peakish, a.1
(ˈpiːkɪʃ)
[In sense 1 app. f. peak n.3 (also in Skelton), perh. associated with peak v.1 3; in sense 2 f. peak n.2; sense 3 goes with peak v.1 4, peaking ppl. a. 2, peaky a.2: see -ish1.]
† 1. Slothful, spiritless (L. ignavus); stupid; ignorant, silly: an epithet of contempt, of which it is difficult to ascertain the exact meaning. Obs.
(In quot. a 1560 with play on Peak n.1; cf. peakish a.2)
| 1519 W. Horman Vulg. vi. 61 He is shame faste but nat pekysshe, verecundus est sine ignauiâ. a 1529 Skelton Ware Hauke 225 The pekysh parsons brayne Cowde not rech nor attayne What the sentence ment. a 1560 Becon Jewel of Joye Wks. ii. 6 Philem. I trauayled into Darbyshere and from thence into the Peke... Theoph. I thynke you founde there verye peakeish people. Phi. Not so, I confesse to you that I founde there very good wyttes and apte vnto learnynge. 1568 Jacob & Esau ii. i, I will see, if any [meat] be ready here at home, Or whether Iacob haue any, that peakishe mome. 1570 Levins Manip. 145/40 Peakish, mimicus, a. a 1603 T. Cartwright Confut. Rhem. N.T. (1618) 512 These dreamers dreame night and day,—otherwise to proue a sect or peakish order of Franciscans, etc. |
2. Somewhat peaked or pointed. dial.
| 1749 W. Ellis Sheph. Guide 151 A peekish Head and Tail. |
3. Somewhat ‘peaky’ (peaky a.2).
| 1836 Smart, Peakish..colloq. having features that seem thin or sharp, as from sickness. 1900 Barrie Tommy & Grizel xxvii. 327 He was rather peakish but he had not complained. |
Hence † ˈpeakishness Obs., spiritlessness.
| 1519 W. Horman Vulg. v. 55 He rebuked hym of hys dastardnes and pekishnes [ignaviæ]. a 1575 Pilkington Exp. Nehemiah iv. 11–15 Wks. (Parker Soc.) 436 God requireth not such peakishness in a man, that he suffer himself to be wounded, that by the law of nature alloweth every man to defend himself. |