prissy English · revision 1071

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈpɹɪsi/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is probably a blend of [[prim]] and [[sissy]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) or perhaps a humorous alteration of [[precise]].^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Too precise, over-particular (1895), probably Southern U.S. dialect, first recorded in Joel Chandler Harris.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Harris's story a character calls ''prissy'' “a girl's word” meaning someone trying hard to show off.^(Etymonline) The OED notes that it often implies primness or prudishness thought to be effeminate.^(OED 1989) ''Prissiness'' and ''prissily'' are recorded from 1934.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1895 – over-particular.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1934 – ''prissily'', ''prissiness''.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Excessively or affectedly prim and proper; [[finicky]] or [[prudish]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A prissy person.^(OED 1989)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[prissily]]

+ * [[prissiness]]

+ * [[priss]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[prim]]

+ * [[sissy]]

+ * [[precise]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}