Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Prine 1811 OS

Etymology

( 1843TA , Prine 1811 OS ) , cf. Prime Md 1843TA , perhaps from ME , eModE  prine ' the holmor evergreen oak ' ( NED a 1400 , 1609 ) . Less likely is prine , a 19th - cent. spelling for ( now Scots  and N dial.) preen ' pin, brooch ' : this word ( OE prēon ) has been adduced for Preen PN Sa 1240–1 , perhaps here used figuratively for a ridge or other landscape feature , but cf. its figurative use ( NED 15 th — 19th cent . ) for something very small or of small value .