▪ I. keek, v. Now only Sc. and north. dial.
(kiːk)
Forms: 4 kike, kyke, keke, 5 keky(y)n, kek, 5–6 Sc. keik, 7– keek.
[Not known in OE., but has LG. cognates: MDu. kîken, kieken (Du. kijken), LG. kîken (formerly sometimes used in HG.); Da. kige, Sw. and Norw. kika (prob. from LG.). MDu. and LG. had also kicken (employed by Luther).
It is not clear whether the original ME. form was kīken or kĭken; the former would agree with the continental forms, but the latter would better explain the variant kēken, from which the mod. keek has come down. It is noticeable that the vowel of keek corresponds with that of other words of similar meaning, as peek, peep, peer, Sc. teet, and may be due to analogy or feeling of appropriateness.]
1. intr. To peep; to look privily, as through a narrow aperture, or round a corner; † to glance, gaze (obs.).
| c 1386 Chaucer Miller's T. 259 This Nicholas sat capyng euere vp-righte As he had kiked [v.rr. kykyd, keked] on the newe moone. Ibid. 655 Into the roof they kiken [so best MSS.; also kyken, keken, kepen, loken], and they cape. c 1400 Beryn 900 All that he set his eye on, or aftir list to keke Anoon he shuld it have. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 269/2 Kekyyn, or priuely waytyn (K., H., S., P. kekyn), intuor, observo. 1572 Satir. Poems Reform. xxxii. 47 In hoill and boir we byde..Dar not keik out for Rebellis that dois ryde. a 1605 Montgomerie Flyting w. Polwart 491 Some..in the crowne of it keeks. a 1724 in Ramsay Tea-t. Misc. (1733) I. 60 Keek into the draw-well, Janet. 1802 in Anderson Cumbid. Ball. 28, I keek by the hay⁓stack, and lissen, For fain wad I see Sally Gray. 1889 Barrie Window Thrums xvi. 146 Up you'll be, keekin'..through the blind to see if the post's comin'. |
b. fig. Of things.
| c 1470 Henryson Mor. Fab. viii. (Preach. Swallow), Quhen columbine up keikis throw the clay. 1723 Ramsay Fair Assembly xxiv, Where they appear, nae vice dare keek. 1790 A. Wilson Discons. Wren Poet. Wks. (1846) 95 The morn was keeking frae the east. 18.. H. S. Riddell Poet. Wks. (1871) I. 36 (E.D.D.) The nest o' the birds keeking out between The leaves and the roots. |
2. In verbal phrases used as ns., as keek-in-the-stoup, keek-round-corners.
| 1721 Kelly Scot. Prov. 226 Keek in the Stoup was ne'er a good Fellow. 1894 Crockett Raiders 307, I want nae spies and keek-roon-corners in my hoose! |
3. Comb. keek-bo, peep-bo! bo-peep; keek-bogle (Sc.), hide-and-seek.
| [1791 J. Learmont Poems 168 Those who now his favour seek Wad stand afar, An' ne'er play at him bogle keik.] 1835 Webster Rhymes 11 (E.D.D.) The sun..seem'd as if playing keekbo wi' the moon. |
▪ II. keek, n. Sc. and north. dial.
(kiːk)
[f. keek v.]
A peep; see the verb.
| 1773 Fergusson Poems (1785) 215 (E.D.D.) So glowr the saints when first is given A fav'rite keek o' glore and heaven. 1785 Burns Halloween xix, He by his shouther gae a keek. 1824 Scott Redgauntlet ch. xii, Take a keek into Pate's letter. 1863 in Robson Bards of Tyne 231 From it down every Quayside-chare there's such a glorious keek. 1886 Stevenson Kidnapped xviii. 174 Let's take another keek at the red-coats. |
b. Comb., as keek-hole, a peep-hole; keek-show, a peep-show.
| 1883 Sunday Mag. Sept. 574/2 A rich assortment of merry-go-rounds, keek-shows, and jugglers. 1891 R. Ford Thistledown 87 (E.D.D.) Keek-holes through which fitful glances are obtained. |
▪ III. keek
variant of keak v. Obs., to cackle.