What Does Prickly Mean?

The word prickly is an adjective form the word 'prick'. The word 'prick' has its origin in Old English word 'prica'. Prica means puncture. Then, it was adapted by Middle English. As a verb, prick means to pierce or to puncture. A prick is also a painful feeling of sorrow. Thus, anything that refers to piercing or puncture or pain is called prickly. A thing which is prickly has prickles. For example: a prickly branch. It is a branch that has prickle or thorns.

A prickly sensation is tingling or small painful sensation. Prickly could also refer to something that is troubling or causing vexation. For example: a prickly situation. It is a situation which is thorny or complex and a person involved in it is annoyed over the circumstances.