v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Peeped p. pr. & vb. n. Peeping. ] [ Of imitative origin; cf. OE. pipen, F. piper, pépier, L. pipire, pipare, pipiare, D. & G. piepen. Senses 2 and 3 perhaps come from a transfer of sense from the sound which chickens make upon the first breaking of the shell to the act accompanying it; or perhaps from the influence of peek, or peak. Cf. Pipe. ] 1. To cry, as a chicken hatching or newly hatched; to chirp; to cheep. [ 1913 Webster ]

There was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped. Is. x. 14. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To begin to appear; to look forth from concealment; to make the first appearance; as, the sun peeped over the eastern hills. [ 1913 Webster ]

When flowers first peeped, and trees did blossoms bear. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To look cautiously or slyly; to peer, as through a crevice; to pry. [ 1913 Webster ]

Peep through the blanket of the dark. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

From her cabined loophole peep. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Peep sight, an adjustable piece, pierced with a small hole to peep through in aiming, attached to a rifle or other firearm near the breech. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The cry of a young chicken; a chirp. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. First outlook or appearance. [ 1913 Webster ]

Oft have we seen him at the peep of dawn. Gray. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A sly look; a look as through a crevice, or from a place of concealment. [ 1913 Webster ]

To take t' other peep at the stars. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Zool.) (a) Any small sandpiper, as the least sandpiper (Trigna minutilla). (b) The European meadow pipit (Anthus pratensis). [ 1913 Webster ]

Peep show, a small show, or object exhibited, which is viewed through an orifice or a magnifying glass. --
Peep-o'-day boys, the Irish insurgents of 1784; -- so called from their visiting the house of the loyal Irish at day break in search of arms. [ Cant ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A chicken just breaking the shell; a young bird. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One who peeps; a prying person; a spy. [ 1913 Webster ]

Who's there? peepers, . . . eavesdroppers? J. Webster. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The eye; as, to close the peepers. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A hole, or crevice, through which one may peep without being discovered. [ 1913 Webster ]

. See Peephole. [ 1913 Webster ]

. An adjustable piece, pierced with a small hole to peep through in aiming, attached to a rifle or other firearm near the breech; -- distinguished from an open sight. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

[ Hind. pīpal, Skr. pippala. ] (Bot.) A sacred tree (Ficus religiosa) of the Buddhists, a kind of fig tree which attains great size and venerable age; it lacks the prop roots of the banyan. See Bo tree. [ Written also pippul tree, and pipal tree. ]
Syn. -- pipal, peepul, peepul tree, pipal tree, pipul, sacred fig, bo tree, Ficus religiosa. [ 1913 Webster ]