Peck

In Southern and Appalachian speech, peck means to tap or knock lightly, usually with a single finger or knuckle. It describes a quick, gentle touch rather than a full knock.

#SouthernWords #Appalachia #Southern

synonyms: tap, knock lightly, rap

Hillbilly Dude Says...

If I had a nickel for every time I told a young'un to 'stop peckin' on that winder', I'd buy me a moon pie and a Pepsi dope.

Hillbilly Dude Says...

If I had a nickel for every time I told a young'un to 'stop peckin' on that winder', I'd buy me a moon pie and a Pepsi dope.

Pronunciation

[PEHK]
/pɛk/

Meaning & Usage

- To knock or tap lightly (verb)

Mae:

Who’s out there peckin’ on that winder?

Earl:

Just the neighbor - he pecked on the door a minute ago.

- To touch or poke lightly with a finger (verb)

Ruby:

Quit peckin’ me on the head - I felt that.

Estel:

Didn’t hurt nothin’. Just a little peck.

variations: peckin’, peck on, peck at

★ If somebody says they "just pecked" on the door, they mean a soft, single-finger tap - polite enough not to wake a baby, but clear enough to get your attention. ★

Origin and Etymology

This usage descends from older English senses of "peck" meaning "to strike lightly," preserved in Southern and Appalachian dialects after fading from most other English varieties. The metaphor broadened from bird behavior to human tapping and became a stable regional verb by the 19th century.

Usage Notes

"Peck" in this sense is common throughout Appalachian and upland Southern communities and remains natural across generations. It typically refers to a very light tap on a door, window, or person. Unlike "knock," which uses multiple knuckles and more force, "peck" is a single-finger or single-knuckle action. It does not ordinarily mean "to pester," though repeated tapping on someone’s arm or ribcage may drift toward that idea.

Door/window sense - "peck on the door," "peck on the winder."
Finger/knuckle action - a "peck" uses one finger or a single knuckle; stronger taps become knocks or bangs.
Gentle motion - quieter and quicker than a full knock.
Regional marker - strongly associated with Appalachian and rural Southern talk.

Kin Topics

Common Questions

Does "peck" always refer to knocking?

Mostly. It can also mean a light tap on a person with a finger.

Is this meaning found outside the South?

Rarely. Outside the region, "peck" is usually limited to bird behavior.

Can "peck" mean "to pester"?

Not in typical Southern usage. Here it refers to light tapping, not nagging.

Is it still used today?

Yes. It remains familiar in rural and small-town speech across Appalachia and the upland South.

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, December 11). Peck. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/peck
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Peck." HillbillySlang.com, 11 Dec. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/peck.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Peck." HillbillySlang.com. December 11, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/peck.