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peckish

American  
[pek-ish] / ˈpɛk ɪʃ /

adjective

Chiefly British Informal.

  1. somewhat hungry.

    By noon we were feeling a bit peckish.

  2. rather irritable.

    He's always a bit peckish after his nap.
peckish British  
/ ˈpɛkɪʃ /

adjective

  1. informal feeling slightly hungry; having an appetite

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of peckish

First recorded in 1775–85; peck 1 + -ish 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

And that in whatever jazzy afterlife exists for wayward novelists, they’re up there ashing carelessly into their martinis, and letting ids and peckish wildcats run free.

From New York Times • Nov. 25, 2023

Rescuers then realised that along with climbing equipment, Wotsits were needed - the lunchbox staple to which the peckish parrot was partial.

From BBC • Jul. 11, 2023

Still, the book’s vibe makes it pleasant company for an afternoon in the park with a snack, though it will still leave you feeling peckish.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 3, 2023

Using infrared sensors, the team watched which landing platforms the peckish mosquitoes chose.

From Science Magazine • May 18, 2023

“Of course I did,” I snapped, not meaning to adopt my aunt’s peckish ways.

From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.