Priscilla

English[edit]

Feminine diminutive form of a Roman cognomen Priscus, Latin "ancient".

Priscilla

A female given name of biblical origin.
- 1858 Henry Wadswoth Longfellow: The Courtship of Miles Standish:
  
  Letters written by Alden, and full of the name of Priscilla, / Full of the name and the fame of the Puritan maiden Priscilla!
- 2003 Minette Walters: Disordered Minds: Macmillan. ISBN 1741142121 p.354:
  
  'Priscilla,' she said, --- 'The same name I've had for twenty years!' She smiled cynically. 'And, before you ask why, I was stoned when I chose it, so any thoughts of Cill were in my subconscious. I used to think it was classier than Louise or Daisy... probably because the Trevelyans were such snobs.'
(biblical) An early Christian also known as Prisca.
- 1611, King James Version of the Bible (Authorized Version), Acts 18:2:
  
  And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them.

biblical woman

female given name