peck
UK: pɛk | US: pɛk
vt. to strike or pick up with the beak
n. a quick, light stroke or bite (as with a beak)
n. a unit of dry measure equal to 8 quarts
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"Peck" originates from Middle English pekken, likely imitative in origin, mimicking the sound or action of a bird's beak striking a surface. Its core meaning of "to strike with the beak" has remained consistent, while extended senses (e.g., the dry measure unit) arose metaphorically from the idea of small, repeated actions. As an onomatopoeic word, it resists morpheme breakdown.
The chicken pecked at the grains scattered on the ground.
She felt a peck on her cheek—a quick kiss from her toddler.
The woodpecker’s steady pecking echoed through the forest.
A peck of apples filled the basket to the brim.
He gave the typewriter keys a light peck with two fingers.