Past tense of prick: to puncture or pierce with something sharp, or to feel a sharp stinging sensation.
From Old English 'priccan' and Old Norse 'prik,' both referring to a puncture or small hole. The word has Germanic roots and originally meant making a dot or mark with a pointed tool.
The word 'prick' is ancient—Scandinavian Vikings used similar words, and English speakers have been getting pricked by thorns and needles for over a thousand years, which is why it's such a fundamental part of the language.
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