▪ I. pecky, a.1 U.S.
(ˈpɛkɪ)
Also peeky, peaky.
[app. f. peck n.3 + -y.]
(See quots.)
| 1848 Dickeson & Brown Rept. on Cypress Timber of Miss. & La. 8 That species of decay to which it [the cypress] is most liable, shows itself in partial and detached spots at greater or less distances, but often in very close proximity to each other... Timber affected in this way is denominated by raftsmen Pecky. 1876 Gwilt's Archit. Gloss., Pecky, timber in which the first symptoms of decay appear. An American term. |
[Bartlett 1859–60 s.v. Peaky, or Peeky, misquotes Dickeson as using peeky; thence, Webster 1864, Peeky; Century Peaky (also peeky, pecky), Funk peaky; associated with peaky a.2, peak v.1]
▪ II. pecky, a.2 colloq.
(ˈpɛkɪ)
[f. peck v.1, v.2 + -y.]
1. [peck v.2] Pitching; choppy; apt to stumble.
| 1864 Blackmore Clara Vaughan lxi, Knocking about on a pecky sea. 1893 Wiltsh. Gloss., Pecky, inclined to stumble. ‘Th' old hoss goes terr'ble pecky’. |
2. [peck v.1] Like the peck of a bird.
| 1886 F. C. Philips Jack & Three Jills I. vii. 90 My sisters..administered flabby, pecky kisses. |