princock

English

Alternative forms

• princox

Etymology

From an uncertain first element + cock.

Noun

princock (plural princocks)

1. (now rare, dialectal, sometimes attributive) An insolent or cheeky young man.
   • c. 1591–1595 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Romeo and Ivliet”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene v]:

     You are a saucy boy […] You are a princox; go: Be quiet, […] I'll make you quiet.

   • 1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 5, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book III, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC:

     Behold its behaviour. It is a prin-cock boy, who, in his schoole, knows not how far one proceeds against all order: study, exercise, custome and practise, are paths to insufficiency: the novices beare all the sway.