A prickle cell is an epidermal cell which lies above the basal cell layer, constituting a stratum spinosum

Stratum spinosum

The stratum spinosum is a layer of the epidermis found between the stratum granulosum and stratum basale. This layer is also referred to as the "spinous" or "prickle-cell" layer. This appearance is due to desmosomal connections of adjacent cells. Keratinization begins in the stratum spinosum....

, which forms innumerable intercellular bridges. These intercellular bridges give the stratum spinosum a rough appearance to which the cells of which it is composed owe their name. The purpose of these cells is to generate keratin.
Prickle cells belong to the family of keratinocytes

Keratinocyte

Keratinocytes are the predominant cell type in the epidermis, the outermost layer of the human skin, constituting 95% of the cells found there. Those keratinocytes found in the basal layer of the skin are sometimes referred to as "basal cells" or "basal keratinocytes"...

 and contain large numbers of desmosomes

Desmosome

A desmosome , also known as macula adherens , is a cell structure specialized for cell-to-cell adhesion...

.