unethical job, plan, or action; to ask for sexual favours from a girl or woman, usually in return for money or other favours to be given her …Bk1974 Amer. sl.
• PROPS
n. 1. the legs …1828 sl.
n. 2. crutches …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
• PROPUDIOUS
adj. shameful, infamous, disgraceful …1629 obs. rare
• PROPUGN
vb. to contend or fight for; to defend, vindicate (an opinion, doctrine or the like) …c1555 obs.
• PRORITATE
vb. to stir up, to provoke, to irritate, to incite …1620 obs.
• PROROGATION OF WAR
n. suspension of hostilities …1517 obs.
• PROROGUE
vb. 1. to prolong, to lengthen, to extend in time or duration; to cause to last longer; to continue, to protract …1425 obs.
vb. 2. to put off for a time; to defer, to postpone …1453 obs.
vb. 3. to delay; to procrastinate …1593 obs. obs.
vb. 4. to discontinue the meetings of a legislative or other assembly for a time …1455
• PROS
n. a prostitute …1937 sl.
• PROSPECT
n. a loved one; a sweetheart …Bk1892 Amer. sl.
vb. to make preliminary examinations or investigations …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
• PROSPICIENT
adj. 1654 rare – having foresight, provident
• PROSS
n. 1937 sl. – a prostitute
• PROSSIE • PROSSY
n. 1941 Amer. sl. – a prostitute
• PROSTIBULE
n. 1. 1623 obs. rare – a harlot, a prostitute
n. 2. 1623 obs. rare – a house of prostitution, a brothel
• PROSTIBULOUS
adj. 1550 obs. rare – pertaining to a prostitute or prostitution; addicted to the company of prostitutes
• PROSTIE; PROSTY
n. a prostitute …1930 US sl.
• PROT
n. a Protestant …1725 derogatory
• PROTECTION
n. bribe money paid to the police, an individual policeman, or politicians, for allowing illegal activities to continue without interference, any money paid to protect the payer without arrest …Bk1974 Amer. sl.
• PROTECTION MONEY
n. ‘Protection’ …Bk1974 Amer. sl.
• PROTERVE
adj. forward, wayward, stubborn; peevish, petulant; proud, arrogant, impudent …1382 obs. rare
• PROTERVOUS
adj. forward, wayward, untoward, stubborn, impudent, peevish, petulant …1547 obs.
• PROTESTANT HERRING
n. orig. applied to a bad or stale herring; anything of an inferior quality …20C Irish sl.
• PROTHODAW
n. a prime simpleton; a noodle of the first rank …a1548 humorous nonce word obs.
• PROTONYM
n. the first person or thing of the name; that from which another is named …1880 rare
• PROTREPTICAL
adj. adapted to persuade; hortatory, persuasive …1667-8 obs.
• PROUD AS A DOG WITH TWO TAILS
adj. very proud indeed …1840 Eng. dial.
• PROUD AS A JAY-BIRD
adj. very proud …1897 Amer. dial.
• PROUD AS LUCIFER
adj. extremely proud or satisfied with oneself; very haughty and overbearing …1567
• PROUD AS OLD NICK
adj. very proud …1856 Amer. dial.
• PROUD BELOW THE NAVEL
adj. amorous, or wanton …1629 colloq.
• PROUDER THAN LUCIFER
adj. very proud …Bk1905 Amer. dial.
• PROUD-FLESH’D
adj. haughty, stuck-up …1870 Eng. dial.
• PROUGHAL; PROUGHLE
n. a person who has failed to do something he or she has boasted to do …1983 Irish sl.
vb. to move about awkwardly …20C Irish sl.
• PROUGHS
n. material possessions, esp. illegally come by; free gifts …Irish sl.
• PROVEXITY
n. an advanced condition or state; greatness of age, the being well grown in years, or well studied in any art …1674 obs. rare
• PROVIDE ONE’S CHUMP
vb. to earn one’s living …M19 UK criminals’ sl.
• PROVO
n. a military policeman …1943 Aust. sl.
• PROVOCANT
n. one who provokes, incites, or stimulates a person, reaction, etc. …1894 rare
• PROVOCATE
adj. provoked, stimulated, incited …1432-50 obs. rare
vb. to provoke, call forth, incite …1432-50 obs. rare
• PROWL
vb. 1. to reconnoitre with a view to committing a robbery or other crime …1914 US sl.
vb. 2. to frisk a person; to run one’s hands over another’s clothing, usually in search of a gun …Bk1974 Amer. sl.
• PROXIMIORITY
n. the fact of being nearer; greater proximity …1720 nonce word obs.
• PROZZY
n. a prostitute …1941 sl., orig. Aust.
• PRUCKS
n. material possessions, esp. illegally come by; free gifts …20C Irish sl.
• PRUDE
n. an over-particular girl …Bk1913-17 Amer. dial.
• PRUGHS
n. material possessions, esp. illegally come by; free gifts …Irish sl.
• PRUG PRUG!
int. a call to cows to come in for milking …20C Irish sl.
• PRUINOUS
adj. 1588 obs. – relating to frost; frosty
• PRUNE
adj. Bk1974 Amer. sl. – drunk
n. 1. 1895 sl., orig. US – an ineffectual or incompetent person
n. 2. c1900 Amer. sl. – a man; a guy
n. 3. c1900 Amer. sl. – a prudish, scholarly person .
n. 4. c1900 Amer. sl. – a slow-witted person; a simpleton; one easily duped
n. 5. c1900 Amer. sl. – an eccentric; a dreamer
n. 6. Bk1913-17 Amer. dial. – a term of disparagement
• PRUNEFACE
n. a homely or sad-looking person …Bk1974 Amer. sl.
• PRUNE PICKER
n. a Californian …1918 sl.
• PRUNK
adj. 1. 1892 Sc. – neat, smart, pretty
adj. 2. B1900 Sc. – proud, vain, saucy
vb. B1900 Sc. – to make oneself smart and neat; to dress neatly; generally used with ‘up’
• PRUNO
n. Bk1974 Amer. sl. – fermented prune juice; any fermented fruit juice
• PRUNY
adj. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – foolish; silly; witless
• PRUSHON • PRUSHUN
n. 1. 1893 Amer. sl. – a boy tramp who begs for a mature tramp
n. 2. Bk1974 Amer. sl. – a young homosexual who lives with tramps
• PRUT
int. 1. c1300 obs. – an exclamation of contempt, disbelief, etc.
int. 2. 1899 rare – representing the sound of a rifle shot
n. 1. 1898 rare – the sound of a rifle shot
n. 2. Bk1974 Amer. sl. – dirt, as the sweepings from a floor, deck, or the like
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Updated: February 27, 2023
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