Peeping Tom

American  

noun

1. a person who obtains sexual gratification by observing others surreptitiously, especially a man who looks through windows at night.

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Peeping Tom British  

noun

1. a man who furtively observes women undressing; voyeur

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peeping Tom Cultural  

1. One who derives pleasure, usually sexual, from secretly spying on others. (See voyeurism.)

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peeping Tom Idioms  

1. A person who secretly watches others, especially for sexual gratification; a voyeur. For example, The police caught a peeping Tom right outside their house. This expression, first recorded in 1796, alludes to the legend of the tailor Tom, the only person to watch the naked Lady Godiva as she rode by and who was struck blind for this sin.

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The original “peeping Tom” was a legendary resident of the town where Lady Godiva rode naked through the streets. According to the story, Tom defied official orders by looking out his window as she went by and was struck blind.

Etymology

Origin of Peeping Tom

First recorded in 1910–15; allusion to the legendary man who peeped at Lady Godiva as she rode naked through Coventry

Example Sentences

“This technology is creepy to me in a Peeping Tom type of way,” said John Townsend, a public affairs manager at AAA Mid-Atlantic, which represents 1 million motorists in Maryland.

From Washington Times • Dec. 6, 2019

The signees include the founders of the theater company Peeping Tom, and the well-known choreographers Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui and Wim Vandekeybus, who started his career working with Mr. Fabre.

From New York Times • Sep. 23, 2018

Furthermore, existing Peeping Tom laws cover areas in which people have a reasonable expectation of privacy and likely would apply in this context.

From Slate • May 10, 2016

A neighbor accused him of peering into her home, but a Peeping Tom charge against Dear was dismissed a month after it was filed.

From US News • Nov. 28, 2015

I was like a Peeping Tom, but for friendship.

From "Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood" by Trevor Noah