- a short, usually tapering or pointed piece of wood, metal, etc. used to hold parts together or in place, or to close an opening, as in a barrel
- a projecting pin or bolt used to hang things on, fasten ropes to, mark degrees of measurement or keep the score in a game, etc.
- the distance between pegs
- a step or degree
- a fixed level, as for a price
- any of the pins which hold, and are used in regulating the tension of, the strings of a violin or other stringed instrument
- a point or prong for tearing, hooking, etc.
- a point of reference, esp. an excuse or reason
- Informal the foot or leg
- Informal an act or instance of throwing; esp., a hard, accurate throw from a baseball fielder
- Brit. clothespin
- Brit., Informal a drink, esp. of brandy or whiskey and soda
Origin of peg
Middle English pegge, probably from Low German source, as in Dutch peg, wooden plug from Indo-European base an unverified form bak-, staff from source Classical Latin baculum, sticktransitive verb
pegged, peg′ging- to put a peg or pegs into so as to fasten, secure, mark, etc.
- to mark (a boundary, claim, etc.) with pegs: usually with out
- to strike with a peg so as to pierce or hook
- to fix (a price, etc.) at a particular level
- to score (points) in cribbage during the play of a hand
- Informal to give support, relevance, or perspective to (an idea, news story, etc.) by relating it to something else
- Informal to identify or categorize: pegged him as a man of action
- Informal to throw; esp., to throw forcefully: to peg a ball to first base
- to score points in cribbage during the play of a hand
- to move energetically or quickly: usually with down, along, etc.
peg Idioms
off the peg
Brit. ready-made
peg away (at)
to work steadily and persistently (at)
round peg in a square hole
a person in a position, situation, etc. for which he or she is unsuited or unqualified
also square peg in a round hole
take down a peg
to lower the pride or conceit of; humble or dispirit
