Peek
/piːk/noun
To look quickly or briefly, often from a hidden or partially concealed position.
Did you know?Peek is first recorded in the 16th century and is likely related to dialectal forms meaning “to peep” or “to look slyly,” giving it a sneaky, almost covert feel from the start.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*beig-
“to bend, curve, or arch”
Old English
OE
pīcian
“to peep or look quickly”
Middle English
ME
piken / peken
“to look out, peep, or spy”
16th Century
English
peek
“to look quickly or furtively”
Modern English
English
peek
“to glance briefly or secretly”