pricking
UK[ˈprɪkɪŋ]US[ˈprɪkɪŋ]
n
the act of making a small, sharp hole or the sensation of a small, sharp pain.
adj
causing a sensation of small, sharp pain.
Morpheme Breakdown
prick
ing
prick
to pierce
ing
noun/adjective suffix
Etymology
the word 'pricking' is built upon the old english verb prician, which meant to puncture or pierce. this verb is part of the germanic family, with cognates in middle dutch and middle low german, all conveying the action of a pointed instrument. the addition of the '-ing' suffix, a prolific germanic nominalizer, transforms the action into its result or ongoing state. thus, the literal sense of "the act of piercing" evolved naturally into the abstract meaning denoting the resulting sharp sensation or the quality of causing such a feeling.
Analysis
Structure: prick (to pierce) + ing (noun/adjective suffix)
prick: from old english prician, meaning "to pierce with a small point". it functions as the verbal root.
ing: from old english -ing, -ung, a suffix used to form nouns of action or result, or adjectives describing a quality.
Examples
she felt a pricking sensation in her thumb from the thorn.
the pricking of the balloon was followed by a loud pop.
he winced at the pricking needles during the acupuncture session.