peep

See also peeps, Peep, and PEEP

English

Pronunciation

• (UK) enPR: pēp, IPA: /piːp/, X-SAMPA: /pi:p/
• (US) IPA: /pip/, [pʰip]

• Audio (US)

  (file)

  Rhymes: -iːp

Etymology 1

Onomatopoeic, from Middle English pepen

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

quiet sound, particularly one from a baby bird

• Czech: pípnutí (cs) n
• Finnish: piipitys (fi)
• French: pépiement (fr) m

• Italian: cinguettio (it) m
• Russian: писк (ru) (pisk) m
• Spanish: pío (es) m

feeble utterance or complaint

• Czech: pípnutí (cs) n

• Spanish: susurro (es) m

sandpiper — see sandpiper

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

make a noise like a baby bird

• Czech: pípnout (cs)
• Finnish: piipittää (fi)
• Hungarian: csipog (hu)
• Italian: cinguettare (it)

• Jèrriais: piper
• Russian: пищать (ru) (piščát') impf., пискнуть (ru) (písknut') pf.
• Spanish: piar (es)

speak briefly with a quiet voice

• Czech: pípnout (cs)

• Spanish: susurrar (es)

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 Chambers, chapter 1/2, The Younger Set^[1]:

     And it was while all were passionately intent upon the pleasing and snake-like progress of their uncle that a young girl in furs […] peeped perfunctorily into the nursery […] and halted amazed.

Hypernyms

• glance

Translations

to look

• Czech: nakouknout (cs)
• Hungarian: kukucskál (hu)
• Italian: spuntare (it), sbirciare (it)
• Russian: подглядывать (ru) (podgljádyvat'), заглядывать (ru) (zagljádyvat')

• Scots: keek
• Scottish Gaelic: caog (gd)
• Spanish: husmear (es), espiar (es)

Noun

peep (plural peeps)

1. A quick look or glimpse, especially a furtive one.
   • 1907, Robert W. Service, “The Cremation of Sam McGee”, in The Spell of the Yukon and Other Verses:

     I was sick with dread, but I bravely said: "I'll just take a peep inside. / I guess he's cooked, and it's time I looked";. . . then the door I opened wide.

Translations

look

• Czech: nakouknutí (cs) n
• German: (heimlich) spähen (de)
• Hungarian: pillantás (hu), kukkantás (hu)
• Scots: keek

• Scottish Gaelic: caogadh (gd) m
• Spanish: vistazo (es) m
• Turkish: gözetlemek (tr)

Derived terms

Etymology 2: Terms derived from the verb or noun peep

bo-peep by-peep peeper, peepers

peep pixels peep show

peeping tom pixel peeper

Etymology 3

Of uncertain origin

Noun

peep (plural peeps)

1. (obsolete) A spot on a die or domino.

Synonyms

• (spot on die or domino): pip (Southern US)

Etymology 4

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

Noun

peep (plural peeps)

1. (UK, slang) person.