Part 635

2. (Zoˆl.) Any one of several species of beetles whose larvÊ gnaw the branches of trees so as to cause them to fall, especially the American oak pruner (Asemum mústum), whose larva eats the pith of oak branches, and when mature gnaws a circular furrow on the inside nearly to the bark. When the branches fall each contains a pupa.

Pru*nif"er*ous (?), a. [L. prunum a plum + -ferous.] Bearing plums.

Prun"ing (?), n. 1. The act of trimming, or removing what is superfluous.

2. (Falconry) That which is cast off by bird in pruning her feathers; leavings. Beau. & Fl.

Pruning hook, or Pruning knife, cutting instrument used in pruning trees, etc. -- Pruning shears, shears for pruning trees, vines, etc.

||Pru"nus (?), n. [L., a plum tree.] (Bot.) A genus of trees with ||perigynous rosaceous flowers, and a single two-ovuled carpel which ||usually becomes a drupe in ripening.

Originally, this genus was limited to the plums, then, by LinnÊus, was made to include the cherries and the apricot. Later botanists separated these into several genera, as Prunus, Cerasus, and Armeniaca, but now, by Bentham and Hooker, the plums, cherries, cherry laurels, peach, almond, and nectarine are all placed in Prunus.

{ Pru"ri*ence (?), Pru"ri*en*cy (?), } n. The quality or state of being prurient.

The pruriency of curious ears.

Burke.

There is a prurience in the speech of some.

Cowper.

Pru"ri*ent (?), a. [L. pruries, - entis, p. pr. of prurire to itch. Cf. Freeze.] Uneasy with desire; itching; especially, having a lascivious curiosity or propensity; lustful. -- Pru"ri*ent*ly, adv.

The eye of the vain and prurient is darting from object to object of illicit attraction.

I. Taylor.

Pru*rig"i*nous (?), a. [L. pruriginosus: cf. F. prurigineux.] (Med.) Tending to, or caused by, prurigo; affected by, or of the nature of, prurigo.

||Pru*ri"go (?), n. [L., an itching, the itch, fr. prurire to itch.] ||(Med.) A papular disease of the skin, of which intense itching is the ||chief symptom, the eruption scarcely differing from the healthy ||cuticle in color.

||Pru*ri"tus (?), n. [L.] (Med.) Itching.

Prus"sian (?), a. [From Prussia, the country: cf. F. prussien.] Of or pertaining to Prussia. -- n. A native or inhabitant of Prussia.

Prussian blue (Chem.), any one of several complex double cyanides of ferrous and ferric iron; specifically, a dark blue amorphous substance having a coppery luster, obtained by adding a solution of potassium ferrocyanide (yellow prussiate of potash) to a ferric salt. It is used in dyeing, in ink, etc. Called also Williamson's blue, insoluble Prussian blue, Berlin blue, etc. -- Prussian carp (Zoˆl.) See Gibel. -- Prussian green. (Chem.) Same as Berlin green, under Berlin.

Prus"si*ate (?), n. [Cf. F. prussiate.] (Chem.) A salt of prussic acid; a cyanide.

Red prussiate of potash. See Potassium ferricyanide, under Ferricyanide. -- Yellow prussiate of potash. See Potassium ferrocyanide, under Ferrocyanide.

Prus"sic (?), a. [Cf. F. prussique.] (Old Chem.) designating the acid now called hydrocyanic acid, but formerly called prussic acid, because Prussian blue is derived from it or its compounds. See Hydrocyanic.

Pru*ten"ic (?), a. (Astron.) Prussian; -- applied to certain astronomical tables published in the sixteenth century, founded on the principles of Copernicus, a Prussian.

Pry (?), n. [Corrupted fr. prize a lever. See Prize, n.] A lever; also, leverage. [Local, U. S. & Eng.]

Pry pole, the pole which forms the prop of a hoisting gin, and stands facing the windlass.

Pry, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pried (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Prying.] To raise or move, or attempt to raise or move, with a pry or lever; to prize. [Local, U. S. & Eng.]

Pry, v. i. [OE. prien. Cf. Peer to peep.] To peep narrowly; to gaze; to inspect closely; to attempt to discover something by a scrutinizing curiosity; -- often implying reproach. " To pry upon the stars." Chaucer.