Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Peck
Peck
,Noun.
[Perh. akin to
pack
; or, orig., an indefinite quantity, and fr. peck
, v. (below): cf. also F. picotin
a peak.] 1.
The fourth part of a bushel; a dry measure of eight quarts;
“A peck of provender.” as, a
. peck
of wheatShak.
2.
A great deal; a large or excessive quantity.
“A peck of uncertainties and doubts.” Milton.
1.
To strike with the beak; to thrust the beak into;
as, a bird
. pecks
a tree2.
Hence: To strike, pick, thrust against, or dig into, with a pointed instrument; especially, to strike, pick, etc., with repeated quick movements.
3.
To seize and pick up with the beak, or as with the beak; to bite; to eat; – often with up.
Addison.
This fellow
pecks
up wit as pigeons peas. Shakespeare
4.
To make, by striking with the beak or a pointed instrument;
as, to
. peck
a hole in a treePeck
,Verb.
I.
1.
To make strokes with the beak, or with a pointed instrument.
Carew.
2.
To pick up food with the beak; hence, to eat.
[The hen] went
pecking
by his side. Dryden.
To peck at
, (a)
to attack with petty and repeated blows; to carp at; to nag; to tease.
(a)
to eat slowly and in small portions, with litle interest;
as, to
.peck at
one’s foodPeck
(pĕk)
, Noun.
A quick, sharp stroke, as with the beak of a bird or a pointed instrument.
Webster 1828 Edition
Peck
PECK
, n.1.
The fourth part of a bushel; a dry measure of eight quarts; as a peck of wheat or oats.2.
In low language, a great deal; as, to be in a peck of troubles.PECK
, v.t.1.
To strike with the beak; to thrust the beak into, as a bird that pecks a hole in a tree.2.
To strike with a pointed instrument, or to delve or dig with any thing pointed, as with a pick-ax.3.
To pick up food with the beak.4.
To strike with small and repeated blows; to strike in manner to make small impressions. In this sense,the verb is generally intransitive. We say, to peck at.][This verb and pick are radically the same.]