A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Prig, Prigg(e, v. [Of uncertain origin: cf. (1) e.m.E. cant prig(ge (1561) to steal, or, as SND suggests, (2) MDu. and Du. dial. prigen to strive, exert oneself, resist, stand against (SND, s.v. Prig v.). Common in mod. Sc. dial. and in Eng. dialects.]
1. intr. To haggle, bargain, chaffer (with a person, for, also about, a commodity or a price).c1620 Boyd Zion's Fl. 54.
I will not prigge, I will not you deceive, Yee for the lade shall fourtie pieces have a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1832.
Ye sould prig at the price making and not at the payment 1676 Red Bk. Grandtully II 229.
I think no wonder that a poor lad lyk yow should prig thus for five pound with your good friend 1681 Colvil Whig's Suppl. (1751) 78.
The love of pelf … makes them prigg for milk and eggs
b. fig., and in fig. contexts.1630 Rutherford Christ & Doves 24.
The devil will promise them as fair as God: he will not prig with them 1632 Id. Lett. (1891) 73.
Do not prigg with your … gracious Lord about the time of the fulfilling of your joys 1637 Ib. 163. c 1666 Sel. Biog. I 271.
It is a downcoming mercat … although the followers of Christ must prigge and stand upon a hoof or an hairbreadth, for I know little difference betwixt pennies and pounds in selling any of the precious interests of Christ 1671 Samsons Riddle Preface.
But Christ and all His being theirs, and they His, they could not prigge with him c1680 McWard Serm. 165.
[You] would not prigg with Him, about your houses, your inheritance [etc.] 1685-8 Renwick Serm. 431.
O come and lay all down at His feet, and prigg not with Him! Ib. 454, 488. 1692 Presb. Eloq. (1694) 61.
I see Christ will not prigg [gl. higle] with me
2. tr. To prig down, to beat down (a price) by bargaining.1681 Thanes of Cawdor 357.
This compt is dear … .Prig down all you can
