or princox, primcock, princycock, subs. (old).—1. A pert youth.—Also as adj. = saucy; conceited.—B. E. (c. 1696); GROSE (1785). PRIME-COCK-BOY also = (FLORIO), ‘a freshman, a novice, a milkesop, a boy new come into the world.’
1573. New Custum [DODSLEY, Old Plays (REED), i. 264].
| Yes, PRINKOCKES, that I have; for fortie yeares agoe, | |
| I could smatter in a Duns prettily, I do not jest; | |
| Better I am sure then an hundred of you, whosoever is the best. |
1592. NASHE, Pierce Penilesse, His Supplication to the Divell (Shakspeare Society), 52. You shall heare a Caualier of the first feather, a PRINCOCKES that was but a Page the other day in the Court, and now is all to be frenchified in his Souldiers sute.
1592. GREENE, A Quip for an Upstart Courtier, B. 4. I will teach thee a lesson worth the hearing, proud PRINCOCKS, how gentility first sprung up.
1594. J. LYLY, Mother Bombie, i. 3. I have almost these two yeares cast in my head, how I might match my PRINCOCKS with Stellio’s daughter.
1595. SHAKESPEARE, Romeo and Juliet, i. 5. You are a saucy boy…. You are a PRINCOX; go.
1595. Locrine, ii. 4. Hum. Naught reck I of thy threats, thou PRINCOX boy.
1596. GOSSON, Pleasant Quippes for Upstart Newfangled Gentlewomen [HAZLITT, Remains of the Early Popular Poetry of England, IV. 250].
| And when proud PRINCOKS, rascals bratte, | |
| In fashion will be princes mate. |
1598. FLORIO, A Worlde of Wordes, s.v. Pinchino. A pillicock, a PRIMCOCK, a prick, a prettie lad, a gull, a noddie.
1611. CORYATE, Crudities, ii. 255 [Reprint]. To teach many proud PRINCOCKE scholars that are puffed up with the opinion of their learning to pull downe the high sailes of their lofty spirits.
1611. CHAPMAN, May-Day, i. 1. I have love to employ thee in as well as the proudest young PRINCOCK.
1615. S. DANIEL, Hymen’s Triumph, 313.
| Ah, sirrah, have I found you? are you heere, | |
| You PRINCOCK boy? |
2. (venery).—The female pudendum: see MONOSYLLABLE.—[DUNBAR.] Also the penis: see PRICK.
