E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Prig.
A knavish beggar in the Beggar’s Bush, by Beaumont and Fletcher.
1
Prig. A coxcomb, a conceited person Probably the Anglo-Saxon pryt or pryd.
2
Prig. To filch or steal. Also a pickpocket or thief. The clown calls Autol’ycus a “prig that haunts wakes, fairs, and bear-baitings.” (Shakespeare: Winter’s Tale, iv. 3.)
3
In Scotch, to prig means to cheapen, or haggle over the price asked; priggin means cheapening.
