- prime (adj.)
- 1399, from L. primus "first," from pre-Italic *prismos, superl. of Old L. pri "before," from PIE base *per- "beyond," *pro- "before" (see pre-). To prime a pump (c.1840) meant to pour water down the tube, which saturated the sucking mechanism and made it draw up water more readily. Arithmetical sense (prime number) is from 1570; prime meridian is from 1878. Priming "first coat of paint" is from 1609. Prime time originally (1503) meant "spring time;" broadcasting sense of "peak tuning-in period" is attested from 1964.
- prime (n.)
- O.E. prim "earliest canonical hour" (6 a.m.), from M.L. prima "the first service," from L. prima hora "the first hour" (of the Roman day). Meaning "most vigorous stage" first recorded 1536; specifically "springtime of human life" (often meaning ages roughly 21 to 28) is from 1592.
- prime (v.)
- "to fill, charge, load" (a weapon), 1513, probably from prime (adj.) (q.v.). Primer "explosive cap" is from 1819.