Where does “peken” come from?
peken (Middle English) comes from English peep, from Middle English pepen, from Middle English piken, from Middle English pyke, from Old English pīc, from Proto-Germanic *pīk, from Latin pix, from Proto-Indo-European pik- — sap, juice.
Ancestry of “peken”, step by step
peken traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English peep
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | peep | A short, soft, high-pitched sound, as made by a... |
| 2 | Middle English | pepen | — |
| 3 | Middle English | piken | To pick at; to use a edged tool on; To pierce or... |
| 4 | Middle English | pyke | A sharp round point or projection; A point or end... |
| 5 | Old English | pīc | pointed object, pick axe |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | *pīk | — |
| 7 | Latin | pix | pitch, tar |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | pik- | to be angry; pitch; resin |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | pi- | sap, juice |