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Webster 1913 Edition

Peep

Peep

(pēp)
,
Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Peeped
(pēpt)
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Peeping
.]
[Of imitative origin; cf. OE.
pipen
, F.
piper
,
pépier
, L.
pipire
,
pipare
,
pipiare
, D. & G.
piepen
. Senses 2 and 3 perhaps come from a transfer of sense from the sound which chickens make upon the first breaking of the shell to the act accompanying it; or perhaps from the influence of
peek
, or
peak
. Cf.
Pipe
.]
1.
To cry, as a chicken hatching or newly hatched; to chirp; to cheep.
There was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or
peeped
.
Is. x. 14.
2.
To begin to appear; to look forth from concealment; to make the first appearance;
as, the sun
peeped
over the eastern hills
.
When flowers first
peeped
, and trees did blossoms bear.
Dryden.
3.
To look cautiously or slyly; to peer, as through a crevice; to pry.
Peep
through the blanket of the dark.
Shakespeare
From her cabined loophole
peep
.
Milton.
Peep sight
,
an adjustable piece, pierced with a small hole to peep through in aiming, attached to a rifle or other firearm near the breech.

Peep

(pēp)
,
Noun.
1.
The cry of a young chicken; a chirp.
2.
First outlook or appearance.
Oft have we seen him at the
peep
of dawn.
Gray.
3.
A sly look; a look as through a crevice, or from a place of concealment.
To take t’ other
peep
at the stars.
Swift.
4.
(Zool.)
(a)
Any small sandpiper, as the least sandpiper (
Trigna minutilla
).
(b)
The European meadow pipit (
Anthus pratensis
).
Peep show
,
a small show, or object exhibited, which is viewed through an orifice or a magnifying glass.
–
Peep-o'-day boys
,
the Irish insurgents of 1784; – so called from their visiting the house of the loyal Irish at day break in search of arms.
[Cant]

Webster 1828 Edition

Peep

PEEP

,
Verb.
I.
[L. pipio; Heb. to cry out.]
1.
To begin to appear; to make the first appearance; to issue or come forth from concealment, as through a narrow avenue.
I can see his pride
Peep through each part of him.
When flowers first peeped--
2.
To look through a crevice; to look narrowly, closely or slyly.
A fool will peep in at the door.
Thou are a maid and must not peep.
3.
To cry, as chickens; to utter a fine shrill sound, as through a crevice; usually written pip, but without reason, as it is the same word as is here defined, and in America is usually pronounced peep.

PEEP

,
Noun.
First appearance; as the peep of day.
1.
A sly look, or a look through a crevice.
2.
The cry of a chicken.

Definition 2024

Peep

Peep

See also: peep, peeps, and PEEP

English

Noun

Peep ‎(plural Peeps)

  1. (US) A soft marshmallow candy, shaped into a baby animal for Easter celebration.

Estonian

Proper noun

Peep

  1. A male given name,from a diminutive of Peetrus and Peeter.

peep

peep

See also: peeps, Peep, and PEEP

English

Noun

peep ‎(plural peeps)

  1. A quiet sound, particularly one from a baby bird.
  2. A feeble utterance or complaint.
    I don't want to hear a peep out of you!
  3. The sound of a steam engine's whistle; typically shrill.
    2001, Rev. W. Awdry, Thomas the tank engine collection : a unique collection of stories from the railway series - p. 177 - Egmont Books, Limited, Aug 15, 2001
    "Peep, peep," said Edward, "I'm ready."
    "Peep, peep, peep," said Henry, "so am I."
  4. A kind of bird; a sandpiper.
Translations

Verb

peep ‎(third-person singular simple present peeps, present participle peeping, simple past and past participle peeped)

  1. To make a soft, shrill noise like a baby bird.
  2. To speak briefly with a quiet voice.
Translations

Etymology 2

From Middle English pepen, variant of piken

Verb

peep ‎(third-person singular simple present peeps, present participle peeping, simple past and past participle peeped)

  1. To look, especially while trying not to be seen or noticed.
    The man peeped through the small hole.‎
    • 1907, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, “chapter I”, in The Younger Set (Project Gutenberg; EBook #14852), New York, N.Y.: A. L. Burt Company, published 1 February 2005 (Project Gutenberg version), OCLC 4241346:
      And it was while all were passionately intent upon the pleasing and snake-like progress of their uncle that a young girl in furs, ascending the stairs two at a time, peeped perfunctorily into the nursery as she passed the hallway—and halted amazed.
    • 1959, Georgette Heyer, chapter 1, in The Unknown Ajax:
      But Richmond […] appeared to lose himself in his own reflections. Some pickled crab, which he had not touched, had been removed with a damson pie; and his sister saw, peeping around the massive silver epergne that almost obscured him from her view, that he had eaten no more than a spoonful of that either.
  2. To begin to appear; to look forth from concealment; to make the first appearance.
    • John Dryden (1631-1700)
      When flowers first peeped, and trees did blossoms bear.
Hypernyms
Translations

Noun

peep ‎(plural peeps)

  1. A quick look or glimpse, especially a furtive one.
Translations

Derived terms

Etymology 3

Of uncertain origin; perhaps variant of pip

Noun

peep ‎(plural peeps)

  1. (obsolete) A spot on a die or domino.
Synonyms
  • (spot on die or domino): pip

Etymology 4

Back-formation from peeps, a shortened form of people.

Noun

peep ‎(plural peeps)

  1. (Britain, slang) person.

Etymology

  • PEEPS® is a trademark of Just Born, Inc., since 1999, although the trademark was first used in 1954.

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