subs. (old cant).—1. A horse: see PRAD; and (2) a horse-thief. Hence PRANCER’S-NAB = a horse’s head: as a seal to a counterfeit pass; THE SIGN OF THE PRANCER = The Nag’s Head.—ROWLANDS (1610); B. E. (c. 1696); HALL (1714); GROSE (1785).
1567. HARMAN, A Caveat or Warening for Common Cursetors (1869), 85. A BENE MORT hereby at THE SIGN OF THE PRAUNCER.
1591. GREENE, The Second Part of Conny-catching [GROSART, Works, x. 76]. They … take an especiall and perfect view where PRANCERS or horses be.
1622. FLETCHER, Beggar’s Bush, v. 2. Higgen hath prigged the PRANCERS in his day.
1707. J. SHIRLEY, The Triumph of Wit, The Twenty Craftsmen [FARMER, Musa Pedestris (1896), 37].
| The fifteenth a PRANCER, whose courage is small, | |
| If they catch him horse-coursing, he’s nooz’d once for all. |
1749. R. GOADBY, The Life and Adventures of Bampfylde Moore Carew, ‘The Oath of the Canting Crew’ [FARMER, Musa Pedestris (1896), 51]. Prig of cackler, prig of PRANCER.
1834. W. H. AINSWORTH, ‘The Game of High Toby’ [FARMER, Musa Pedestris (1896), 115]. His matchless cherry-black PRANCER riding.
1843. DICKENS, Martin Chuzzlewit, xix. 203. My four long-tailed PRANCERS, never harnessed under ten pound ten!
1848. E. Z. C. JUDSON (‘Ned Buntline’), The Mysteries and Miseries of New York, iv. I prigged two PRANCERS and sold ’em.
3. (old).—A dancer: also as verb. = to dance. Also PRANKER.
1621. BURTON, The Anatomy of Melancholy, III. ii. If she be a noted reveller, a gadder, a singer, a PRANKER or dancer, then take heed of her.
4. (military).—A cavalry officer.
