Potter, to meddle without much judgment. Application various. A gentleman may describe himself as “POTTERING about in his garden,” and think the phrase pleasant. The gardener, who has to do the work all over again, may, however, use the word in quite a different sense.
Power, a large quantity; “a POWER of money.”—Irish at first, but now general.
Pow-wow, a conference. Originally an Indian term.
Prad, a horse. Prad-napping was horse-stealing. Both these terms are old cant.
Prancer, a horse.—Ancient Cant. In modern slang an officer of cavalry.
Praties, potatoes.—Irish.
Precious, used, in a slang sense, like very or exceeding; “a PRECIOUS little of that,” i.e., a very little indeed; a PRECIOUS humbug, rascal, &c., i.e., an eminent one.
Pretty horsebreakers, a phrase adopted some years back, in deference to common squeamishness, to denote the demi-monde, who dress so well and ride so daintily. Really, pretty heartbreakers.
Prial, a corruption of PAIR-ROYAL, a term at the game of cribbage, meaning three cards of a similar description. Often used metaphorically for three persons or things of a kind. Double-prial, a corruption of DOUBLE PAIR-ROYAL, means four cards, persons, or things of a similar description.