peak

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   The pointed top of a mountain.

   The view from the peak was magnificent.

2. 2
   noun

   The highest point or level that something reaches.

   The stock market reached a peak in September 1929.

Appears in

Simplified etymology

Peak, meaning the pointed top of something, probably developed from dialectal piked, “pointed.” That form became picked and then peaked, and is related to pike, an old word for a pointed implement or weapon.

From earlier peake, peek, peke, from Middle English pek (in place names), itself an alteration of pike, pyke, pyk (“a sharp point, pike”), from Old English pīc, piic (“a pike, needle, pin, peak, pinnacle”), from Proto-West Germanic *pīk, from Proto-Germanic *pīkaz (“peak”). Cognate with Dutch piek (“pike, point, summit, peak”), Danish pik (“pike, peak”), Swedish pik (“pike, lance, point, peak”), Norwegian pik (“peak, summit”). More at pike.

Topics

External links

• Google Images
• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary