pricking

Noun

prick=ing

WORDNET DICTIONARY

pricking(n = noun.act) prick - the act of puncturing with a small point; "he gave the balloon a small prick"

is a kind of puncture

Derived form verb prick₁

pricking, n.

The act of piercing or puncturing with a sharp point. Prov. xii. 18 [1583]. [1913 Webster]
The driving of a nail into a horse's foot so as to produce lameness. [1913 Webster]
A sensation of being pricked. Shak. [1913 Webster]
The mark or trace left by a hare's foot; a prick; also, the act of tracing a hare by its footmarks. [1913 Webster]
Dressing one's self for show; prinking. [1913 Webster]