pecking
pronunciation
How to pronounce pecking in British English:
UK 
How to pronounce pecking in American English:
US
Word Origin
- pecking (n.)
- verbal noun from peck (v.), late 14c. As a behavior among hens, pecking order (1928) translates German hackliste (T.J. Schjelderuo-Ebbe, 1922); transferred sense of "human hierarchy based on rank or status" is from 1955.
Example
- 1. After pecking up the rice the bird gently combs its feathers .
- 2. But swedish newspapers have suggested that the birds had been pecking at salt on the road when they were run over by a passing lorry .
- 3. To clamber up the pecking order , some people slave away nights and weekends at the office .
- 4. They also aspire to a higher place in society 's pecking order , but in so doing force others in the rat race to run faster to keep up .
- 5. Now there are 13 hens pecking around the yard .