1519 W. Horman Vulgaria vi. f. 61 He is shamefaste but nat pekysshe. Verecundus est sine ignauia.

a1529 J. Skelton Ware the Hauke (1843) 225 The pekysh parsons brayne Cowde not rech nor attayne What the sentence ment.

a1560 T. Becon Jewel of Joy in Wks. ii. 6 Philem. I trauayled into Darbyshere and from thence into the Peke... Theoph. I thynke you founde there verye peakeish people. Phi. Not so, I confesse to you that I founde there very good wyttes and apte vnto learnynge.

1570 P. Levens Manipulus Vocabulorum sig. Mii^v/1 Peakish, mimicus a.

a1603 T. Cartwright Confut. Rhemists New Test. (1618) 512 These dreamers dreame night and day,—otherwise to proue a sect or peakish order of Franciscans, etc.

a1687 C. Cotton Poems (1689) 31 All his motions gracefull are, And all Courts outshine as far As our Courtiers peakish Clowns.

1519 W. Horman Vulgaria v. f. 55 He rebuked hym of hys dastardnes and pekishnes [L. ignaviae].

a1576 Bp. J. Pilkington Godlie Expos. Nehemiah (1585) (iv. 14) f. 64^v God requireth not such peakishness in a man, that he suffer himself to be wounded, that by the law of nature alloweth every man to defend himself.

1592 W. Warner Albions Eng. (rev. ed.) viii. xlii. 182 Once hunted he, vntill the Chace, long fasting, and the heate Did house him in a peakish Graunge within a Forrest great.

1593 M. Drayton Idea viii. sig. J3 Her skin as soft as Lemster wooll, As white as snow on peakish hull, Or Swanne that swims in Trent.

1600 P. Holland tr. Livy Rom. Hist. xxxviii. xlix. 1015 To preuent those Thracian theeves that they should not hide themselues within their peakish holes [L. notis sibi latebris] and ordinarie couert musets.

1600 P. Holland tr. Livy Rom. Hist. xlv. xxvii. 1219 After hee had seene the mouth of that peakish caue [L. os specus] into which they use to descend that would haue the benefit of the Oracle.

1612 M. Drayton Poly-olbion xi. 173 From hence he [sc. the Mersey] getteth Goyt downe from her Peakish spring.

1646 Bp. J. Hall Balme of Gilead 297 A plain Villager in the Rude Peak..returnes him this answer in his Peakish Dialect, Nay, even put fro thee, sonne.

1681 C. Cotton Wonders of Peake 24 North-East from hence three Peakish Miles at least, (Which who once measures will dread all the rest).., There creeps a Spring that makes a little Rill.

1991 W. Horwood Duncton Tales x. 109 Whillan's a Peakish word and I assume you have some connection with the north to name him so.

1992 Independent (Nexis) 11 July 45 Peakish miles are at least 50 per cent longer than regular ones.

1749 W. Ellis Compl. Syst. Improvem. Sheep 151 A peekish Head and Tail.

1995 Daily Tel. Mirror (Sydney) (Nexis) 28 Dec. The swell will be small and peakish, with waves on most stretches predicted to be only 0.5m to 1m in height.

1836 B. H. Smart Walker Remodelled Peakish..colloq. having features that seem thin or sharp, as from sickness.

1883 W. H. Cope Gloss. Hampshire Words 67 She do look very peakish of late.

1900 J. M. Barrie Tommy & Grizel xxvii. 327 He was rather peakish but he had not complained.

1936 Times 24 Apr. 17/6 A barber, as I was entering his shop, said to a friend, ‘You're looking a bit peakish, Bill. What's up?’

1992 Vancouver Sun (Nexis) 10 Nov. a3 We surveyed the situation. Our winning hand was looking decidedly peakish. ‘Let's turn back. This is crazy.’

2003 News & Observer (Raleigh, N. Carolina) 13 Apr. (Sunday Jrnl. section) d2 ‘Doesn't he look a bit flushed?’ another said... ‘Yes, a bit peakish,’ another added.