peep

• (UK) enPR: pēp, IPA^(key): /piːp/
• (US) IPA^(key): /pip/, [pʰip]

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -iːp

From Middle English pepen. Compare Dutch piepen (“peep”), German Low German piepen (“to peep”), German piepen and pfeifen, all probably onomatopoeic.

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.

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.

From Middle English pepen, variant of piken

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

1. (intransitive) To look, especially through a narrow opening, or while trying not to be seen or noticed.

   The man peeped through the small hole.

   • 1907, Robert William Chambers, chapter I, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, OCLC 24962326:

     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. (intransitive) To begin to appear; to look forth from concealment; to make the first appearance.
   • (Can we date this quote?) John Dryden

     When flowers first peeped, and trees did blossoms bear.

3. (transitive, MLE) To take a look at; check out.

   Did you peep that video I sent you?

• glance

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.

2. The first partial appearance of something; a beginning to appear.

   the peep of day

Of uncertain origin; perhaps variant of pip

peep (plural peeps)

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

• (spot on die or domino): pip

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

peep (plural peeps)

1. (Britain, slang) person.