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peer

Etymology and origin of the English word peer

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English has two words spelled peer: an equal or a noble, from Latin par, and a verb meaning to look closely, of uncertain origin.[1][2][3]

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /pɪɹ/; /pɪə/ (UK)[4]

peer1 equal; noble

Confidence
Established
Formation
Borrowing
First attested
1215
Borrowed from
Anglo-Norman peir
Ultimate origin
Latin (par)

Etymology

It is Middle English pere, borrowed from Anglo-Norman peir, Old French per (“equal”) (modern French pair),[1][2][3][5] from Latin par (“equal”) (see par, pair).[2][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

An equal in standing before the law: 1215 in the OED;[6] an equal in rank or character, about 1250 in Barnhart, about 1300 in Etymonline.[1][2]

Semantic evolution

A nobleman, a member of the nobility, is from 1321–22 in the OED.[6][1] Etymonline traces the sense to Charlemagne's Twelve Peers in the old romances, who, like the knights of the Round Table, were so called because all were equal.[2] One of the same age group or social set is a sociological sense from 1944,[2][6] with peer review attested by 1970 and peer pressure by 1971.[2]

Timeline

  • 1215 – an equal before the law.[6]
  • 1321 – a member of the nobility.[6]
  • 1944 – an age-mate.[2][6]
  • 1970 – peer review.[2]
  • 1971 – peer pressure.[2]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. A person of the same age, status or ability as another; an equal.
  2. (British) A member of the nobility, such as a duke, earl or baron, especially one entitled to sit in the House of Lords.

Word family

  • peerage
  • peeress
  • peerless

peer2 to look closely

Confidence
Uncertain
First attested
1580

Etymology

It is a variant of piren (late 14th century), probably related to East Frisian piren (“to look”), of uncertain origin,[2][1] and influenced in form and sense by Middle English peren, a shortened form of aperen (see appear).[2][1][5][7]

Earliest recorded meaning

To look closely: 1591 in Barnhart, the 1590s in Etymonline;[1][2] MWU dates it to 1580.[5]

Semantic evolution

To peep out or come into view is a 16th-century sense.[3][7]

Timeline

  • late 14th century – piren.[2]
  • 1580 – to look closely.[5]

Modern meaning

Verb

  1. To look closely or with difficulty, especially at something hard to see.
  2. (archaic) To come partly into view.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b c Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  5. ^ a b c d Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  6. ^ a b c d e f Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
  7. ^ a b Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Peer.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/peer. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

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