PEEP • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of Peep

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/pip/ Listen

noun

Peep n.

1.

The cry of a young chicken; a chirp.

2.

First outlook or appearance. "Oft have we seen him at the peep of dawn."

3.

A sly look; a look as through a crevice, or from a place of concealment. "To take t' other peep at the stars."

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)

verb

Peep v. i. (past & past part. peeped; pres. part. peeping)

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."

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."

3.

To look cautiously or slyly; to peer, as through a crevice; to pry. "Peep through the blanket of the dark." "From her cabined loophole peep."

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.

See images of 'Peep'

Etymology of 'Peep'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Peep" Quotes from Famous Books

... dashed back after her, but ere they reached the chamber there was a terrific explosion, the air was filled with debris, the back of the building was torn completely out, and when, a few minutes later, I summoned courage to enter and peep within the wrecked room, I saw a scene that I dare not ...

— The Count's Chauffeur • William Le Queux

... keys into a bucket and went within. In the common-room nothing had changed, and the men lay about precisely as he had left them. Reassured, he went above and took a peep at the Captain, ...

— The Trampling of the Lilies • Rafael Sabatini

... turning on his pallet, he let out at them. They admitted that the sound was pleasant, soft, musical—but, in conjunction with his looks perhaps, it was startling—so excitable, so utterly unlike anything one had ever heard. The village boys climbed up the bank to have a peep through the little square aperture. Everybody was wondering what Mr. Swaffer would ...

— Amy Foster • Joseph Conrad

... leading out the exuberantly playful quadruped on whose back Mr. Verdant Green is to disport himself; Charles Larkyns is mounted; the November sun is shining brightly on the perspective of the yard and stables, and the tower of New College; the dark archway gives one a peep of Holywell Street; while the cold blue sky is ...

— The Adventures of Mr. Verdant Green • Cuthbert Bede

... all the world has gone to sleep to-night and left the world to us. Come! Come this way and peep at the house, there. Stoop—under the branches. See, not a light is left! And all its blinds are drawn and its eyes shut. One window is open, my little window, Stephen! but that is in the shadow where that creeper ...

— The Passionate Friends • Herbert George Wells

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