the fourth part of a bushel; a dry measure of eight quarts; as, a peck of wheat.-a great deal; a large or excessive quantity.-to strike with the beak; to thrust the beak into; as, a bird pecks a tree.-hence: to strike, pick, thrust against, or dig into, with a pointed instrument; especially, to strike, pick, etc., with repeated quick movements.-to seize and pick up with the beak, or as with the beak; to bite; to eat; -- often with up.-to make, by striking with the beak or a pointed instrument; as, to peck a hole in a tree.-to make strokes with the beak, or with a pointed instrument.-to pick up food with the beak; hence, to eat.-a quick, sharp stroke, as with the beak of a bird or a pointed instrument.