henpeck

English

WOTD – 30 May 2010

Etymology

hen + peck

Pronunciation

  • (UK, US) IPA(key): /ˈhɛn.pɛk/

Verb

henpeck (third-person singular simple present henpecks, present participle henpecking, simple past and past participle henpecked)

  1. (chiefly by a wife) To nag persistently.
    • 1819, Lord Byron, Don Juan, I:
      Oh! ye lords of ladies intellectual, / Inform us truly, have they not hen-peck'd you all?

Derived terms

Translations

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