Category:Peak

Peak, n. Etym: [oe. pek, as. peac, perh of celtic origin; cf. Ir. Peac a sharp-pointed thing. Cf. Pike.]

1. A point; the sharp end or top of anything that terminates in a Point; as, the peak, or front, of a cap. "run your beard into a Peak." Beau. & fl.

2. The top, or one of the tops, of a hill, mountain, or range, ending In a point; often, the whole hill or mountain, esp. when isolated; As, the peak of teneriffe. Silent upon a peak in darien. Keats.

3. (naut.) (a) the upper aftermost corner of a fore-and-aft sail; -- used in Many combinations; as, peak-halyards, peak-brails, etc. (b) the narrow part of a vessel's bow, or the hold within it. (c) the extremity of an anchor fluke; the bill. [in the last sense Written also pea and pee.] Fore peak. (naut.) See under fore.

Peak Peak, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Peaked; p. pr. & vb. n. Peaking.]

1. To rise or extend into a peak or point; to form, or appear as, a Peak. There peaketh up a mighty high mount. Holand.

2. To acquire sharpness of figure or features; hence, to look thin or Sicky. "dwindle, peak, and pine." Shak.

3. Etym: [cf. Peek.]

Defn: to pry; to peep slyly. Shak. Peak arch (arch.), a pointed or Gothic arch.

Peak Peak, v. t. (naut.)

Defn: to raise to a position perpendicular, or more nearly so; as, to Peak oars, to hold them upright; to peak a gaff or yard, to set it Nearer the perpendicular.