peep

• POS: Noun, Verb (intransitive)

CIDE DICTIONARY

peep, v. i. [Of imitative origin; cf. OE. pipen, F. piper, pépier, L. pipire, pipare, pipiare, D. & G. piepen. Senses 2 and 3 perhaps come from a transfer of sense from the sound which chickens make upon the first breaking of the shell to the act accompanying it; or perhaps from the influence of peek, or peak. Cf. Pipe.].

•  To cry, as a chicken hatching or newly hatched; to chirp; to cheep.  [1913 Webster]

  "There was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped."  [1913 Webster]
•  To begin to appear; to look forth from concealment; to make the first appearance; as, the sun peeped over the eastern hills.  [1913 Webster]

  "When flowers first peeped, and trees did blossoms bear."  [1913 Webster]
•  To look cautiously or slyly; to peer, as through a crevice; to pry.  [1913 Webster]

  "Peep through the blanket of the dark."  [1913 Webster]

  "From her cabined loophole peep."  [1913 Webster]

Peep sight, an adjustable piece, pierced with a small hole to peep through in aiming, attached to a rifle or other firearm near the breech.

peep, n. 

•  The cry of a young chicken; a chirp.  [1913 Webster]
•  First outlook or appearance.  [1913 Webster]

  "Oft have we seen him at the peep of dawn."  [1913 Webster]
•  A sly look; a look as through a crevice, or from a place of concealment.  [1913 Webster]

  "To take t' other peep at the stars."  [1913 Webster]
•  Any small sandpiper, as the least sandpiper (Trigna minutilla).  [1913 Webster]

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. [Cant]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

peep, v. & n.
--v.intr.
1 (usu. foll. by at, in, out, into) look through a narrow opening; look furtively.
2 (usu. foll. by out) a (of daylight, a flower beginning to bloom, etc.) come slowly into view; emerge. b (of a quality etc.) show itself unconsciously.
--n.
1 a furtive or peering glance.
2 the first appearance (at peep of day).

Idiom

peep-bo = BO-PEEP. peep-hole a small hole that may be looked through. peeping Tom a furtive voyeur. peep-show a small exhibition of pictures etc. viewed through a lens or hole set into a box etc. peep-sight the aperture backsight of some rifles. peep-toe (or -toed) (of a shoe) leaving the toes partly bare.

peep, v. & n.
--v.intr. make a shrill feeble sound as of young birds, mice, etc.; squeak; chirp.
--n. such a sound.

Etymology

imit.: cf. CHEEP

THESAURUS

peep

bend the eyes, blink, bug, cackle, call, carol, case, cast, caw, chatter, cheep, chip, chipper, chirk, chirm, chirp, chirr, chirrup, chitter, chuck, clack, cluck, cock-a-doodle-doo, complaint, coo, croak, cronk, crow, cuckoo, direct the eyes, drum, flash, gabble, gaggle, gander, glance, glimpse, gobble, grumble, guggle, half an eye, honk, hoo, hoot, look, look over, make a reconnaissance, meddle, murmur, nose, ogle, outcry, peek, peer, pip, pipe, play peekaboo, play the spy, protest, protestation, pry, put under surveillance, quack, quick sight, rapid glance, reconnoiter, roll, scold, scout, scout out, sing, slant, snoop, sound, spy, spy out, squawk, squeak, squiz, stake out, stare, take a peep, trill, tweedle, tweet, twit, twitter, warble, watch, whistle, wink

ROGET THESAURUS

peep

Ululation

VB cry, roar, bellow, blare, rebellow, growl, snarl, bark, bow-wow, yelp, bay, bay at the moon, yap, yip, yipe, growl, yarr, yawl, snarl, howl, grunt, gruntle, snort, squeak neigh, whinny, bray, mew, mewl, meow, purr, caterwaul, pule, baa, bleat, low, moo, troat, croak, peep, coo, gobble, quack, honk, gaggle, guggle, crow, caw, squawk, screech cackle, cluck, clack, chuck, chuckle, hoot, hoo, chirp, cheep, chirrup, twitter, cuckoo, warble, trill, tweet, pipe, whistle, hum, buzz, hiss, blatter, ratatat.

Vision

N vision, sight, optics, eyesight, view, look, espial, glance, ken, coup d'oeil, glimpse, glint, peep, gaze, stare, leer, perlustration, contemplation, conspection, conspectuity, regard, survey, introspection, reconnaissance, speculation, watch, espionage, espionnage, autopsy, ocular inspection, ocular demonstration, sight-seeing, point of view, gazebo, loophole, belvedere, watchtower, field of view, theater, amphitheater, arena, vista, horizon, commanding view, bird's eye view, periscope, visual organ, organ of vision, eye, naked eye, unassisted eye, retina, pupil, iris, cornea, white, optics, orbs, saucer eyes, goggle eyes, gooseberry eyes, short sight, clear sight, sharp sight, quick sight, eagle sight, piercing sight, penetrating sight, clear glance, sharp glance, quick glance, eagle glance, piercing glance, penetrating glance, clear eye, sharp eye, quick eye, eagle eye, piercing eye, penetrating eye, perspicacity, discernment, catopsis, eagle, hawk, cat, lynx, Argus, evil eye, basilisk, cockatrice, seeing, visual, ocular, optic, optical, ophthalmic, clear-eyesighted, eagle-eyed, hawk-eyed, lynx-eyed, keen- eyed, Argus-eyed, visible, visibly, in sight of, with one's eyes open at sight, at first sight, at a glance, at the first blush, prima facie, Int, look!, the scales falling from one's eyes, an eye like Mars to threaten or command, her eyes are homes of silent prayer, looking before and after, thy rapt soul sitting in thine eyes.

VB see, behold, discern, perceive, have in sight, descry, sight, make out, discover, distinguish, recognize, spy, espy, ken, get a sight of, have a sight of, catch a sight of, get a glimpse of, have a glimpse of, catch a glimpse of, command a view of, witness, contemplate, speculate, cast the eyes on, set the eyes on, be a spectator of, look on, see sights, see at a glance, look, view, eye, lift up the eyes, open one's eye, look at, look on, look upon, look over, look about one, look round, survey, scan, inspect, run the eye over, run the eye through, reconnoiter, glance round, glance on, glance over turn one's looks upon, bend one's looks upon, direct the eyes to, turn the eyes on, cast a glance, observe, watch, see with one's own eyes, watch for, peep, peer, pry, take a peep, play at bopeep, look full in the face, look hard at, look intently, strain one's eyes, fix the eyes upon, rivet the eyes upon, stare, gaze, pore over, gloat on, leer, ogle, glare, goggle, cock the eye, squint, gloat, look askance.