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pecked at

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peck

2  [pek]
Use pecked at in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to strike or indent with the beak, as a bird does, or with some pointed instrument, esp. with quick, repeated movements.
2. to make (a hole, puncture, etc.) by such strokes; pierce.
3. to take (food) bit by bit, with or as with the beak.
–verb (used without object)
4. to make strokes with the beak or a pointed instrument.
–noun
5. a quick stroke, as in pecking.
6. a hole or mark made by or as by pecking.
7. a quick, almost impersonal kiss: a peck on the cheek.
8. (in timber) incipient decay from fungi, occurring in isolated spots.
9. pecks. Also, peckings. Slang. food.
—Verb phrase
10. peck at,
a. to nibble indifferently or unenthusiastically at (food).
b. to nag or carp at: Stop pecking at me, I'm doing the best I can.
Origin:
1300–50; ME pecke < MD pecken; akin to pick 1

Synonyms:
10a. pick at, poke at.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Word Origin & History

peck  (n.)
c.1280, "dry measure of one-quarter bushel," of unknown origin; perhaps connected with O.Fr. pek, picot (13c.), also of unknown origin. Chiefly of oats for horses; original sense may be "allowance" rather than a fixed measure, thus perhaps from peck (v.).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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