Forms: 6 boo-peep, -pepe, -pipe, bo-pepe, -pipe, 6–7 bo-, boe-peepe, 7 boa-peep, boh-peepe, 7– bo-peep. [f. BO int. + PEEP v.; cf. Sc. bo-keek, keek-a-boo.]
A nursery play with a young child, who is kept in excitement by the nurse or play-mate alternately concealing herself (or her face), and peeping out for a moment at an unexpected place, to withdraw again with equal suddenness. Johnson says ‘The act of looking out and then drawing back as if frighted, or with the purpose to fright some other.’ Hence to play (at) bo-peep (with); also fig., in many obvious applications.
1528. Tindale, Doctr. Treat. (1848), 214. Mark how he playeth bo-peep with the scripture.
1535. Joye, Apol. Tindale (Arb.), 7. Yf Tindal wyll … playe boo pepe withe the tencis.
c. 1620. [Fletch. & Mass.], Trag. Barnavelt, II. i. in Bullen, O. Pl. (1883), II. 248. This blinded State that plaies a boa-peep with us.
1648. Herrick, Hesper., Upon her Feet. Her pretty feet Like snailes did creep A little out, and then, As if they started at Bo-Peep, Did soon draw in agen.
1658. Osborn, Jas. I. (1673), 526. Forced to … die in a Prison, or play at Bo-peep all the remainder of their days with their Creditors.
1701. Interest of England, 34. Men … That … do nothing but play at Bo-peep with God Almighty.
a. 1849. H. Coleridge, Poems (1850), II. 217. What fancy so pretty is playing bo-peep With the innocent’s thoughts in the fields of sleep?
b. as interjection.
c. 1550. Pride & Abuse Wom., in Hazl., E. P. P., IV. 231. Bo pepe! what have I spyed? A bug, devysing of proud knacks.
c. attrib.
1663. Cowley, Cutter Coleman-St., III. v. There will be a good Bo-peep Love.
1692. Villiers (Dk. Buckhm.), Chances (1714), 115. Were these your bo-peep Prayers?
1863. W. Phillips, Speeches, xxiv. 547. For the President, in bo-peep secrecy to hide himself in the White House.
