Response to Doug's Pricking definitions

I too found the definitions of "Prick" to be quite amusing. And like Doug mentioned, the one that has really stuck with me was the term of endearment. RIGHT! How many times have we heard someone call someone a prick lovingly? I know I sure have not. This to me shows that the connotation has evolved and that yeah, this may be one definition of the word, but not anything that would be defined in our society. According to Marriam-Webster, this word dates back before the 12th century and when you look it up on Dictionary.com you get this:

1.	a puncture made by a needle, thorn, or the like.

2.	a sharp point; prickle.

3.	the act of pricking: the prick of a needle.

4.	the state or sensation of being pricked.

5.	a sharp pain caused by or as if by being pricked; twinge.

6.	the pointed end of a prickspur.

7.	Slang: Vulgar. a. penis. b. an obnoxious or contemptible person.

8.	Archaic. a goad for oxen.

9.	Obsolete. a small or minute mark, a dot, or a point.

10.	Obsolete. any pointed instrument or weapon.

–verb (used with object)

11.	to pierce with a sharp point; puncture.

12.	to affect with sharp pain, as from piercing.

13.	to cause sharp mental pain to; sting, as with remorse, anger, etc.: His conscience pricked him.

14.	to urge on with or as if with a goad or spur: My duty pricks me on.

15.	to mark (a surface) with pricks or dots in tracing something.

16.	to mark or trace (something) on a surface by pricks or dots.

17.	to cause to stand erect or point upward (usually fol. by up): The dog pricked his ears at the sound of the bell.

18.	Farriery. a. to lame (a horse) by driving a nail improperly into its hoof. b. to nick: to prick a horse's tail.

19.	to measure (distance, the size of an area, etc.) on a chart with dividers (usually fol. by off).

20.	Horticulture. to transplant (a seedling) into a container that provides more room for growth (usually fol. by out or off).

–verb (used without object)

21.	to perform the action of piercing or puncturing something.

22.	to have a sensation of being pricked.

23.	to spur or urge a horse on; ride rapidly.

24.	to rise erect or point upward, as the ears of an animal (usually fol. by up).

—Idioms

25.	kick against the pricks, to resist incontestable facts or authority; protest uselessly: In appealing the case again, you will just be kicking against the pricks.

26.	prick up one's ears, to become very alert; listen attentively: The reporter pricked up his ears at the prospect of a scoop.