pricker

1) Sheaths containing knives attached to men's belts around the waist.

On stocktaking day, 1 November 1681, the scissorsmiths’ storehouse in Sheffield contained sheaths, namely prickers, razor cases and crooked sheaths.

places Sheffield
dates 1681

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2) Occupation term of uncertain meaning.

Only one example noted: 1639 Edward Horsfall, pricker, sep, Almondbury. It was evidently occupational but the meaning is uncertain. In some contexts a ‘pricker’ was a huntsman and in others a witch-finder. A by-name which may derive from witch-finder is: 1168-94 Helya Prickescin, Fountains Abbey

dates 1168-1194 1639

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Photo by Kreuzschnabel CC BY-SA 3.0