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peckish

[ pek-ish ]

/ ˈpɛk ɪʃ /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR peckish ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective Chiefly British Informal.

somewhat hungry: By noon we were feeling a bit peckish.

rather irritable: He's always a bit peckish after his nap.

Origin of peckish

First recorded in 1775–85; peck² + -ish¹

Words nearby peckish

peck's bad boy, pecker, peckerwood, pecking order, peckinpah, peckish, pecksniff, pecksniffian, pecky, pecorino, pecos

Example sentences from the Web for peckish

Well, now I'm off home, for its peckish work mowing on an empty belly, and the mother'll be looking out for me.

Austin and His Friends |Frederic H. Balfour
The luncheon gong will go in a minute or two, and this keen air makes one peckish—Eh, what?

The Silent Barrier |Louis Tracy
Why, of course, this is their breakfast-time, and the sight of us has made them peckish.

The Ocean Cat's Paw |George Manville Fenn
Peckish is though more likely to be derived from the action of birds when eating, as all slang has its origin in metaphor.

The Slang Dictionary |John Camden Hotten

If I felt sort of peckish they let me suck a little glass thermometer, but there is not much nourishment really in thermometers.

"Speaking of Operations--" |Irvin S. Cobb

British Dictionary definitions for peckish

peckish

/ (ˈpɛkɪʃ) /

adjective

informal, mainly British feeling slightly hungry; having an appetite

Word Origin for peckish

C18: from peck ²