subs. (old).—See quot. c. 1696: as adj. = peering; inquisitive.
c. 1696. B. E., A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew, s.v. PERKING, the late D of M. Also any pert, forward, silly Fellow.
1835. DICKENS, Sketches by Boz, iv. He is a tall, thin, bony man with … little restless, PERKING eyes.
