Prise

Prise is a term with different meanings in English and French, reflecting its cross-language roots in the verb prendre, “to take.” In English, prise most often appears as a verb meaning to lever or pry open something, especially in British usage. The related noun form is rare in modern English; when used, it generally denotes the act of prying or the tool used to pry. The past tense is “prised,” as in “She prised the lid open.” In everyday American English, the verb is usually rendered as “pry.”

In French, prise is a common noun with several core senses. It can mean an act of taking or capture, such as a prize or seizure in contexts like prise de guerre (a war prize) or prise de pouvoir (a seizure of power). It can also denote something that has been taken, i.e., a prize or booty. In electrical contexts, prise refers to a plug or socket; for the outlet itself French uses the term prise électrique or prise murale, while the plug is typically fiche. The phrase en prise has other technical or idiomatic uses, for example in expressions related to danger or exposure, and there are many compound terms built with prise in fields such as aviation, law, and everyday description of electrical fittings.

Etymology and usage notes: prise comes from Old French prendre, meaning “to take.” In English, it survives mainly in older or technical usages as a verb meaning to lever open, with modern usage favoring pry or lever. In French, prise is a standard, versatile noun with both literal and figurative senses, from grabbing or capturing to electrical fittings.

See also: pry, prize, prise de guerre, prise électrique.