keek

See also: kè-e̍k

English

Etymology

From Middle English kyken, kiken, keken (“to look, peep”), probably from Middle Dutch kiken, kieken or Middle Low German kîken (“to look, peep”), from Old Saxon *kīkan (“to look”), from Proto-Germanic *kīkaną (“to look”). Cognate with Dutch kijken (“to look”), German Low German kieken (“to look”), Estonian kiikama (“to look, to peek”), German kucken, gucken (“to look”), Danish kigge, kikke (“to look, peep”), Swedish kika (“to peep, peek, keek, pry”), Icelandic kíkja (“to look, check”). Perhaps related to kick.

The words peek, keek and peep were used more or less synonymously in the 14th and 15th centuries.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kiːk/
• Rhymes: -iːk

Verb

keek (third-person singular simple present keeks, present participle keeking, simple past and past participle keeked)

1. To peek; peep.

   The man keeked over the fence.

Noun

keek (plural keeks)

1. A look, especially a quick one; a peek.

   She had a keek at the boy seated behind her who was busily writing something.

Related terms

• look
• peek
• peep

References

• “keek”, in Dictionary.com Unabridged, Dictionary.com, LLC, 1995–present.
• Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “keek”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.

---

Cornish

Adjective

keek

1. hedged

References

• http://www.cornishdictionary.org.uk/

---

Dutch

Pronunciation

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -eːk
• IPA^(key): /keːk/

Verb

keek

1. (deprecated template usage) singular past indicative of kijken

Anagrams

• keke

---

Scots

Etymology 1

Possibly from Middle English kiken.

Verb

keek (third-person singular simple present keeks, present participle keekin, simple past keeked, past participle keeked)

1. To have a quick look or peek.
2. To tilt or lean back.

Related terms

• keeker: a black eye

Noun

keek (plural keeks)

1. A quick look or peek.

Etymology 2

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Noun

keek (plural keeks)

1. A cap made of linen worn around the head and neck.

References

• “keek” in the Dictionary of the Scots Language, Edinburgh: Scottish Language Dictionaries.