Definitions for Pricking
prick·ing

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:3.0 / 1 vote

1. prick, prickingnoun

   the act of puncturing with a small point

   "he gave the balloon a small prick"

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Pricking

   During the height of the witch trials of the 16th and 17th centuries, common belief held that a witch could be discovered through the process of pricking their skin with needles, pins and bodkins – daggerlike instruments for drawing ribbons through hems or punching holes in cloth. This practice derived from the belief that all witches and sorcerers bore a witch's mark that would not feel pain or bleed when pricked. The mark alone was not enough to convict a person, but did add to the evidence. Pricking was common practice throughout Europe. Professional witch finders earned a good living from unmasking witches, travelling from town to town to perform their services. Hollow wooden handles and retractable points have been saved from these finders, which would give the appearance of an accused witch's flesh being penetrated to the hilt without mark, blood, or pain. Other specially designed needles have been found with a sharp end and a blunt end. Through sleight of hand, the sharp end could be used on "normal" flesh, drawing blood and causing pain, while the unseen dull end would be used on a supposed witch's mark.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. pricking

   Pricking refers to the action of making small holes or piercing slightly using a pointed object like a needle or pin. It can also refer to an irritating or uncomfortable sensation of being pierced or punctured, often used to describe a physical feeling in the skin or body.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:3.0 / 1 vote

1. Pricking

   of Prick

2. Prickingnoun

   the act of piercing or puncturing with a sharp point

3. Prickingnoun

   the driving of a nail into a horse's foot so as to produce lameness

4. Prickingnoun

   same as Nicking

5. Prickingnoun

   a sensation of being pricked

6. Prickingnoun

   the mark or trace left by a hare's foot; a prick; also, the act of tracing a hare by its footmarks

7. Prickingnoun

   dressing one's self for show; prinking

WikidataRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Pricking

   During the height of the witch trials of the 16th and 17th centuries, common belief held that a witch could be discovered through the process of pricking their skin with needles, pins and bodkins - daggerlike instruments for drawing ribbons through hems or punching holes in cloth. This practice derived from the belief that all witches and sorcerers bore a witch's mark that would not feel pain or bleed when pricked. The mark alone was not enough to convict a person, but did add to the evidence. Pricking was common practice throughout Europe, but was most prevalent in England and Scotland. Professional witch finders earned a good living from unmasking witches, travelling from town to town to perform their services. Hollow wooden handles and retractable points have been saved from these finders, which would give the appearance of an accused witch's flesh being penetrated to the hilt without mark, blood, or pain. Other specially designed needles have been found with a sharp end and a blunt end. Through sleight of hand, the sharp end could be used on "normal" flesh, drawing blood and causing pain, a process which appeared to mount further evidence against the accused, while the dull end would be used on a supposed witch's mark.

Matched Categories

1. • Puncture

How to pronounce Pricking?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say Pricking in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of Pricking in Chaldean Numerology is: 7

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of Pricking in Pythagorean Numerology is: 6

Examples of Pricking in a Sentence

1. William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, Act 1, Scene 2:

   If Love be rough with you, be rough with Love, prick Love for pricking, and you beat Love down.

2. William Shakespeare, "Macbeth", Act 4 scene 1:

   By the pricking of my thumbs,Something wicked this way comes. Open, locks, Whoever knocks!

3. William Shakespeare:

   By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes. Open, locks, Whoever knocks

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=Pricking
2. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pricking
3. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
4. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Pricking
5. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=Pricking