Prude

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Prude \Prude\, n. [F., prudish, originally, discreet, modest;
     shortened from OF. prudefeme, preudefeme, a discreet or
     excellent woman; OF. preu, prou, excellent, brave + de of +
     fete woman. See {Prow}, a., {Prowess}.]
     A woman of affected modesty, reserve, or coyness; one who is
     overscrupulous or sensitive; one who affects extraordinary


     prudence in conduct and speech.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           Less modest than the speech of prudes.   --Swift.
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  prude
       n : a person excessively concerned about propriety and decorum
           [syn: {puritan}]

From THE DEVIL'S DICTIONARY ((C)1911 Released April 15 1993) [devils]:

  PRUDE, n.  A bawd hiding behind the back of her demeanor.