prigs

Noun

prig (plural prigs)

1. A deliberately superior person; a person who demonstrates an exaggerated conformity or propriety, especially in an irritatingly arrogant or smug manner.
   • What spruce prig is that?1676, George Etherege, The Man of Mode, act 3, scene 3

   Synonyms:

   goody-goody, prude, puritan

2. (archaic) A conceited dandy; a fop.
   • A rap now at the door made all resound, / And in two bouncing blowings did rebound, / With two flash-men, a dandy, and a prig', / With whom they had been running of the rig.1822, Thomas Dolby, Benchiana, page 67

   Synonyms:

   barbermonger, beau, blade, blood, buck, carpet knight, cockscomb, dandy, dike, dood

3. (Ireland, UK, archaic, thieves' cant) A tinker.
   • These droncken Tynckers, called also Prygges.1566, Thomas Harman, A Caveat or Warning for Common Cursitors
4. (Ireland, UK, archaic, thieves' cant) A petty thief or pickpocket.
   • Out upon him! Prig, for my life, prig! He haunts / wakes, fairs, and bear-baitings.c. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount...

   Synonyms:

   abstractor, appropriator, bagger, booster, borrower, cribber, faker, filcher, flogger, heister

See all 7 meanings of prig