Part 634

Prud*homme" (?), n. [F. prud'homme. cf. Prude.] A trustworthy citizen; a skilled workman. See Citation under 3d Commune, 1.

Prud"ish (?), a. Like a prude; very formal, precise, or reserved; affectedly severe in virtue; as, a prudish woman; prudish manners.

A formal lecture, spoke with prudish face.

Garrick.

Prud"ish*ly, adv. In a prudish manner.

Pru"i*nate (?), a. Same as Pruinose.

Pru"i*nose` (?), a. [L. pruinosus, fr. pruina hoarfrost.] Frosty; covered with fine scales, hairs, dust, bloom, or the like, so as to give the appearance of frost.

Pru"i*nous (?), a. Frosty; pruinose.

Prune (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pruned (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Pruning.] [OE. proine, probably fr. F. provigner to lay down vine stocks for propagation; hence, probably, the meaning, to cut away superfluous shoots. See Provine.] 1. To lop or cut off the superfluous parts, branches, or shoots of; to clear of useless material; to shape or smooth by trimming; to trim: as, to prune trees; to prune an essay. Thackeray.

Taking into consideration how they are to be pruned and reformed.

Bacon.

Our delightful task To prune these growing plants, and tend these flowers.

Milton.

2. To cut off or cut out, as useless parts.

Horace will our superfluous branches prune.

Waller.

3. To preen; to prepare; to dress. Spenser.

His royal bird Prunes the immortal wing and cloys his beak.

Shak.

Prune, v. i. To dress; to prink; - used humorously or in contempt. Dryden.

Prune, n. [F. prune, from L. prunum a plum. See Plum.] A plum; esp., a dried plum, used in cookery; as, French or Turkish prunes; California prunes.

German prune (Bot.), a large dark purple plum, of oval shape, often one-sided. It is much used for preserving, either dried or in sirup. -- Prune tree. (Bot.) (a) A tree of the genus Prunus (P. domestica), which produces prunes. (b) The West Indian tree, Prunus occidentalis. -- South African prune (Bot.), the edible fruit of a sapindaceous tree (Pappea Capensis).

||Pru*nel"la (?), n. [NL., perhaps from G. brÊune quinsy, croup.] ||(Med.) (a) Angina, or angina pectoris. (b) Thrush.

Prunella salt (Old Chem.), niter fused and cast into little balls.

{ Pru*nel"la, Pru*nel"lo, } n. [F. prunelle, probably so called from its color resembling that of prunes. See Prune, n.] A smooth woolen stuff, generally black, used for making shoes; a kind of lasting; -- formerly used also for clergymen's gowns.

Pru*nelle" (?), n. [F., dim. of prune. See Prune, n.] A kind of small and very acid French plum; -- applied especially to the stoned and dried fruit.

Pru*nel"lo (?), n. [F. prunelle, dim. of prune. See Prune a plum.] A species of dried plum; prunelle.

Prun"er (?), n. 1. One who prunes, or removes, what is superfluous.