Prairie chicken (Zoˆl.), any American grouse of the genus Tympanuchus,
especially T. Americanus (formerly T. cupido), which inhabits the
prairies of the central United States. Applied also to the sharp-
tailed grouse. -- Prairie clover (Bot.), any plant of the leguminous
genus Petalostemon, having small rosy or white flowers in dense
terminal heads or spikes. Several species occur in the prairies of the
United States. -- Prairie dock (Bot.), a coarse composite plant
(Silphium terebinthaceum) with large rough leaves and yellow flowers,
found in the Western prairies. -- Prairie dog (Zoˆl.), a small American
rodent (Cynomys Ludovicianus) allied to the marmots. It inhabits the
plains west of the Mississippi. The prairie dogs burrow in the ground
in large warrens, and have a sharp bark like that of a dog. Called also
prairie marmot. -- Prairie grouse. Same as Prairie chicken, above. --
Prairie hare (Zoˆl.), a large long-eared Western hare (Lepus
campestris). See Jack rabbit, under 2d Jack. -- Prairie hawk, Prairie
falcon (Zoˆl.), a falcon of Western North America (Falco Mexicanus).
The upper parts are brown. The tail has transverse bands of white; the
under parts, longitudinal streaks and spots of brown. -- Prairie hen.
(Zoˆl.) Same as Prairie chicken, above. -- Prairie itch (Med.), an
affection of the skin attended with intense itching, which is observed
in the Northern and Western United States; -- also called swamp itch,
winter itch. -- Prairie marmot. (Zoˆl.) Same as Prairie dog, above. --
Prairie mole (Zoˆl.), a large American mole (Scalops argentatus),
native of the Western prairies. -- Prairie pigeon, plover, or snipe
(Zoˆl.), the upland plover. See Plover, n., 2. -- Prairie rattlesnake
(Zoˆl.), the massasauga. -- Prairie snake (Zoˆl.), a large harmless
American snake (Masticophis flavigularis). It is pale yellow, tinged
with brown above. -- Prairie squirrel (Zoˆl.), any American ground
squirrel of the genus Spermophilus, inhabiting prairies; -- called also
gopher. -- Prairie turnip (Bot.), the edible turnip-shaped farinaceous
root of a leguminous plant (Psoralea esculenta) of the Upper Missouri
region; also, the plant itself. Called also pomme blanche, and pomme de
prairie. -- Prairie warbler (Zoˆl.), a bright-colored American warbler
(Dendroica discolor). The back is olive yellow, with a group of reddish
spots in the middle; the under parts and the parts around the eyes are
bright yellow; the sides of the throat and spots along the sides,
black; three outer tail feathers partly white. -- Prairie wolf. (Zoˆl.)
See Coyote.
Prais"a*ble (?), a. Fit to be praised; praise-worthy; laudable;
commendable. Wyclif (2 Tim. ii. 15).
Prais"a*bly, adv. In a praisable manner.
Praise (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Praised (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Praising.]
[OE. preisen, OF. preisier, prisier, F. priser, L. pretiare to prize,
fr. pretium price. See Price, n., and cf. Appreciate, Praise, n.,
Prize, v.] 1. To commend; to applaud; to express approbation of; to
laud; -- applied to a person or his acts. "I praise well thy wit."
Chaucer.
Let her own works praise her in the gates.
Prov. xxxi. 31.
We praise not Hector, though his name, we know, Is great in arms;
't is hard to praise a foe.
Dryden.
2. To extol in words or song; to magnify; to glorify on account of
perfections or excellent works; to do honor to; to display the
excellence of; -- applied especially to the Divine Being.
Praise ye him, all his angels; praise ye him, all his hosts!
Ps. cxlviii. 2.