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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

PRINK, v.¹, adj. Also prank, prenk; prunk (I.Sc.).

I. v. 1. tr. To make smart or pretty, to titivate, deck out (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1914 Angus Gl., prunk). Freq. used refl. Gen.Sc., also in colloq. or dial. Eng. Ppl.adj. prinkit, prenkit, dressed or decked up, sprucely or neatly turned out, elaborately dressed; “prim, precise” (Sh. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 178, prenkit). Deriv. prinkie, -y, over-meticulous in dress or appearance, fussy over details, foppish, dandified, ostentatious, conceited (Ork. 1929 Marw.; Ork., Bnff. 1966).Sc. 1827 C. I. Johnstone Eliz. de Bruce I. iii.:
An ill-less, gude-less, prinkie kind o' prelatic boddie.Sc. 1862 A. Hislop Proverbs 249:
Pride prinks her brow for the deil to pouse.Ags. 1880 Arbroath Guide (28 Aug.) 4:
Bright posies prinket round with thyme.Ayr. 1884 Trans. Bnff. Field Club 28:
Prinkit like a lady.Kcb. 1898 Crockett Kit Kennedy i.:
The flowers which have slept . . . prink themselves again, and give forth a good smell.ne.Sc. a.1900 Readings and Dialogues 100:
Here am I prankit up, sae nice an' braw.Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
I'll prunk me op, I will put on fine clothes.Edb. 1915 T. W. Paterson Auld Saws 77:
I wish ye'd seen that prinkit wife.Abd. 1923 Swatches o' Hamespun 69:
Fan Rob got there, here's ma lady a' prinkit oot in 'er braw'ry.Ags. 1959 G. Michie Glen Anthol. 42:
A bonny spring, a' crystal clear, Wi' flooers and blossoms prinkit.m.Sc. 1991 Tom Scott in Tom Hubbard The New Makars 38:
See aa yon academic chiels wha prink
And preen in snobbish clubs,

2. intr. To strut, move with a swagger, walk in a jaunty, self-conscious way (Ork., Ags. 1966). Also in Eng. dial.Ags. 1870 Arbroath Guide (16 July) 3:
Brechin, wi' her left sark sleeve up, Prinks about like ony madam.

3. To shine (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), prunk). Cf. Prinkle, v., 2.

II. adj. 1. Fine, smart in appearance or manner, well turned-out, finely or elaborately dressed, spruce, showy, “polished”, ostentatious, prim (Sh. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 178, 1908 Jak. (1928), 1914 Angus Gl., prunk, Sh. 1966). Hence prunkly, adv., in a smart, well-turned-out manner, sprucely.Sh. 1877 G. Stewart Fireside Tales 11:
I wis as prunk a young man as wis eneath da “Want Hill”.Sh. 1952 J. Hunter Taen wi da Trow 201:
Her broon-bearded skipper staands Sae prunkly at da wheel.

2. Shining, glistening (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), prunk).