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Consult Chambers 21st Century Dictionary, The Chambers Thesaurus (1996) or Chambers Biographical Dictionary (1997 edition with amendments). Enter your search and choose your title from the drop-down menu.
peck1 verb (pecked, pecking) 1 (also peck at something) said of a bird: to strike, nip or pick at it with the beak • pecked his finger • pecked at the bark of the tree. 2 to poke (a hole) with the beak. 3 to kiss someone or something in a quick or perfunctory way • pecked her on the cheek. noun 1 a tap or nip with the beak. 2 a perfunctory kiss.
ETYMOLOGY: 14c: probably related to pick1.
peck at something 1 to eat (food) in a cursory, inattentive or dainty way, without enjoyment or application. 2 to nit-pick or quibble at it. |
peck2 noun 1 in the imperial system: a measure of capacity of dry goods, especially grain, equal to two gallons (9.1 litres) or a quarter of a bushel. 2 a measuring container holding this quantity. 3 old use a large amount • a peck of troubles.
ETYMOLOGY: 13c: from French pek.
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The Chambers Dictionary (13th edition)
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The Chambers Thesaurus
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Chambers Biographical Dictionary
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Consult Chambers 21st Century Dictionary, The Chambers Thesaurus (1996) or Chambers Biographical Dictionary (1997 edition with amendments). Enter your search and choose your title from the drop-down menu.
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