peck

peck
{{11}}peck (n.) late 13c., "dry measure of one-quarter bushel," of unknown origin; perhaps connected with O.Fr. pek, picot (13c.), also of unknown origin. Chiefly of oats for horses; original sense may be "allowance" rather than a fixed measure, thus perhaps from PECK (Cf. peck) (v.).
{{12}}peck (v.) c.1300, possibly a variant of picken (see PICK (Cf. pick) (v.)), or in part from M.L.G. pekken "to peck with the beak." As a behavior among hens, pecking order (1928) translates Ger. hackliste (T.J. Schjelderuo-Ebbe, 1922); transferred sense of "human hierarchy based on rank or status" is from 1955.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Peck — bezeichnet: die angloamerikanischen Maßeinheit Peck (Maßeinheit) Peck ist der Familienname folgender Personen: Adolph Lobegott Peck (1766–1801), deutscher Pfarrer Annie Smith Peck (1850–1935), amerikanische Bergsteigerin Anthony Peck (1947–1996) …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Peck — Peck, n. [Perh. akin to pack; or, orig., an indefinite quantity, and fr. peck, v. (below): cf. also F. picotin a peak.] 1. The fourth part of a bushel; a dry measure of eight quarts; as, a peck of wheat. A peck of provender. Shak. [1913 Webster]… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Peck — Peck, ID U.S. city in Idaho Population (2000): 186 Housing Units (2000): 96 Land area (2000): 0.268318 sq. miles (0.694941 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 0.268318 sq. miles (0.694941 sq. km)… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • peck — peck1 [pek] vt. [ME pecken, var. of picken,PICK3, in specialized senses] 1. to strike with a pointed object, as with a beak 2. to make by doing this [to peck a hole] 3. to pick up with the beak; get by pecking vi …   English World dictionary

  • Peck — Peck, v. i. 1. To make strokes with the beak, or with a pointed instrument. Carew. [1913 Webster] 2. To pick up food with the beak; hence, to eat. [1913 Webster] [The hen] went pecking by his side. Dryden. [1913 Webster] {To peck at}, to attack… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Peck — Peck, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Pecked}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Pecking}.] [See {Pick}, v.] 1. To strike with the beak; to thrust the beak into; as, a bird pecks a tree. [1913 Webster] 2. Hence: To strike, pick, thrust against, or dig into, with a pointed… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Peck, ID — U.S. city in Idaho Population (2000): 186 Housing Units (2000): 96 Land area (2000): 0.268318 sq. miles (0.694941 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 0.268318 sq. miles (0.694941 sq. km) FIPS code:… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Peck, MI — U.S. village in Michigan Population (2000): 599 Housing Units (2000): 253 Land area (2000): 1.010187 sq. miles (2.616372 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 1.010187 sq. miles (2.616372 sq. km) FIPS… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • peck — Ⅰ. peck [1] ► VERB 1) (of a bird) strike or bite with its beak. 2) kiss lightly or perfunctorily. 3) (peck at) informal eat (food) listlessly or daintily. 4) type slowly and laboriously. ► NOUN …   English terms dictionary

  • Peck — Peck, n. A quick, sharp stroke, as with the beak of a bird or a pointed instrument. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • peck — pèck s.m.inv. TS metrol. unità di misura inglese di capacità per aridi, equivalente a litri 9,09 | unità di misura americana di capacità per liquidi, corrispondente a litri 8,810 {{line}} {{/line}} DATA: 1895. ETIMO: dall ingl. peck pl. pecks, di …   Dizionario italiano

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