- Peg
- Peg Peg, n. [OE. pegge; cf. Sw. pigg, Dan. pig a point,
prickle, and E. peak.]
1. A small, pointed piece of wood, used in fastening boards
together, in attaching the soles of boots or shoes, etc.;
as, a shoe peg.
[1913 Webster]
2. A wooden pin, or nail, on which to hang things, as coats, etc. Hence, colloquially and figuratively: A support; a reason; a pretext; as, a peg to hang a claim upon. [1913 Webster]
3. One of the pins of a musical instrument, on which the strings are strained. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
4. One of the pins used for marking points on a cribbage board. [1913 Webster]
5. A step; a degree; esp. in the slang phrase ``To take one down peg.'' [1913 Webster]
To screw papal authority to the highest peg. --Barrow. [1913 Webster]
And took your grandess down a peg. --Hudibras. [1913 Webster]
6. A drink of spirits, usually whisky or brandy diluted with soda water. [India]
This over, the club will be visted for a ``peg,'' Anglice drink. --Harper's Mag. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
7. (Baseball) a hard throw, especially one made to put out a baserunner.
{Peg ladder}, a ladder with but one standard, into which cross pieces are inserted.
{Peg tankard}, an ancient tankard marked with pegs, so as divide the liquor into equal portions. ``Drink down to your peg.'' --Longfellow.
{Peg tooth}. See {Fleam tooth} under {Fleam}.
{Peg top}, a boy's top which is spun by throwing it.
{Screw peg}, a small screw without a head, for fastening soles. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
