preen

English

/pɹiːn/

noun
Definitions
  • A forked tool used by clothiers for dressing cloth.
  • dialectal pin
  • dialectal bodkin; brooch

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English pren inherited from Old English prēon (brooch needle, pin) inherited from Proto-Germanic *preunaz (knitting needle, pin) derived from Proto-Indo-European *brewn- (edge, protrusion, tip) inherited from Middle English prenen.

Origin

Middle English

prenen

Gloss

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms