ˈpea-chick
[f. pea2 + chick.]
The young of the pea-fowl.
| 1542 Boorde Dyetary xv. (1870) 270 Yonge peechyken [plural] of a halfe a yere of age be praysed. 1634 Althorp MS. in Simpkinson Washingtons (1860) App. p. xxiii, To Mr. Prestwood for 1 peacock and a pea henn 00 13 00..To him for 3 peachickes 00 07 06. 1878 J. Inglis Sport & W. xi. 120 The peachicks, about seven or eight months old, are deliciously tender and well flavoured. |
b. Applied to a young and vain person.
| a 1746 Southerne (J.), Does the snivelling peachick think to make a cuckold of me? 1848 Kingsley Saint's Trag. i. i. 134 How these young pea-chicks must needs ape the grown peacock's frippery! |