  Single crystal of PrSi was grown by Czochralski method in a tetra-arc
furnace. Powder x-ray diffraction of the as grown crystal revealed that PrSi
crystallizes in FeB$-$type structure with space group $Pnma$ (no. 62). PrSi
undergoes a ferromagnetic transition at 52 K with [010] direction as the easy
axis of magnetization. Heat capacity data confirm the bulk nature of the
transition at 52 K and exhibit a huge anomaly at the transition. A sharp rise
in the low temperature heat capacity has been observed (below 5 K) which is
attributed to the $^{141}$Pr nuclear Schottky heat capacity arising from the
hyperfine field of the Pr moment. The estimated Pr magnetic moment 2.88
$\mu_{\rm B}$/Pr from the hyperfine splitting is in agreement with the
saturation magnetization value obtained from the magnetization data measured at
2 K. From the crystal electric field (CEF) analysis of the magnetic
susceptibility, magnetization and the heat capacity data it is found that the
degenerate $J = 4$ Hund's rule derived state of Pr$^{3+}$-ion splits into nine
singlets with an overall splitting of 284 K, the first excited singlet state
separated by just 9 K from the ground state. The magnetic ordering in PrGe
appears to be due to the exchange generated admixture of low lying crystal
field levels. Magnetocaloric effect (MCE) has been investigated from
magnetization data along all the three principal crystallographic directions.
Large magnetic entropy change, $-\Delta S_M = $22.2 J/kg K, and the relative
cooling power, RCP = $460$ J/kg, characteristic of giant magneto caloric effect
are achieved near the transition temperature ($T_{\rm C}$ = 52 K) for $H =$~70
kOe along $[010]$. Furthermore, the PrSi single crystal exhibits a giant MCE
anisotropy.
