Press Yard. The open courtyard between the Sessions House and Newgate Prison. Those who refused to plead when put upon their trial were pressed to death with heavy weights.
Preston. A corruption of “Priests’ Town,” so called on account of its many ancient monastic establishments.
Pretoria. In honour of Pretorius, the first President of the Boer Republic in South Africa.
Pretty Kettle of Fish. Save that the second word should be “Kiddle,” expressive of a basket placed in a river for catching fish, this expression is very old. During the time of the Plantagenets the warder of the Tower claimed the right of trapping fish outside Traitors’ Gate in this way for his own benefit; but the citizens of London systematically made a raid upon his kiddles, and destroyed them. “A pretty kiddle of fish indeed!” he was wont to exclaim to the Beefeaters on discovering the damage done to his preserves.
Primitive Methodists. The original Methodists, those who resort to open-air preaching and singing, after the style of Wesley and Whitfield. On account of their “Camp Meetings” they are styled also Ranters.
Primrose. So far from expressing the first or spring rose, the term is a corruption of the Italian primerola, the first spring flower.
Primrose Day. The 19th of April bears this name because it is the anniversary of the death of Lord Beaconsfield, 1881. When the body of this great statesman was laid to rest his coffin was adorned by a wreath sent by Queen Victoria, and superscribed “His favourite flower.” This gave rise to the formation of the Primrose League and the annual decoration of the Beaconsfield Statue at Westminster with a wreath of primroses on this day.
Prince of Wales’s Feathers. See “[Plume and Feathers].”
Prince of Wales Island. Named in compliment to the Prince Regent, afterwards George IV.
Princes Street. Laid out on the site of the old Westminster Mews, and so named on account of its proximity to King Street.