peep

peep¹ chirp, cheep

Etymology

The sound is inherited from Middle English pepen,^[2][1] probably an alteration of pipen (“to pipe; to squeak, chirp”), recorded from about 1250,^[2][3][5] which is from Old English pīpian (“to pipe”), a derivative of pīpe (“tube, musical instrument”).^[5][6] The American Heritage Dictionary also traces pipen to Latin pīpō (“to peep, chirp”).^[5] The word is ultimately imitative.^{[3][1][7][8][9]} Etymonline, Klein and Dictionary.com compare French pépier, German piepen, Lithuanian pypti and Czech pípat.^[3][10][9] The OED takes the verb as perhaps a conversion of the noun or a variant of pipe, and the noun as probably imitative.^[11]

Earliest recorded meaning

To make a short, shrill sound: Barnhart finds the verb implied in Lydgate's writings, probably about 1420, and the noun probably before 1437;^[2] Etymonline dates the verb to about 1400 and the noun to the mid-15th century.^[3] The OED's first record of the verb is from 1534, in John Heywood's Play of Love.^[11]

Semantic evolution

From 1486 a peep was also a flock of chickens;^[11] a young chicken is recorded from 1688, now a regional American use.^[11][7][3] In the United States it became a name for several small sandpipers from 1794.^[11][1] From 1567 the verb was used scornfully of a person speaking in a shrill or whining voice,^[11][7] and in Scotland, Somerset and Devon peep still meant to whine or complain in the 19th century.^[12] The noun came to mean the slightest sound or remark, usually in negative phrases such as not a peep: the OED dates this to 1808, in Jamieson,^[11] Etymonline to 1903.^[3] In the 20th century the verb also meant to inform or betray a confidence (1911),^[11][7] and the noun a short electronic beep (1957).^[11][7]

Timeline

• c. 1250 – pipen, to squeak, chirp.^[2][3]
• c. 1420 – verb, to make a short, sharp sound, implied in Lydgate.^[2]
• before 1437 – noun, a short, sharp sound.^[2]
• 1486 – a flock of chickens.^[11]
• 1567 – verb, to speak in a shrill, whining voice (obsolete by 1863).^[11]
• 1688 – a young chicken.^[11][3]
• 1794 – US, a small sandpiper.^[11]
• 1808 – a slight sound or utterance, in negative phrases.^[11]
• 1911 – slang, to inform.^[11]
• 1957 – a short electronic sound.^[11]

Meanings

Verb

1. To make a weak, high sound like a newly hatched bird; to cheep or chirp: The ducklings peeped behind their mother.^[1][11][7]
2. To speak in a small, weak voice, or to make the slightest sound.^[1][11]
3. (slang) To inform or betray a confidence.^[11][7]

Noun

1. A weak, high sound such as a young bird or a mouse makes.^[1][11][7]
2. A slight sound or remark, especially of complaint: We didn't hear a peep from the twins all evening.^[1][11][7]
3. A short, high electronic sound; a beep.^[11][7]
4. Any of several small sandpipers.^[1][11]
5. (US regional) A young chicken.^[11][7]

peep² look, glimpse

Etymology

The look is inherited from Middle English pepen,^[6][2][1] perhaps an alteration of piken (“to peek”), the source of peek, with p assimilated for k.^[2][3][5][1] Klein, Collins and Dictionary.com also take it as a variant of peek,^[10][13][9] while the OED calls the origin uncertain, perhaps imitative, or perhaps related to keek and peek;^[11] the Shorter Oxford and Hoad see it as a symbolic or expressive word, comparing peek and peer.^[7][8] The MED compares keken, a variant of kiken, with the same interchange of k and p.^[6] Weekley thought it perhaps came from the interjection pip or peep, with an original sense of bobbing up,^[14] and Johnson had guessed that the chick's cry was transferred to its first appearing from the shell.^[15]

Earliest recorded meaning

To look quickly or furtively, and to look through half-closed eyes: in the Towneley Plays, before 1460.^[6][2][11] The sense "to protrude slightly" is recorded before 1475.^[6][11]

Semantic evolution

The sense "to come partly into view, begin to appear" is from the 1530s in Etymonline,^[3] and the noun's first sense was the first appearance of daylight, in Palsgrave (1530), as in peep of day.^[11][2][3] The noun for a quick or furtive look is from 1677 in the OED,^[11] 1730 in Barnhart and Etymonline,^[2][3] and for a glimpse from 1793.^[11] Johnson (1755) defined the noun as "first appearance" and "a sly look".^[15] In slang a peep was an eye from about 1738,^[11][16] and Peeping Tom, a prying person, is recorded from 1796.^[3] In African American usage the verb has meant to detect or to check out, from 1954 in the OED.^[11][16] In the dialects of Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Warwickshire and Somerset the past tense was pep or pept.^[12]

Timeline

• before 1460 – to look quickly or furtively.^[6][2]
• before 1475 – to protrude slightly, to begin to appear.^[6][11]
• 1530 – noun, the first appearance of daylight.^[11][2]
• 1677 – noun, a quick or furtive look.^[11]
• c. 1738 – slang, an eye.^[11]
• 1793 – a glimpse.^[11]
• 1796 – Peeping Tom.^[3]
• 1954 – to observe, check out.^[11]

Meanings

Verb

1. To look quickly and secretly, especially through a small opening or from hiding: She peeped through the keyhole.^[13][1][7]
2. To come partly or briefly into view; to begin to emerge: Crocuses peeped through the snow.^{[13][1][7][11]}
3. To put (one's head or the like) out a little way.^[7][11]
4. (slang) To look at or check out.^[11][16]

Noun

1. A quick or secret look; a glance or peek.^[13][1][11]
2. The first appearance, as in the peep of dawn.^[13][1][11]
3. A brief or partial view; a glimpse.^[1][11]

Word family

• peeper
• peephole
• peeping tom
• peep show
• peep sight
• bo-peep