peg

¹

[ peg ]

noun

1. a pin of wood or other material driven or fitted into something, as to fasten parts together, to hang things on, to make fast a rope or string on, to stop a hole, or to mark some point.
2. Informal. a leg, either real or wooden:

   still on his pegs at 99.

3. a notch or degree:

   to come down a peg.

4. an occasion, basis, or reason:

   a peg to hang a grievance on.

5. Also . Music. a pin of wood or metal in the neck of a stringed instrument that may be turned in its socket to adjust a string's tension.
6. Informal. a throw, especially in baseball:

   The peg to the plate was late.

7. news peg.
8. Economics. the level at which some price, exchange rate, etc., is set.
9. British, Indian English. an alcoholic drink, especially a whiskey or brandy and soda.
10. British. clothespin.

verb (used with object)

, pegged, peg·ging.

1. to drive or insert a peg into.
2. to fasten with or as with pegs.
3. to mark with pegs.
4. to strike or pierce with or as with a peg.
5. to keep (the commodity price, exchange rate, etc.) at a set level, as by manipulation or law.
6. Informal. to throw (a ball).
7. Journalism. to base (an article, feature story, etc.) upon; justify by (usually followed by on ):

   The feature on the chief of police was pegged on the riots.

8. Informal. to identify:

   to peg someone as a good prospect.

verb (used without object)

, pegged, peg·ging.

1. to work or continue persistently or energetically:

   to peg away at a homework assignment.

2. Informal. to throw a ball.
3. Croquet. to strike a peg, as in completing a game.

adjective

1. Also pegged. tapered toward the bottom of the leg:

   peg trousers.

Peg

²

[ peg ]

noun

1. a female given name, form of Peggy.

peg

/ pɛɡ /

noun

1. a small cylindrical pin or dowel, sometimes slightly tapered, used to join two parts together
2. a pin pushed or driven into a surface: used to mark scores, define limits, support coats, etc
3. music any of several pins passing through the head ( peg box ) of a stringed instrument, which can be turned so as to tune strings wound around them See also pin
4. Also calledclothes peg a split or hinged pin for fastening wet clothes to a line to dry US and Canadian equivalentclothespin
5. informal.
   a person's leg
6. dialect.
   a tooth
7. a small drink of wine or spirits, esp of brandy or whisky and soda
8. an opportunity or pretext for doing something

   a peg on which to hang a theory

9. a mountaineering piton
10. croquet a post that a player's ball must strike to win the game
11. angling a fishing station allotted to an angler in a competition, marked by a peg in the ground
12. informal.
    a level of self-esteem, importance, etc (esp in the phrases bring or take down a peg )
13. informal.
    See peg leg
14. off the peg
    (of clothes) ready to wear, as opposed to tailor-made

verb

1. tr to knock or insert a peg into or pierce with a peg
2. trsometimes foll bydown to secure with pegs

   to peg a tent

3. mountaineering to insert or use pitons
4. tr to mark (a score) with pegs, as in some card games
5. informal.
   tr to aim and throw (missiles) at a target
6. intr; foll by away, along, etc to work steadily

   he pegged away at his job for years

7. tr to stabilize (the price of a commodity, an exchange rate, etc) by legislation or market operations

Other Words From

• peg·less adjective
• peg·like adjective
• re·peg verb repegged repegging

Word History and Origins

Origin of peg¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English pegge (noun), peggen (verb), from Middle Dutch

Word History and Origins

Origin of peg¹

C15: from Low Germanic pegge

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. take down a peg, to reduce the pride or arrogance of; humble; humiliate: Also take down a notch.

   I guess that'll take him down a peg!

More idioms and phrases containing peg

In addition to the idiom beginning with peg , also see square peg in a round hole ; take down a notch (peg) .

Example Sentences

To “link up the beachheads and peg out claims well inland” was necessarily the first aim of Overlord.

From The Daily Beast

And so the shaming of them, the public taking them down a peg or two, become moments to savor.

From The Daily Beast

But “economic diversity” is a square peg in a round hole, no matter how you feel about round holes.

From The Daily Beast

His team routed the British and hence, at the Patiala Peg, drinks are served in 75 ml glasses, compared to the standard 60 ml.

From The Daily Beast

It was meant to convey an off-the-peg, cheap suit, which was all the character would have been able to afford.

From The Daily Beast

He reached up for her big, rough straw hat that hung on a peg outside the door, and put it on her head.

From Project Gutenberg

And I will fasten him as a peg in a sure place, and he shall be for a throne of glory to the house of his father.

From Project Gutenberg

The throat, with the whole of the peg-box, is reduced slightly but consistently with strength and beauty of appearance.

From Project Gutenberg

Edna had found her old bathing suit still hanging, faded, upon its accustomed peg.

From Project Gutenberg

As the representative of his father-in-law, Haggard asked his lordship with punctilious hospitality if he would take another peg.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• fix