pry

Etymology 1

The verb is inherited from Middle English prien, pryen (“to look closely, peer into, pry, spy”) [and other forms], from Old English *prīwan, *prēowian (“to look narrowly, to squint at”), attested by Old English beprīwan, beprēwan (“to wink”); further etymology unknown, but probably akin to Old English *prēowot (“closing of the eyes”), attested only in combination – compare prēowthwīl (“blink or twinkling of an eye, moment”), princ (“a wink”): see prink. The noun is derived from the verb.

verb

1. (intransitive)
   1. To peer closely and curiously, especially at something closed or not public.
   2. (figurative) To inquire into something that does not concern one; to be nosy; to snoop.
2. (transitive, obsolete) To peer at (something) closely; also, to look into (a matter, etc.) thoroughly.

noun

1. An act of prying; a close and curious look.
2. A person who is very inquisitive or nosy; a busybody, a nosey parker.

Etymology 2

The noun is probably a back-formation from prise, prize (“tool for levering, lever”), construed as the plural of pry. The verb is either derived from the noun, or is a back-formation from prise (“to force open with a lever”), construed as pries, the third-person singular present form of pry.

noun

1. (East Anglia, US) A tool for levering; a crowbar, a lever.

verb

1. To use leverage to open, raise, or widen (something); to prise or prize.
2. (figurative) Usually followed by out (of): to draw out or get (information, etc.) with effort.