Part 133

Pea"cock` (?), n. [OE. pecok. Pea- in this word is from AS. pe·, pwa, peacock, fr. L. pavo, prob. of Oriental origin; cf. Gr. &?;, &?;, Per. tus, twus, Ar. twu&?;s. See Cock the bird.] 1. (Zoˆl.) The male of any pheasant of the genus Pavo, of which at least two species are known, native of Southern Asia and the East Indies.

The upper tail coverts, which are long and capable of erection, are each marked with a black spot bordered by concentric bands of brilliant blue, green, and golden colors. The common domesticated species is Pavo cristatus. The Javan peacock (P. muticus) is more brilliantly colored than the common species.

2. In common usage, the species in general or collectively; a peafowl.

Peacock butterfly (Zoˆl.), a handsome European butterfly (Hamadryas Io) having ocelli like those of peacock. -- Peacock fish (Zoˆl.), the European blue-striped wrasse (Labrus variegatus); -- so called on account of its brilliant colors. Called also cook wrasse and cook. -- Peacock pheasant (Zoˆl.), any one of several species of handsome Asiatic pheasants of the genus Polyplectron. They resemble the peacock in color.

Pea"fowl` (?), n. [See Peacock.] (Zoˆl.) The peacock or peahen; any species of Pavo.

Pe"age (?), n. See Paage.

Pea"grit` (?), n. (Min.) A coarse pisolitic limestone. See Pisolite.

Pea"hen` (?), n. [See Peacock.] (Zoˆl.) The hen or female peafowl.

Pea"-jack`et (?), n. [Prob. fr. D. pij, pije, a coat of a coarse woolen stuff.] A thick loose woolen jacket, or coat, much worn by sailors in cold weather.

Peak (?), n. [OE. pek, AS. peac, perh of Celtic origin; cf. Ir. peac a sharp- pointed thing. Cf. Pike.] 1. A point; the sharp end or top of anything that terminates in a point; as, the peak, or front, of a cap. "Run your beard into a peak." Beau. & Fl.

2. The top, or one of the tops, of a hill, mountain, or range, ending in a point; often, the whole hill or mountain, esp. when isolated; as, the Peak of Teneriffe.

Silent upon a peak in Darien.

Keats.

3. (Naut.) (a) The upper aftermost corner of a fore-and-aft sail; -- used in many combinations; as, peak-halyards, peak-brails, etc. (b) The narrow part of a vessel's bow, or the hold within it. (c) The extremity of an anchor fluke; the bill. [In the last sense written also pea and pee.]

Fore peak. (Naut.) See under Fore.

Peak, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Peaked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Peaking.] 1. To rise or extend into a peak or point; to form, or appear as, a peak.

There peaketh up a mighty high mount.

Holand.

2. To acquire sharpness of figure or features; hence, to look thin or sicky. "Dwindle, peak, and pine." Shak.

3. [Cf. Peek.] To pry; to peep slyly. Shak.

Peak arch (Arch.), a pointed or Gothic arch.

Peak, v. t. (Naut.) To raise to a position perpendicular, or more nearly so; as, to peak oars, to hold them upright; to peak a gaff or yard, to set it nearer the perpendicular.

Peaked (?), a. 1. Pointed; ending in a point; as, a peaked roof.

2. (Oftener &?;) Sickly; not robust. [Colloq.]

<! p. 1055 !>

Peak"ing (?), a. 1. Mean; sneaking. [Vulgar]

2. Pining; sickly; peakish. [Colloq.]

Peak"ish, a. 1. Of or relating to a peak; or to peaks; belonging to a mountainous region. "Her peakish spring." Drayton. "His peakish dialect." Bp. Hall.