Where Does the Word Peckish Come from?

Peckish comes from the verb peck, which a bird does when it bites with its beak — it basically means "hungry enough to peck at some food."

Is peckish a British word?

adjective Chiefly British Informal. somewhat hungry: By noon we were feeling a bit peckish.

What does peckish mean in British?

1 chiefly British : hungry. 2 : crotchety.

James H. Sterling

James H. Sterling

Environmental Science & Climate Journalist

James Sterling reports on renewable energy developments, climate policy, ecological conservation, and green tech innovations around the globe.