Part 148

Peep (?), n. 1. The cry of a young chicken; a chirp.

2. First outlook or appearance.

Oft have we seen him at the peep of dawn.

Gray.

3. A sly look; a look as through a crevice, or from a place of concealment.

To take t' other peep at the stars.

Swift.

4. (Zoˆl.) (a) Any small sandpiper, as the least sandpiper (Trigna minutilla). (b) The European meadow pipit (Anthus pratensis).

Peep show, a small show, or object exhibited, which is viewed through an orifice or a magnifying glass. -- Peep-o'-day boys, the Irish insurgents of 1784; -- so called from their visiting the house of the loyal Irish at day break in search of arms.

Peep"er (?), n. 1. A chicken just breaking the shell; a young bird.

2. One who peeps; a prying person; a spy.

Who's there? peepers, . . . eavesdroppers?

J. Webster.

3. The eye; as, to close the peepers. [Colloq.]

Peep"hole` (?), n. A hole, or crevice, through which one may peep without being discovered.

Peep"ing hole`. See Peephole.

Pee"pul tree` (?). [Hind. ppal, Skr. pippala.] (Bot.) A sacred tree (Ficus religiosa) of the Buddhists, a kind of fig tree which attains great size and venerable age. See Bo tree. [Written also pippul tree, and pipal tree.]

Peer (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Peered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Peering.] [OF. parir, pareir equiv. to F. paraÓtre to appear, L. parere. Cf. Appear.] 1. To come in sight; to appear. [Poetic]

So honor peereth in the meanest habit.

Shak.

See how his gorget peers above his gown!

B. Jonson.

2. [Perh. a different word; cf. OE. piren, LG. piren. Cf. Pry to peep.] To look narrowly or curiously or intently; to peep; as, the peering day. Milton.

Peering in maps for ports, and piers, and roads.

Shak.

As if through a dungeon grate he peered.

Coleridge.

Peer, n. [OE. per, OF. per, F. pair, fr. L. par equal. Cf. Apparel, Pair, Par, n., Umpire.] 1. One of the same rank, quality, endowments, character, etc.; an equal; a match; a mate.