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Peen vs Preen - What's the difference?

peen | preen |

As nouns the difference between peen and preen

is that peen is the (often spherical) end of the head of a hammer opposite the main hammering end while preen is a forked tool used by clothiers for dressing cloth.

As verbs the difference between peen and preen

is that peen is to shape metal by striking it, especially with a peen while preen is to pin; fasten.

peen

English

Etymology 1

Etymology uncertain. Possibly from (etyl) panne, pene, (whence Modern French panne "peen"); possibly from a Scandinavian source, compare Old Swedish , dialectal Norwegian penn "peen" or Danish pind "peg". (en)

Alternative forms

* pane, pean, pein

Noun

(en noun)
  • The (often spherical) end of the head of a hammer opposite the main hammering end.

    • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To shape metal by striking it, especially with a peen.
    • Derived terms
    * ball-peen * chisel peen * cross peen * peen over * point peen

    See also

    * e-peen * * *

    Etymology 2

    From (m) by shortening.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (slang) Penis.
  • * 2009 , Danny Evans, Rage Against the Meshugenah: Why it Takes Balls to Go Nuts , New American Library (2009), ISBN 9780451227119, unnumbered page:
    • With all due respect (and that may be very little), the real truth is that being a dad is sometimes an imposition of pain far worse than any up-the-peen catheter could ever deliver.
  • * 2010 , Andrea Lavinthal & Jessica Rozler, Your So-Called Life: A Guide to Boys, Body Issues, and Other Big-Girl Drama You Thought You Would Have Figured Out By Now , Harper (2010), ISBN 9780061938382, page 32:
    • Where to touch a man that will drive him wild every time (Hint: It's probably his peen .)
  • * 2012 , Fanny Merkin & Andrew Shaffer, Fifty Shames of Earl Grey: A Parody , Da Capo Press (2012), ISBN 9780306821998, page 49:
    • It's so quiet you could hear a peen go soft.
  • *
    • Synonyms
    *See also . English clippings

    Anagrams

    * ----

    preen

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) pren, from (etyl) ‘edge’, Albanian brez ‘belt, girdle’). The verb is from (etyl) prenen, from .

    Alternative forms

    * (l) (dialectal)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A forked tool used by clothiers for dressing cloth.
  • (dialectal) pin
  • (dialectal) bodkin; brooch

    • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To pin; fasten.

    • Etymology 2

    Variant of prune (by influence of preen above) Attested in Chaucer (c. 1395) in the variants preyneth, prayneth, proyneth, prunyht, pruneth , from (etyl) .

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (of birds) To groom; to trim or dress with the beak, as the feathers.
  • To show off, posture, or smarm.
  • * 1993 , Scott Simmon, The Films of D W Griffith
    • His preening self-satisfaction, chest thrown forward as he settles into a chair in his mansion...
  • * 2004 , Jude Deveraux, Counterfeit Lady
    • He preened under her compliments.
  • (UK, dialect, dated) To trim up, as trees.
    • (Halliwell)

    See also

    * primp

    Anagrams

    *