peck

Definition

To strike or pierce with the beak or bill (of a bird).

Etymology

From Middle English pecken, pekken, variant of Middle English piken, picken, pikken (“to pick, use a pointed implement”). More at pick.

Example Sentences

• "The birds pecked at their food."
• "The rooster had been known to fly on her shoulder and peck her neck, so that now she carried a stick or took one of the children with her when she went to feed the fowls."
• "And the Wicked Witch said to the King Crow, "Fly at once to the strangers; peck out their eyes and tear them to pieces.""