— pegless , adj. — peglike , adj.
/peg/ , n. , v. , pegged, pegging , adj.
n.
1. a pin of wood or other material driven or fitted into something, as to fasten parts together, to hang things on, to make fast a rope or string on, to stop a hole, or to mark some point.
2. Informal. a leg, either real or wooden: still on his pegs at 99.
3. a notch or degree: to come down a peg.
4. an occasion, basis, or reason: a peg to hang a grievance on.
5. Also called pin . Music. a pin of wood or metal in the neck of a stringed instrument that may be turned in its socket to adjust a string's tension.
6. Informal. a throw, esp. in baseball: The peg to the plate was late.
7. See news peg .
8. Econ. the level at which some price, exchange rate, etc., is set.
9. Brit. , Anglo-Indian. an alcoholic drink, esp. a whiskey or brandy and soda.
10. Brit. clothespin.
11. take down a peg , to reduce the pride or arrogance of; humble: I guess that'll take him down a peg!
v.t.
12. to drive or insert a peg into.
13. to fasten with or as with pegs.
14. to mark with pegs.
15. to strike or pierce with or as with a peg.
16. to keep (the commodity price, exchange rate, etc.) at a set level, as by manipulation or law.
17. Informal. to throw (a ball).
18. Journalism. to base (an article, feature story, etc.) upon; justify by (usually fol. by on ): The feature on the chief of police was pegged on the riots.
19. Informal. to identify: to peg someone as a good prospect.
v.i.
20. to work or continue persistently or energetically: to peg away at a homework assignment.
21. Informal. to throw a ball.
22. Croquet. to strike a peg, as in completing a game.
adj.
23. Also, pegged . tapered toward the bottom of the leg: peg trousers.
[ 1400-50; late ME pegge (n.), peggen (v.) ]