printing-wheel 
printing-wheel (prin'ling-hwel), . A wheel 
having Idlers or figures on its periphery, used 
in ]>agiug- or numberiiig-machines, or in ticket- 
pnMUf machines. 
printless (print'les), a. [<prit + -lens.'] Without 
a print, (a) Receiving or bearing no print or Impression. 
Lighting on the printlesg verdure. 
Keats, Lamia, i. 
Free at air, o'er priiUlea sands we inarch. 
Wordturorth, Excursion, IT. 
(6) Making no print or Impression. 
Thus I set my printlea feet 
O'er the cowslip's velvet head. 
Milton, Com us, 1. 897. 
With golden undulations such as greet 
The printlets summer-sandals of the moon. 
l.mrrll. Bon Voyage ! 
print-room (print'rSm), n. An apartment con- 
taining a collection of prints or engravings. 
print-seller (print'sel'er), n. One who sells 
prints or engravings. 
Any printtellen who have folios of old drawings or fac- 
similes of them. liutlrin, Klein, of Drawing, 11. 
print-shop (print'shop), n. A shop where prints 
or engravings are sold. 
I picked up In a print-ihop the other day some superb 
views of the suburbs of Chowringhce. 
M n HI 1 1 1, i : i, in Trevelyan, I. 309. 
print-works (print'werks), n. sing, and pi. An 
establishment where machine- or block-print- 
ing is carried on ; a place for printing calicoes 
or paper-hangings. 
There were for many years extensive calico print-works 
at Mmrose, but these are now converted into paper-mills. 
BaiiKt, Hist. Lancashire, II. 21. 
Priodon (pri'o-don), n. [NL.] Same as Pri- 
onodon. 
Priodontes (pri-o-don'tez), . [NL.] Same as 
Prionodon. 
Prion (pri'on), n. [NL. (LaciSpede, 1800-1), 
< Or. irpiuv , a saw, < irpittv, saw.] A genus of 
Proccllariulx, having the bill expanded and 
strongly beset along the cutting edges with 
lame) lee like the teeth of a saw; the saw-billed 
petrels. P. riltata is a blue-anil-wliite petrel 
inhabiting southern seas. Also Puchyptiln. 
Prioneae (pri-o'ne-e), . pi. [NL., < Prioii + 
-ex.] A section of Proccllariiitie established 
by COUPS in 1866, having the bill lamellate, and 
containing the genera Prion, Pneudoprion, and 
Hiilobwia ; the saw-billed petrels. 
Prionidae (pri-on'i-de), . pi. [NL. (Leach, 
1819;, < NL. Prion + -idee.] A family oflongi- 
corn beetles, typified by the genus Pi'ioniin, re- 
lated to the Cerumbyridie, having the sides of 
the prothorax sharply delineated and often ser- 
rate or spinous. 
Prionidus(pri-o-m'dus), n. [XL. (Uhler, 1886), 
< Gr. irpiuv, a saw, + tiilnr, fonu.] A genus of 
reduvioid bugs, re- 
placing Priiniotux of 
Laporte, 1833, which 
is preoccupied in ich- 
thyology. It Includes 
many strange tropical and 
semi-tropical forms, as P. 
cristatun, the wheel-butt, 
useful In destroying wil- 
low-slugs and rauny other 
noxious Insects. 
Prioninae (i>ri-o-ni'- 
ne),n.pl. [NL.,<J/'ri- 
on + -inie.] The Pri- 
onirife. as a subfamily 
of ('entmbycidte, dis- 
tinguished by the 
margined prothorax 
and the connate la- 
brura. The species are 
of large size and of brown 
or black color, and some 
of them are the longest 
beetles known. Theystrid- 
iibt. by rubbing the hind femora against the edge of the 
elytra. Prionut itnbricornu Is a common North American 
Eies. Orthonoma cylitutricum is also a striking exam- 
if this group. It is found In the West Indies and all 
ugh North America, feeding In the larva state In de- 
caying stumps of oak, walnut, pine, and. hemlock. 
Prionites (pri-o-ni'tez), n. [< NL., < Gr. irpiuv, 
a saw : gee I'riiin.] In ornitk., a genus of mot- 
mots: same as Momotu*. IHiiji-r, 1811. 
Prionitidae (i>ri-o-uit'i-de), . pi. [NL., < Pri- 
onitt:x + -ida.] Same as Monuitula. Bona- 
IMII-II; 1849. 
Prionitinae (pri'o-ni-ti'nc), . pi. [NL., < Pri- 
onitrx + -IH#.] Same as jfomotinfe, 1. Caba- 
iiix, 1*17. 
Prionitums (pn'o-ni-tu'rus), n. [NL. (Wag- 
IT, 1830), < Prionitet + Gr. ovpA, tail.] A ge- 
nus of Psittucida, having the central rectrices 
4734 
spatulate, as in the rnotinots of the genus I'ri- 
onites (or Momotus), whence the name; the 
racket-tailed parrakeets. Several species in- 
prioress 
habit North America, P. laticoUit and P. imbricornu being 
among the commonest of the latter. The larvic of both of 
these feed upon the roots of the grape. P. eoriariu* is 
European. /'. bremeornu Is destructive to orchard and 
Ortkotema tylt 
the PrieniHm. 
\Jrttuni, one of 
(Natur.il M.ICJ 
Racket-tailed Parrakeet (Priottiturits du<urtu). 
habit Celebes and the Philippines, as P. pta- 
turus, P. disowns, and P. spatulii/er. 
Prionium (pri-5'ni-um), . [NL. (E. Meyer, 
1832), so called in allusion to the sharply saw- 
toothed leaves; < Gr. irpiuv, a saw.] A genus 
of mouocotyledonous plants of the order Juiica- 
cea and tribe Eitjitiiceee. It is distinguished from 
Juncus, the rushes, which It closely resembles in struc- 
ture, by the three-celled ovary with a few seeds in the 
lower half of each cell, the large club-shaped embryo, and 
the three separate styles. The only species, P. Palmita, 
is a native of South Africa, known uspalmet or palmiet, 
and palmite. See palmite. 
Prionodesmacea (i>rio-uo-des-ma'se-a), n. pi. 
[NL., < Gr. npiuv/a, saw, + fcafiaf, band, liga- 
ture.] An order or group of bivalve shells 
with the hinge primitively transversely pli- 
cated or prionodont. It includes the jt'ufulti- 
cea, Areacea, Trigoniacea,Naiadacea, and itono- 
iui/tiria. 
Prionodon (pri-on'o-don), . [NL.,< Gr. xpiuv, 
a saw, + boovf (6(Wr-) = E. tooth.] In :oi>l., 
a generic name variously used, (a) In mammal.: 
(1) The emended form of /Viodon or Priodonteg, a ge 
nus of giant armadillos of South America, the only spe 
cfes of which Is the kabalassou, P. giya*. (2) A genus of 
Malayan viverrine quadrupeds of the subfamily Priono. 
il'Hitiiur, containing such as P. oracilig, which is white 
with broad black crossbands ; the linsangs. This genus 
was founded by Horsfield In 1823. See cut under delun. 
duwj. (b) In irhth.. a genus of sharks or subgenus of 
Carcharia* or Carc/iarinui. Midler and Uenle, 1841. 
prionodont (pri-on'9-dont), . and n. [< Gr. 
irpiuv, a saw, + odorf (O&OVT-) = E. tooth.] I. 
u. Having teeth set like a saw; having ser- 
rated teeth. Specifically (a) Having very numerous 
teeth, 20 or 25 alwve and below on each side, as an arma- 
dillo of the genus I'rionodon. (b) Having the tubercular 
molars reduced to one on each side above and below, as a 
civet-cat of the genus Prionodon. (c) In conch., trans- 
versely plicated, as the hinge of the Primtodetmacea. 
II. n. 1. An armadillo of the subfamily Pri- 
onodontiHte. 2. A linsaug of the subfamily 
Prioniidon tins'. 
Prionodontinae (pri-on t o-don-ti'ne), . pi. 
[NL., < Prionodon (-odoiti-) + -iitse.] 1. A sub- 
family of Virerridte, named from the genus Prio- 
nodon of Horsfield, having the body slender and 
elongate, and the tubercular molars reduced to 
one above and belowon each side ; the linsangs. 
2. A South American subfamily of Dasi/podi- 
dfr, having from 20 to 25 teeth above and below 
on each side, a greater n umber than in any other 
land-animal; the kabalassous, grand tatous, or 
giant armadillos. It is named from the genus 
I'rionotlon (emended from Priodon or Prioaontes 
of F. Cuvier). 
prionodontine (pri-on-d-don'tin), a. and n. [< 
prionodont + -iiiri.] Same as prionodon t. 
Prionums (pri-o-nu'rus), n. [NL. (Ehrenberg, 
1829), < Gr. irpiuv, a saw, + ovpa, tail.] 1. A 
ge n us of scorpions : same as . I ndrocton of the 
same author and date. 2. In irhth., a genus 
of Trtitliiiliil;i. 
Prionus (pri'o-nua), n. [NL. (Geoffroy, 1762), < 
(Jr. xpiuv, a saw.] A genus of large longicorn 
beetles, of the broad-bodied series of Ceramby- 
cidte, typical of the family Prionidtr, having the 
antennae imbricated or pectinated in the male. 
It U wide-spread and lias about 30 species, of which 9 In- 
Priemut imtruontu, male. iNatural sire.) 
other trees In North America. P. ctrmeornu Is a South 
American staghorn beetle, whose larva; are eaten by the 
natives. See also cut under Phytophaga. 
prior (pri'or), a. [< L. prior (neut. priua), for- 
mer, earlier, previous (pi. priores, forefathers, 
ancestors, the ancients), superior, better, used 
as the comparative of primus, first: see prime, 
and cf . pristine.] 1 . Preceding, as in the order 
of time, of thought, of origin, of dignity, or of 
importance ; in law, senior in point of time : as, 
a prior and a junior incumbrance. 
Sche seyde thou semyste a man of honour, 
And therfore thou schalt be yryovre. 
US. Cantab. Ft II. Sf, 1. 110. (HaUiiftll.) 
The thought is always prior to the fact ; all the facts of 
history preexist in the mind as laws. Emenon, History. 
2. Previous: used adverbially, followed by to, 
like previous. See prerioux, a. 
At the close of the Republican era, and prior to the re- 
construction of society under the Emperors, skepticism 
had widely spread. 
<J. P. Fisher, Begin, of Christianity, p. 133. 
What I propose to do is merely to consider alfttle Burke's 
We prior to his obtaining a seat In Parliament. 
Contemporary Rev., L. 28. 
Prior Analytics of Aristotle. See analytic*, i. =Syn. 
See previous. 
prior (pri'or), H. [< ME. priour, prcyour = 1). 
prioor = lilLG. prior, prier = MHG. prior, Q. 
prior = Sw. Dan. prior, < OF. priour, prieur, F. 
pricur = Sp. Pg. prior = It. priore, < ML. prior, 
a prior, lit. superior, < L. prior, former, supe- 
rior: see prior, a.] A superior officer; a su- 
perior. Specifically- (a) Eccle*. . an official in the monas- 
tic orders next In dignity and rank to an abtwt. Before 
the thirteenth century he seems to have been called provost 
(pnepoBltua)OT prelate (pnelatus). and prior seems to have 
meant any superior or senior. If in an abbey, and an as- 
sistant of the abbot, he is called a clauttral prior ; If the 
superior of a priory that Is, of a monastery of lower 
than abbatlal rank he Is called a r<mrrntital or conven- 
tual prior. The superiors of the houses of regular canons 
were always called priors, and the commandants of the 
priories of the military orders of St. John of Jerusalem, 
of Malta, and of the Templars were called ijrand priori. 
See heijumen. 
The prior of Durham, modest as the name might sound, 
was a greater personage than most abbots. 
Hi'iii. ('nth. Diet. 
(b) Formerly, in Italy, a chief magistrate, u in the medie- 
val republic of Florence. 
The Priors of the (Florentine) Arts. 
C. /.'. A'orton, Church-building In Middle Ages, p. Ift3. 
In 1300 we find him I Dante) elected one of the priort of 
the city. LmorU, Among my Books, 2d ser., p. 10. 
=Syn. Abbot, Prior. See def. (a), 
priorate (pri'or-at), n. [= F. prieurt = Sp. 
priorato = Pg.]>riorado, priorato = It. priorato 
= D.prioraat = G. Sw. Dan. prtorat, < ML. 
prioratuf, the office of a prior, < prior, a prior: 
see prior, n.] 1. The rank, office, or dignity of 
prior, in any sense of that word. 
Dante entered on his office as one of the priort of the 
city ; and in that prinrale, he himself declared, all the Ills 
ami calamities of his after-years had their occasion and 
beginning. 
C. /.'. \i,rt,ni. Church-building in Middle Ages, p. 194. 
2. The period during which a prior holds office: 
priorship. 
An eulogy on Walkelln, blshon of Winchester, and a Nor- 
man, who built great part of his stately cathedral, u it 
now stands, and was bishop there during (iodfrey'it prior, 
ate. T. Wartnn, Hist. Eng. Poetry, Dis., II. 
prioress (pri'or-.'s). u. [< MK. priorexsc = D. 
priorrn, < OF. /.; im i:*xc = Pg. priare:a = MLG. 
priorisse, priornchr. pricrxrlii; < ML. prioritsa. 
a prioress, fern, of prior, prior: see prior, n.] 
A female prior, having charge of a religious 
house; a woman who is the coadjutor of mnl 
in \t in rank to mi 
