Peck
[pek] or [pɛk]
Definition
(noun.) a United States dry measure equal to 8 quarts or 537.605 cubic inches.
(noun.) a British imperial capacity measure (liquid or dry) equal to 2 gallons.
(verb.) eat by pecking at, like a bird.
(verb.) hit lightly with a picking motion.
Checked by Enrique--From WordNet
Definition
(n.) The fourth part of a bushel; a dry measure of eight quarts; as, a peck of wheat.
(n.) A great deal; a large or excessive quantity.
(v.) To strike with the beak; to thrust the beak into; as, a bird pecks a tree.
(v.) Hence: To strike, pick, thrust against, or dig into, with a pointed instrument; especially, to strike, pick, etc., with repeated quick movements.
(v.) To seize and pick up with the beak, or as with the beak; to bite; to eat; -- often with up.
(v.) To make, by striking with the beak or a pointed instrument; as, to peck a hole in a tree.
(v. i.) To make strokes with the beak, or with a pointed instrument.
(v. i.) To pick up food with the beak; hence, to eat.
(n.) A quick, sharp stroke, as with the beak of a bird or a pointed instrument.
Typed by Larry
Definition
v.t. to strike with the beak: to pick up with the beak: to eat: to strike with anything pointed: to strike with repeated blows.—ns. Peck′er that which pecks: a woodpecker: (slang) spirit as in 'to keep one's pecker up'=to keep up one's spirits; Peck′ing the sport of throwing pebbles at birds.—adj. Peck′ish somewhat hungry.
n. a measure of capacity for dry goods=2 gallons or one-fourth of a bushel: a great amount.
Editor: Shanna
Examples
- The district selected for lighting was the area--nearly a square mile in extent--included between Wall, Nassau, Spruce, and Ferry Streets, Peck Slip and the East River in New York City. Various. The Wonder Book of Knowledge.
- Three sestertii equal to about sixpence sterling, was the price which the republic paid for the modius or peck of the tithe wheat of Sicily. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- The old lady likes me, and I'll be as sweet as possible to her, so she won't peck at us, whatever we do. Louisa May Alcott. Little Women.
- He had known, to use his words, a peck of trouble. Charles Dickens. Hard Times.
- So much the more necessairy is a Peck,' returned Riderhood. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- Don't peck at one another, children. Louisa May Alcott. Little Women.
- Why, said Joe, yes, there certainly were a peck of orange-peel. Charles Dickens. Great Expectations.
- The hens were pecking round it, some chickens were balanced on the drinking trough, wagtails flew away in among trucks, from the water. D. H. Lawrence. Women in Love .
- A chick, for example, pecks accurately at a bit of food in a few hours after hatching. John Dewey. Democracy and Education.
- That's worth millions of money and pecks of praise. Louisa May Alcott. Little Women.
- When their master has occasion for their labour, he gives them, besides, two pecks of oatmeal a-week, worth about sixteen pence sterling. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
Typed by Evangeline