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.
Quotation dates: 1500-1605
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Prunȝe, -ȝie, -ȝa, v.1 Also: prwn-, pruin-; proun-; pron-. [F. poroign-, pres. stem of poroindre (OF puroindre) ‘s’enduire de la graisse que l'oiseau tire de la glande uropygienne' (Wartburg) f. por- (mod. F. pour-) and oindre, L. ungere to anoint. Cf. ME and e.m.E. prunen (1390), prowne (c1450), prewne (1592), also pruynen (a1380), proynen (Chaucer), proine (1508), of same origin and senses. Cf. also Prene v.2]
1. Of a bird: a. tr. To preen, trim or dress (the feathers) with the beak. b. reflex. To preen (one's) feathers. c. intr. or absol., in sense a or b above. 1513 Doug. v iii 50.
A standing place, quhar skarthis with thar bekis … glaidly thame pronȝe [Ruddim. prunȝeis] and bekis c1552 Lynd. Mon. 188.
The plesand powne, prunȝeand his feddrem fair a1586 Satirical Poems xxxvii 56.
Persaue … the papingo that prwnȝeis 1587-99 Hume 30/155.
Halks prunȝeis on the sunnie brais
2. Of a person: a. reflex. To deck (oneself) out. b. tr. To deck out or adorn (the hair). c. intr. or absol., in sense a.a. c1500-c1512 Dunb. iii 374.
I wald me prunȝa [M. prein] plesandly in precius wedisb. 1513 Doug. iv v 80.
Hys hair enoynt weil prunȝeit vndir thatc. a1568 Scott xxxiv 95.
Ladeis … will prounȝe, Quhair geir is to be gottin a1605 Montg. Flyt. 80 (T).
Als proud as ȝe prunȝie [H. pruinȝe], ȝour pen salbe plukkit
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"Prunȝe v.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 17 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/prun3e_v_1>
