peck at

English

Verb

peck at (third-person singular simple present pecks at, present participle pecking at, simple past and past participle pecked at)

1. (transitive) To nag
   • 1908 September – 1909 September, Jack London, chapter 32, in Martin Eden, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company, published September 1909, →OCLC:

     "Ghouls and harpies!" Brissenden snapped out with clicking teeth. "Yes, I know the spawn—complacently pecking at him for his Father Damien letter, analyzing him, weighing him—"

2. (transitive) To eat unenthusiastically and in small bites.

   Synonym: pick at

References

• “peck”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.

Anagrams

• Ptacek, packet