prusten

English

Etymology

From the German verb prusten (to sneeze, to snort).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈpɹuːst(ə)n/
This entry needs a sound clip exemplifying the definition.

Noun

prusten (uncountable)

  1. A sound made by tigers and snow leopards without the intent to threaten, producing a breathy snort by blowing through the nostrils whilst the mouth is closed — a low-frequency equivalent of the purring found in domestic cats.
    • 2001, Yann Martel, chapter 57, in Life of Pi, Canongate, published 2003, →ISBN, page 163:
      He made a sound, a snort from his nostrils. I pricked up my ears. He did it a second time. I was astonished. Prusten?
    • ibidem, pages 163–164:
      Prusten is the quietest of tiger calls, a puff through the nose to express friendliness and harmless intentions.

Synonyms

Further reading

Anagrams

German

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈpʁuːstən/, [ˈpʁuːstn̩]
  • (file)

Verb

prusten (weak, third-person singular present prustet, past tense prustete, past participle geprustet, auxiliary haben)

  1. to snort (especially with laughter)
  2. to splutter

Conjugation

Descendants

  • English: prusten

Further reading

  • prusten” in Duden online
  • prusten” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
This article is issued from Wiktionary. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.