noun / verb

peep

PEEP/piːp/

A quick or secret look at something.

She peeps through a narrow gap in the curtains.

A woman secretly peeps through a narrow gap between curtains, keeping almost her entire face and body concealed while one eye looks outside.

Etymology

Middle English pepen described looking from concealment, especially through a narrow opening—the image behind today's secret glance. It may be an alteration of piken, the verb behind peek.

In context

Storytime Haven503:49

curiosity tempted me to creep along and peep in at the crack of the door standing ajar.

The Czar's Spy: The Mystery of a Silent Love 🕵️‍♂️💘 | William Le Queux Classic Spy Thriller

More examples

He took a quick peep inside the box.
She peeped around the doorway.
We caught a peep of the garden through the gate.

Forms

peep · peeps · peeped · peeping

Similar words

peek: The usual quick-look synonym.
glimpse: A brief sight that need not be deliberate or secret.