Etymology From Middle English pepen. Compare Dutch piepen (“peep”), German Low German piepen (“to peep”), German piepen and pfeifen, all probably onomatopoeic.
Slang A World War II jeep attached to an armored regiment.
2
Medicine, SciencesAbbreviation, Acronym Acronym of positive end-expiratory pressure.
peep
verb
Etymology From Middle English pepen, variant of piken.
1
To look, especially through a narrow opening, or while trying not to be seen or noticed.
The man peeped through the small hole.
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.1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, chapter I, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC:
1 more example
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.1959, Georgette Heyer, chapter 1, in The Unknown Ajax:
2
Dated To begin to appear; to look forth from concealment; to make the first appearance.
When flowers first peeped, and trees did blossoms bear.1675, John Dryden, Aureng-zebe: A Tragedy. […], London: […] T[homas] N[ewcomb] for Henry Herringman, […], published 1676, →OCLC, (please specify the page number):
They first caught crabs and quohogs in the sand; grown bolder, they waded out with nets for mackerel; more experienced, they pushed off in boats and captured cod; and at last, launching a navy of great ships on the sea, explored this watery world; put an incessant belt of circumnavigations round it; peeped in at Behring’s Straits; and in all seasons and all oceans declared everlasting war with the mightiest animated mass that has survived the flood; most monstrous and most mountainous!1851 November 14, Herman Melville, chapter 14, in Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers; London: Richard Bentley, →OCLC, page 70:
Peep me, I'm fabulous, I work with the hardest working women at Kay Jeweler's, selling the finest jewels to the richest people.2019 December, Justin Blackburn, The Bisexual Christian Suburban Failure Enlightening Bipolar Blues, page 96:
A lot of females were hesitant about getting with Pimp. He had a hard edge to him that made it impossible not to peep his cruel nature.2006, Noire [pseudonym], Thug-A-Licious: An Urban Erotic Tale, New York, N.Y.: One World, Ballantine Books, →ISBN, page 58:
Etymology Genericized trademark from the confection brand Peeps, owned by Just Born, Inc.
1
US A soft marshmallow confection, shaped into a baby animal for Easter celebration.
peep
noun
Etymology From Middle English pepen. Compare Dutch piepen (“peep”), German Low German piepen (“to peep”), German piepen and pfeifen, all probably onomatopoeic.
1
A short, soft, high-pitched sound, as made by a baby bird.
2
In the negative 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.
With a "peep" from a high-pitched whistle, the train would leave by the crossover to the down line, […].1954 March, W. A. Tuplin, “Recollections of the Wirral Railway”, in Railway Magazine, page 168:
"Peep, peep," said Edward, "I'm ready." "Peep, peep, peep," said Henry, "so am I."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:
When I spotted two small warm-brown scaley-plumaged ‘peeps’ with yellow legs, my commentary immediately identified them as Least Sandpipers.1983, Bill Oddie, Gone Birding, London: Methuen, page 91:
Etymology From Middle English pepen, variant of piken.
1
A quick look or glimpse, especially a furtive one.
So saying she loosened some ivory screws of the guitar, so as to open a peep lengthwise through its interior.1852, Herman Melville, Pierre; or The Ambiguities:
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.1907, Robert W. Service, “The Cremation of Sam McGee”, in The Spell of the Yukon and Other Verses:
3 more examples
But at last Mr. Fox gave the order to stop. "I think," he said, "we had better take a peep upstairs now and see where we are. I know where I want to be, but I can't possibly be sure we're anywhere near it."1970, Roald Dahl, Fantastic Mr. Fox, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, page 30:
Another wheel toy was a baker's barrow on wheels, 14 inches high; it was filled with buns, loaves, and crumpets and came from Hamley's. This toy in 1959 was a peep into the past, for wheeled barrows such as this one, had not been in use for a number of years.1971, Gwen White, Antique Toys And Their Background, page 84:
He did manage a brief peep at the building’s Rotunda as he called on members of the Senate Judiciary Committee in July.1990 October 5, “Souter plans to get right down to work”, in Fort Worth Star-Telegram, volume 85, number 154, section 1, page 14:
2
The first partial appearance of something; a beginning to appear.
the peep of day
3
A peepshow.
A boring lusterless attempt at pornography, a niche above the racks of pulp pocketbooks sold in the front room of peeps.1981 December 1, Freddie Greenfield, “Insulting Prison Porn”, in Gay Community News, volume 12, number 20, page 11: