pewee
[pee-wee]
- any of several New World flycatchers of the genus Contopus.Compare wood pewee.
- the phoebe.
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Origin of pewee
An Americanism dating back to 1790–1800; imitative
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for pewee
Historical Examples
The pewee, for all his tender and melancholy utterances, has a fiery spirit.
Little Brothers of the AirOlive Thorne Miller
The first aim of Pewee and company was to get the better of the master.
The Hoosier School-boyEdward Eggleston
Riley and Pewee—conspirators to the last—had their plans arranged.
The Hoosier School-boyEdward Eggleston
Pewee was now sure that the boat had been taken as indemnity for the chicken and the eggs.
The Hoosier School-boyEdward Eggleston
“Pewee and his crowd have gone up to the Indian Mound,” said Columbus.
The Hoosier School-boyEdward Eggleston
pewee
peewee
- any of several small North American flycatchers of the genus Contopus, having a greenish-brown plumage
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Word Origin
C19: imitative of its cry
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for pewee
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper