Potatoes (M. W. v. 5). It is curious that this tuber, which had been lately brought to England, should have been regarded, as it was, as an incentive to venery.
Pox, i.e. pocks, were properly the pits or holes poched or sunk in the face by the disease now called the small-pox, then simply the pox. Hence there was no indelicacy in its use by a lady (L. L. L. v. 2).
Pride of place (Macb. ii. 4) seems to mean the greatest height to which a falcon flew, previous to making the stoop. Place seems equivalent to pitch.
Princock, princox (R. and J. i. 5), a pert forward youth. Perhaps prince-cock, little prince; cock is a diminutive.
Priscian, a celebrated Latin grammarian. Blundering in grammar was termed breaking his head, hence "a little scratched" (L. L. L. v. 1).
Prone (Cymb. v. 4), prompt, ready, unembarrassed.
"With bombard and basilisk, with men prone and vigorous."
Holme, Fall of Rebellion, 1537.
"To delude your subtle father.—I am prone to it."
Mass. New Way, iii. 2.