Peg /(pĕg)/

Peg

n.
  1. A small, pointed piece of wood, used in fastening boards together, in attaching the soles of boots or shoes, etc.; as, a shoe peg.
  2. A wooden pin, or nail, on which to hang things, as coats, etc. Hence, colloquially and figuratively: A support; a reason; a pretext; as, a peg to hang a claim upon.
  3. One of the pins of a musical instrument, on which the strings are strained.
  4. One of the pins used for marking points on a cribbage board.
  5. A step; a degree; esp. in the slang phrase “To take one down a peg.”
    To screw papal authority to the highest peg.
    And took your grandees down a peg.
    — Hudibras.
  6. A drink of spirits, usually whisky or brandy diluted with soda water. [India]
    This over, the club will be visited for a “peg,” Anglice drink.
  7. a hard throw, especially one made to put out a baserunner; as, the peg to the plate went wild. (Baseball)

Phrases & Compounds
peg board
a board with multiple small holes into which pegs can be inserted in different arrays so as to form hooks from which to hang tools or other objects for convenient access; it is typically hung from a wall in a workshop.
Peg ladder
a ladder with but one standard, into which cross pieces are inserted.
Peg tankard
an ancient tankard marked with pegs, so as divide the liquor into equal portions.
Peg tooth
See Fleam tooth under Fleam.
Peg top
a boy's top which is spun by throwing it.
Screw peg
a small screw without a head, for fastening soles.

Peg

v. t.

imp. & p. p. Pegged; p. pr. & vb. n. Pegging

  1. To put pegs into; to fasten the parts of with pegs; as, to peg shoes; to confine with pegs; to restrict or limit closely.
    I will rend an oak And peg thee in his knotty entrails.
  2. To score with a peg, as points in the game; as, she pegged twelwe points. (Cribbage) [Colloq.]
  3. To identify; to recognize; as, she pegged him as a good carpenter; he was pegged as a blowhard as soon as he started speaking; he was pegged as a exceptional player even in high school.
  4. To throw (a ball); as, he pegged the runner out at second. (Baseball)

Peg

v. i.
  1. To work diligently, as one who pegs shoes; -- usually with on, at, or away; as, to peg away at a task.