Where does “peek” come from?
Peek comes from Middle English peke, which may be related to the imitative verb peep, though the exact origin and original meaning remain uncertain.
peek (English): To look slyly, or with the eyes half closed, or...
Definitions
- To look slyly, or with the eyes half closed, or...
Ancestry of “peek”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | peken | — |
| 2 | English | peep | A short, soft, high-pitched sound, as made by a... |
| 3 | Middle English | pepen | — |
| 4 | Middle English | piken | To pick at; to use a edged tool on; To pierce or... |
| 5 | Middle English | pyke | A sharp round point or projection; A point or end... |
| 6 | Old English | pīc | pointed object, pick axe |
| 7 | Proto-Germanic | *pīk | — |
| 8 | Latin | pix | pitch, tar |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | pik- | to be angry; pitch; resin |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | pi- | sap, juice |