Dictionary

bo-peep en · NOUN

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) The act of looking out suddenly, as from behind a screen, so as to startle someone (as by children in play), or of looking out and drawing suddenly back, as if frightened.
   • That such a king should play bo-peep, / And go the fools among. c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iv]:
   • 1881, Geneva Gazette - Jul 8, 1881, page 2, "Official Paper Of The Village" They have not employed spies, nor been voluntary or involuntary witnesses of misdeeds or played "bopeep" through key-holes or from step-ladders through transom windows, upon the privacy of their political adversaries.
2. (countable, qualifier:British Virgin Islands) Any whistling frog.
3. (Cockney, slang, uncountable) Sleep.
   • Well, come on, boys. You've got to push off now. I'm going to read me linen and then get some Bo-Peep. 1976, Ron Barnes, Coronation Cups and Jam Jars, page 164:

Forms

Deriveds

bo-peepers · bo peepers

Synonyms

peep bo (children's game) · peek-a-boo (children's game)

bo-peep en · VERB

Meanings

1. (intransitive) To play the game of bo-peep; to peek out suddenly.

Forms