prnnelet 
prunelet (prOn'let), . [< prune 1 + dim. -let.'] 
A liquor made from sloes or wild plums. N//H- 
monds. 
prunell (prfj-nel'), M. [< V. prunelle, prunella: 
see prunella*.] A milled cashmere. Compare 
prunella*. 
prunellaH (pri>-nel'ft), n. [< ML. prunella (Kil- 
ian), a disorder of the throat, < MHO. briunr, 
G. brdune, sore throat, quinsy, lit. brownness, 
< limn (> ML. linniiix), brown: see brown."] In 
pathol.: (a) Sore throat, (ft) Thrush, (o) An- 
gina pectoris. 
prunella 2 (pr$-nel'ft) t n. [Also prunella, for- 
merly prunel, prunella (= G .prunelle, formerly 
brau'nelle = D&n. prunel) ; < P. prunelle, brunette 
= 8p. brunela, self-heal, = It. prunella, wall- 
wort, < ML. prunella, the plant self-heal, said 
to have been named from the disease prunella, 
which it was reputed to cure: see prunella 1 .'] 
If. A plant of the genus Prunella. Also brunel. 
2. [cap.] [NL. (Linnaeus, 1737; earlier Bru- 
iii Hi i, Tournefort, 1700).] A genus of plants, 
now known as Brunella, belonging to the order 
l.i i iii nt ;i- , tribe Stachydcx, and subtribe Scutel- 
larieee, characterized by a two-lipped calyx with 
anthers with two divaricate cells, and both style 
and filaments two-toothed at the apex. There 
are two or three species, widely dispersed throughout 
temperate regions and on mountains in the tropics. They 
are perennial herbs, partially erect from a decumbent base, 
with opposite and entire toothed or pinnatlfid leaves, a 
Battened and truncate ten-nerved calyx, and purplish, blue, 
red, or white flowers, six In a verticillastcr, and crowded 
in a dense terminal spike with broad rounded bracts be- 
tween. P. (Brunella) grandittora and other species are 
cultivated for the beauty of their flowers. P. (Bnmetta) 
mlgarin, the self-heal, widely distributed over the world 
(except Africa) and remarkable for the intense violet of its 
flower-buds, has also the old or provincial names allheal, 
bntnel, carpenter-grass, herb-carpenter, heart-o/-the-earth, 
hookheal, hooleu'eed, siclclcheal, and sickleweed. (See heal- 
all and carpenter 1 s-herb, and cut under self-heal.) The 
decoction of Its leaves and stem is still in domestic use 
for healing wounds, for which it was once in the highest 
esteem. 
prunella 3 (prij-nel'a), 7i. [NL. prunella, < F. 
prunelle, the ball of the eye, lit. a plum, < ML. 
prunellum, a plum (prunellus, plum-tree), dim. 
of ii.pruttum, a plum: see prune 1 .] A prepara- 
tion of purified niter or potassium nitrate mold- 
ed into cakes or balls. Also called prunella salt 
and nal prunella. 
prunella 4 (prg-nel'a), n. [Also prunello ; = G. 
jirunell = Dan. prunel, < P. prunelle, a stuff so 
called, supposed to be so named from its color, 
< prunelle, plum: see prunella 3 . ] A kind of 
lasting of which clergymen's gowns were once 
made, now rarely used except for the uppers of 
women's shoes. Also called everlasting. 
Worth makes the man, and want of it the fellow; 
The rest is all but leather or pninella. 
Pope, Essay on Man, Iv. 204. 
The finest Inwn makes common cause with any linen 
bands the silken apron shrinks not from poor prunella. 
D. Jtrrold, Men of Character, John Applejohn, viii. 
You know the sort of man a linen duster for a coat, 
pninella shoes, always smiling and hopeful a great deal 
about " Brethren." Harper'i Mag.. LXXVIL 845. 
Prunella 5 (prij-nel'a), it. [NL.] In ornitn., a 
genus of birds: same as Accentor. Vieillot, 
1816. 
prunello 1 (pr^-nel'6), n. Same as prunella 1 . 
prunello- (pr^-nel'6), n. Same as prunella 2 
prunello 3 (prp-nel'o), n. [< F. prunelle, a plum, 
= It. prunello, blackthorn : see prunella'.'] A 
prune of the finest grade, prepared from the 
green gage and the St. Catherine varieties of 
plum. The skin and stone are removed. 
prune-purple (proVper'pl), n. A maroon or 
dark and rather reddish purple color, like the 
stain of prunes. A color-disk mixture of artificial 
ultramarine 7 parts, Intense red 8 parts, and black 85 
part give* a prune-purple. 
pruner (prd'ner), n. [Formerly also proiner; 
< prune* + -er 1 .] One who prunes, or removes 
what is superfluous. 
HI* father was 
An honest proiner of our country vines. 
Maehin, Dumb Knight, III. 
prune-tree (prfin'tre), w. 1. A plum-tree. Spe- 
cifically 2. Prunus occidentalis, an excellent 
timber-tree of the West Indies. See Prunux. 
pruniferoUB (prij-nif'e-rus), a. [< L. prunum, 
a plum, + fi-rre = K. bear 1 .'] Bearing plums. 
E. Phillips, 1706. 
pruniform (prB'ni-ffirro), n. [< L. prunum, a 
plum, + forma, form.] Having the appearance 
of a plum ; plum-shaped. Thomas, Med. Diet. 
pruning (prtt'ning), n. [Verbal n. of prune*, r.] 
1. The act of trimming or lopping off what is 
superfluous; specifically, the act of cutting off 
4810 
branches or parts of trees and shrubs with a 
view to the strengthening of those that remain, 
or to the bringing of the tree or plant into a 
desired shape. Root-pruning is also practised with a 
spade or otherwise in order to control size, promote fruit. 
fulness, or secure a growth of fibrous roots near the stem 
prior to transplanting. Compare lopping, 1, and pollard, 1. 
IJf. In falconry, what IB cast off by a bird when 
it prunes itself; hence, refuse. Beau, and Fl. 
priming-chisel (prO'ning-chiz'el), n. A chisel 
used for pruning trees. It is often made with 
a concave cutting edge, as a safeguard against 
slipping. 
pruning-hook (pr8'ning-huk), n. A knife with 
a hooked blade, used for pruning trees, vines, 
etc. 
They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their 
spears into prvninyhooks. Isa. II. 4. 
pruning-knife (pro'ning-mf), . A knife used 
for pruning; a cutting-tool with a curved blade 
for pruning; a pruning-hook. 
pruning-saw (pro'ning-sa), n. A saw similar 
to a table- or compass-saw, but with larger, 
thicker, and keener teeth. Some pruning-saws are 
made with double teeth and the back and cutting edge of 
the blade nearly parallel, but with the back only half as 
thick as the tooth-edge. 
priming-shears (pro'ning-sherz), n.pl. Shears 
for pruning shrubs. One form has one of the blades 
moving on a pivot, which works in an oblong opening in- 
stead of a circular one, by which means a draw-cut Is pro- 
duced similar to that of a knife, instead of the crushing 
cut produced by common shears. 
Primus (prS'nus), n. [NL. (Tournefort, 1700), 
< L. primus, plum-tree : see prune 1 .'] A genus 
of rosaceous trees, the type of the tribe Pru- 
nese. It is characterized by a flve-lobed calyx, five pet- 
als, commonly broad, large, and showy, numerous stamens, 
and a single ovary, becoming in fruit a fleshy drupe with a 
hard, smooth, or roughened bmy stone, containing a sin- 
gle pendulous seed with two thick seed-leaves. There are 
about 96 species, mainly natives of north temperate re- 
gions, also numerous in tropical America, rare in tropical 
Asia, and elsewhere entirely lacking. They are usually 
Wild Yellow or Red Plum ( /Vwj .-Itnfric ana). 
I. Branch with flowers, y. Branch with leaves and fruit. 
small trees, sometimes shrubs, bearing alternate undi- 
vided leaves, usually linely toothed and folded lengthwise 
by the midrib (conduplicate) In the bud. The white, 
pink, or rose-colored flowers are in umbel-like clusters or 
racemes, or sometimes solitary. Many of the most valua- 
ble fruit-trees belong to this genus, including the peach, 
apricot, cherry, and plum. Many are used as febrifuges 
or forother medicinal properties. A gum exudes from their 
bark, especially In the cherry. Nearly all parts contain 
the elements of pmssic acid, rendering the kernels and 
bark of some species poisonous If eaten freely, particu- 
larly the wilted leaves and young branches of some cher- 
ries. One fourth of the known species are American, of 
which 14 are found east and 6 west of the Rocky Moun- 
tains. Mexico Is the home of a remarkable group of 6 
-p. .!- I ., I'll, ,11 //,, .,-f.,, /,!,/;;.. 'I ,,11. > I, .All-Ill] i 111- to I I all 
and California, with velvety fruit, smooth stone, and soli- 
tary or twin flowers appearing with the leaves, somewhat 
akin to the almond. The section or former genus Amyff- 
dalia has a downy fruit, rough and wrinkled stone, con- 
duplicate vernation, and flowers preceding the leaves, and 
includes about 10 species, natives of warmer Europe and 
Asia, of which the type Is /'. Aiiiiiir<lulii,<i A.i-i>niniiini*), the 
almond. (See almond, almond-tree, Amyffdalia, tmdamya- 
ilnlii..) Its variety amara, the hitter almond, is the source 
of a well-known essence. P. Pertica, the peach, is now 
placed in this section also. (See peachi, nectarim 
ttone, and Persica.) The apricot section, Anneniata 
(Tournefort, 1700), Is similar In Its downy drupe and flow- 
ers preceding the leaves, but differs In Its smooth stone 
and convolute vernation. It Includes /'. Armeniaca. tin- 
apricot ; /'. Sibirica, the Siberian apricot, valued for Its 
earlier and ornamental flowers ; P. datycarpa, the black 
apricot, also Siberian ; and /'. Briganliaea from lirinm.on 
In Franco, known as the marmottetoU tree, from the oil ex- 
pressed from Its kernels and used like olive oil. The sec- 
tion frwniM proper, including the plum* of (he old World, 
has a short calyx, smooth fruit, usually with a bloom, a 
pruritus 
flattened stone, and solitary or twin flowers preceding or 
accompanying the leaves, which are convolute in the bud, 
as In A domcstica, the cultivated plum, and Its probable 
original, /'. tmnum, the sloe or blackthorn. (Bee jVumi.) 
The related /'. cocomilia of Calabria is valued in Italy as a 
remedy for fever. The plums of the New World differ in 
their condupllcate vernation, fruit with little or no bloom, 
and In some species very turgid stones, approaching those 
of the cherry, ae in P. Americana, the red or yellow plum 
of the Atlantic .States (also called Canada plum and none- 
plum) ; P. maritima. the beach-plum ; P. subcordata, the 
wild plum of California ; and }'. angust\folia (P. ChicaM\ 
the Chickasaw plum, or hog-plum. The cherry section, 
Cfrana. known by its smooth fruit without a bloom, con* 
duplicate vernation, and solitary clustered or umbeled 
flowers preceding or accompanying the leaves, Includes 
about 20 species, of which P. Cerasut is the parent of the 
red and many other garden cherries. (Xeecherryl.Ceratut, 
bvjaroon, and moreuti. For P. avium, also called mazard 
and merry, see aean and hedaeberry; also Irirgch-wasscr, 
maroKa, maraschino, and ratafia. For /'. Mahaleb, see 
mahaleb, and cut under corymb. For P. Chamxceratut, 
see ground-cherry.) Two related species belong to the 
eastern United states, the dwarf P. pumila, or sand- 
cherry, and P. Penntylcanica, the wild red cherry, pin- 
cherry, or pigeon-cherry. (See pin-cherry.) The section 
Padus contains cherries with racemed flowers following 
the leaves, and smaller, less edible fruit, as P. Padut of 
Europe, known as bird-cherry, and 4 American species, 
P. Capuli and P. demista, the wild cherries, respectively, 
of Texas and the Rocky Mountains ; P. serotina, the black 
cherry, rum-cherry, or cabinet-cherry (see nan-cherry); 
and /'. Virifiniana, the choke-cherry. Another section, 
Lauroceram*, suggests the true laurel In its evergreen 
leaves, and has racemed flowers with a short obconlcal 
calyx, a conduplicate vernation, and a small, smooth, In- 
edible berry-like fruit It Includes about SO species, both 
temperate and tropical, mainly American, as P. occidcnta- 
lis, the West Indian laurel or prune-tree ; the Californian 
P. Uidjolia, the islay, also called holly-laurel; and P. Corn. 
liniana, the Carolina cherry-laurel, also known as wild 
orange and icild pfac h. (See oran#l &n& peach-brake.) For 
the long-cultivated P. Laurocerasus, type of this section, 
also known as cherry-bay, laurel-cherry, and date of Trebi- 
zond, see cherry -laurel, also laurel water. The Versailles 
laurel of gardens Is a variety of this. P. Lusitanica Is the 
Portugal laurel. A species similarly valued for the beauty 
of both its leaves and flowers Is P. Pteudnceramt, the sa- 
kura of Japan, also called Chinese cherry, used In Japanese 
wood-engraving. 
prurience (pro'ri-ens), n. [< prurient t) + -ce.] 
Same as pruriency. 
There Is a prurience In the speech of some, 
Wrath stays him, or else God would strike them dumb. 
Coicper, Conversation, 1. 81. 
pruriency (pro'ri-en-si), n. [As prurience (see 
<*).] The character or state of being prurient, 
(a) An itching or longing after something ; an eager de- 
sire or appetite. 
This selfsame vile pruriency for fresh adventure In all 
things has got . . . strongly into our habits and humours. 
Sterne, Tristram Shandy, i. 20. 
The bustling insignificance of Maximilian, cursed with 
an impotent pruriency for renown. Macaulay, Machiavelll. 
(6) A tendency toward, or a habit of, lascivious thought ; 
sensuality. 
Between prudery and pruriency in such matters there 
is a wide debatable ground, and it Is not always easy to 
draw the line which separates what Is permissible from 
what is not. The American, XVII. 110. 
prurient (pro'ri-ent), a. [= Ps.j>ruriente, < L. 
prurien ( /-), ppr. of prurire, itch.] 1 . Itch ing ; 
having an eager desire or longing for some- 
thing. 
There was always In the generality of mankind a pru- 
rient desire and hankering after the knowledge of future 
events. CulterwU, Light of Nature. (Ord MS.) 
Love 
Should have some rest and pleasure In himself, 
Not ever be too curious for a boon, 
Too prurient for a proof against the grain 
Of him ye say ye love. Tennyson, M crlin and Vivien. 
2. Inclined to lascivious thought; of an un- 
clean habit of mind ; sensual. 
The eye of the vain and prurient Is darting from object 
to object of illicit attraction. Isaac Taylor. 
pruriently (pr6'ri-ent-li), adv. In a prurient 
manner; with a longing or lascivious desire. 
pruriginous (prij-rij'i-nus), a. [= F. prurigi- 
neitx = Sp. Pg. It. pruriainoso, < L. pmrigiiio- 
xus, haying the itch, scabby, < prvrigo (-pin-), 
an itching, < prurire, itch: see prurient.'] Af- 
fected by prurigo ; caused by or of the nature of 
prurigo. 
Their blood becoming pniriyinoiu, and exalted by the 
salt and corrupt diet, as it often does, produces mange, 
scabs, and leprosies. 
OreenhOl, Art of Embalming (1705). p. 164. 
prurigo (pr^-ri'go), n. [L., an itching, < pru- 
rire, itch: see prurient.'] An itching; specifi- 
cally, a papular eruption of the skin in which 
the papules vary in size from a millet-seed to 
a small pea, are discrete, often in great num- 
bers and close get, irregular in distribution, 
iifjirly of tin' color of the cuticle, and usually 
intolerably itchy. 
pruritus (pr^-ri'tus), n. JL., an itching, < //r- 
rire, itch: see prurioit.] An itching: more 
specifically, a functional affection of the skin 
