different between chirrup vs peep

English

Etymology

Variant of chirp.

Verb

chirrup (third-person singular simple present chirrups, present participle chirruping, simple past and past participle chirruped)

1. (intransitive) To make a series of chirps, clicks or clucks.
   • 1841 James Fenimore Cooper, The Deerslayer: Or, the First War-path, Chapter 17,^[1]

     When other folks' squirrels are at home and asleep, yourn keep in motion among the trees and chirrup and sing, in a way that even a Delaware gal can understand their music!

2. (transitive) To express by chirping.

   The crickets chirruped their song.

3. (transitive) To quicken or animate by chirping.

   to chirrup a horse

Translations

Noun

chirrup (plural chirrups)

1. A series of chirps, clicks or clucks.
   • 1845 Charles Dickens, The Cricket on the Hearth, Chirp the First,^[2]

     And here, if you like, the Cricket DID chime in! with a Chirrup, Chirrup, Chirrup of such magnitude, by way of chorus […]

   • 2004, Alan Hollinghurst, The Line of Beauty, Bloomsbury, 2005, Chapter 9,

     […] the music flashed by in delirious chirrups and stampings.

2. (figuratively, derogatory) A brief, high-pitched, insignificant statement.

English

Pronunciation

• (UK) enPR: p?p, IPA^(key): /pi?p/
• (US) IPA^(key): /pip/, [p?ip]
• Rhymes: -i?p

Etymology 1

From Middle English pepen. Compare Dutch piepen (“peep”), German Low German piepen (“to peep”), German piepen and pfeifen, all probably onomatopoeic.

Noun

peep (plural peeps)

1. A short, soft, high-pitched sound, as made by a baby bird.
2. A feeble utterance or complaint.

   I don't want to hear a peep out of you!

3. The sound of a steam engine's whistle; typically shrill.
   • 2001, Rev. W. Awdry, Thomas the tank engine collection : a unique collection of stories from the railway series - p. 177 - Egmont Books, Limited, Aug 15, 2001

     "Peep, peep," said Edward, "I'm ready."

     "Peep, peep, peep," said Henry, "so am I."

4. (birdwatching, colloquial) A sandpiper or other small wader.

Translations

Verb

peep (third-person singular simple present peeps, present participle peeping, simple past and past participle peeped)

1. To make a soft, shrill noise like a baby bird.
2. To speak briefly with a quiet voice.

Translations

Etymology 2

From Middle English pepen, variant of piken.

Verb

peep (third-person singular simple present peeps, present participle peeping, simple past and past participle peeped)

1. (intransitive) To look, especially through a narrow opening, or while trying not to be seen or noticed.

   • And it was while all were passionately intent upon the pleasing and snake-like progress of their uncle that a young girl in furs, ascending the stairs two at a time, peeped perfunctorily into the nursery as she passed the hallway—and halted amazed.
2. (intransitive) To begin to appear; to look forth from concealment; to make the first appearance.
3. (transitive, MLE) To take a look at; check out.

   Did you peep that video I sent you?

Hypernyms

• glance

Translations

Noun

peep (plural peeps)

1. A quick look or glimpse, especially a furtive one.
2. The first partial appearance of something; a beginning to appear.

   the peep of day

Translations

Derived terms

Etymology 3

Of uncertain origin; perhaps variant of pip.

Noun

peep (plural peeps)

1. (obsolete) A spot on a die or domino.

Synonyms

• (spot on die or domino): pip

Etymology 4

Back-formation from peeps, a shortened form of people.

Noun

peep (plural peeps)

1. (Britain, slang) person.