*SET-U

English word origin

Etymology of peep

From Middle English pepen. Compare Dutch piepen (“peep”), German Low German piepen (“to peep”), German piepen and pfeifen, all probably onomatopoeic.

5 source sectionsExtended source reportWiktionary original ↗
In this entry · 5 source sections

The source etymologies

Wiktionary via Kaikki / Wiktextract

The source reports below are imported and unreviewed by *SET-U. Separate numbered origins and differing source variants are preserved; agreement within this extraction is not independent corroboration.

Source etymology 1

Original entry ↗
verb

To make a soft, shrill noise like a baby bird. · To speak briefly with a quiet voice.

noun

A feeble utterance or complaint. · A brood of chicks (young chickens). · The sound of a steam engine's whistle; typically shrill. · A sandpiper or other small wader.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

From Middle English pepen. Compare Dutch piepen (“peep”), German Low German piepen (“to peep”), German piepen and pfeifen, all probably onomatopoeic.

Relationships mentioned by the source

These are extracted mentions, not a timeline or a verified sequence of immediate parents.

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

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      "args": {
        "1": "en",
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        "3": "pepen"
      },
      "expansion": "Middle English pepen"
    },
    {
      "name": "cog",
      "args": {
        "1": "nl",
        "2": "piepen",
        "3": "",
        "4": "peep"
      },
      "expansion": "Dutch piepen (“peep”)"
    },
    {
      "name": "cog",
      "args": {
        "1": "nds-de",
        "2": "piepen",
        "3": "",
        "4": "to peep"
      },
      "expansion": "German Low German piepen (“to peep”)"
    },
    {
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      "args": {
        "1": "de",
        "2": "piepen"
      },
      "expansion": "German piepen"
    },
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      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "nocap": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "onomatopoeic"
    }
  ],
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    [
      "pepen",
      "pepen#Middle_English"
    ],
    [
      "piepen",
      "piepen#Dutch"
    ],
    [
      "piepen",
      "piepen#Low_German"
    ],
    [
      "piepen",
      "piepen#German"
    ],
    [
      "pfeifen",
      "pfeifen#German"
    ]
  ],
  "references": [],
  "descendants": [],
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        "To make a soft, shrill noise like a baby bird.",
        "To speak briefly with a quiet voice."
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        "A sandpiper or other small wader."
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Source etymology 2

Original entry ↗
noun

A quick look or glimpse, especially a furtive one. · The first partial appearance of something; a beginning to appear. · A peepshow.

verb

To look forth from concealment, especially through a narrow opening, or while trying not to be seen or noticed. · To begin to appear; to make the first appearance. · To take a look at; check out. · To see, uncover.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

From Middle English pepen, variant of piken.

Relationships mentioned by the source

These are extracted mentions, not a timeline or a verified sequence of immediate parents.

  • Inherited-form mentionpepenenm
Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

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    }
  ],
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      "pepen#Middle_English"
    ],
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      "piken#Middle_English"
    ]
  ],
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        "The first partial appearance of something; a beginning to appear.",
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        "To begin to appear; to make the first appearance.",
        "To take a look at; check out.",
        "To see, uncover."
      ],
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        "dated",
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        "transitive"
      ],
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Source etymology 3

Original entry ↗
noun

A spot on a die or domino.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

Uncertain; perhaps variant of pip.

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

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      "args": {
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      "pip",
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    ]
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Source etymology 4

Original entry ↗
noun

A person.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

Back-formation from peeps, a shortened form of people.

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

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  ],
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    [
      "peeps",
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    ],
    [
      "people",
      "people#English"
    ]
  ],
  "references": [],
  "descendants": [],
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      "pos": "noun",
      "glosses": [
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      ],
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      ],
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Source etymology 5

Original entry ↗
noun

Alternative letter-case form of Peep

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

Genericized trademark from the confection brand Peeps.

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

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    },
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        "1": "en"
      },
      "expansion": "Genericized trademark"
    }
  ],
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Where this record stops

This page does not supply an independently verified sound-change sequence, first-use manuscript or complete family tree unless a cited analysis explicitly establishes one. Missing detail here is a limit of this record—not a claim that humanity knows nothing more.

An older meaning does not determine what a word must mean today. Follow the sources, preserve disagreements, and keep ancestry separate from interpretation.

Contribute located evidence for peep →

Source and snapshot

Imported from Wiktionary contributors; extracted by Tatu Ylonen / Wiktextract / Kaikki.org. Selected fields are reformatted and grouped; wording, source identity and etymology sections are retained. CC-BY-SA-4.0 applies to the imported source material.

Dump: 2026-10-01 · Extracted: 2026-10-30. These are snapshot dates, not the word’s first attestation or the page’s revision date.

Source entry and bibliography ↗Wiktionary revision history ↗Acquisition and rights ledger
Machine-source provenance
Source SHA-256
5ff2c072f8099f2d2ce484bd6957bf179f046d2ad37bc36555edf8bb84cb5291
Import run
73216b9a9b78ed3830994bf853103716f5a4dc57099e371e9f8fdc468facca26
Permanent entry ID
w-cGVlcA