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peeper1

[pee-per]
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noun
  1. a person or thing that emits or utters a peeping sound.
  2. Northeastern U.S. any of several frogs having a peeping call, especially the spring peeper.
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Origin of peeper1

First recorded in 1585–95; peep2 + -er1

peeper2

[pee-per]
noun
  1. a person who peeps in an abnormally prying manner; a voyeur.
  2. peepers, Slang. the eyes.
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Origin of peeper2

First recorded in 1645–55; peep1 + -er1
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for peeper

Historical Examples

  • "You bet I'll keep a peeper on him," he bragged, reaching for his hat.

    The Pirate of Panama

    William MacLeod Raine

  • You will not have much use of this peeper for a week or ten days to come.

    Lily Norris' Enemy

    Joanna Mathews

  • Why, I've been longing for years to learn how peeper frogs peep.

    Wilderness of Spring

    Edgar Pangborn

  • Mrs. Spafford, a peeper through doors and keyholes, explained the schoolmarm's methods.

    Bunch Grass

    Horace Annesley Vachell

  • I went back to the peeper screen just as Joey buzzed my signal again.

    Nor Iron Bars a Cage....

    Gordon Randall Garrett

British Dictionary definitions for peeper

peeper

noun
  1. a person who peeps
  2. (often plural) a slang word for eye 1 (def. 1)
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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

Word Origin and History for peeper

n.

1650s, "one who peeps," agent noun from peep (v.1). Slang meaning "eye" is c.1700. From 1590s as "young chicken" and 1857 as "tree frog" (American English), both from peep (v.2).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper