peck

peck
peck1
/pek/, n.
1. a dry measure of 8 quarts; the fourth part of a bushel, equal to 537.6 cubic inches (8.81 liters).
2. a container for measuring this quantity. Abbr.: pk, pk.
3. a considerable quantity: a peck of trouble.
[1250-1300; ME pek < OF < ?]
peck2
/pek/, v.t.
1. to strike or indent with the beak, as a bird does, or with some pointed instrument, esp. with quick, repeated movements.
2. to make (a hole, puncture, etc.) by such strokes; pierce.
3. to take (food) bit by bit, with or as with the beak.
v.i.
4. to make strokes with the beak or a pointed instrument.
5. peck at,
a. to nibble indifferently or unenthusiastically at (food).
b. to nag or carp at: Stop pecking at me, I'm doing the best I can.
n.
6. a quick stroke, as in pecking.
7. a hole or mark made by or as by pecking.
8. a quick, almost impersonal kiss: a peck on the cheek.
9. (in timber) incipient decay from fungi, occurring in isolated spots.
10. pecks. Also, peckings. Slang. food.
[1300-50; ME pecke < MD pecken; akin to PICK1]
Syn. 5a. pick at, poke at.

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▪ unit of measurement
      unit of capacity in the U.S. Customary and the British Imperial Systems (British Imperial System) of measurement. In the United States the peck is used only for dry measure and is equal to 8 dry quarts (quart), or 537.6 cubic inches (8.810 litres). In Great Britain the peck may be used for either liquid or dry measure and is equal to 8 imperial quarts (2 imperial gallons), or one-fourth imperial bushel, or 554.84 cubic inches (9.092 litres). The peck has been in use since the early 14th century, when it was introduced as a measure for flour. The term referred to varying quantities, however, until the modern units were defined in the 19th century.

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