pricking

n. pricking of(one's) thumbs: All sudden pains of thebody were thought by the ancient superstitious peopleto predict that something unusual was about to hap-pen. 大拇指像针刺一样疼痛(古代迷信：身体某部位突然疼痛预兆将有不寻常事件发生)。
△Mac.4.1.44:“By the prick-ing of my thumbs. / Something wicked this waycomes.”我的拇指刺疼得好奇怪，定有什么坏东西到这边来。