Peckish

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈpɛk.ɪʃ/

Definitions

1. Feeling a mild hunger that causes some discomfort ; showing annoyance or a short temper
2. Experiencing a light appetite that makes one want to eat something small ; behaving in a somewhat grumpy or testy manner
3. A sensation of needing to eat a little food ; being easily annoyed or prone to moodiness

Etymology: "Peckish" is a simple formation: the verb "peck" with the suffix "-ish", which in English means "somewhat" or "rather" (as in "reddish" or "tallish"). The idea behind it is that a person feels a little hunger, enough to want a nibble, the way a bird pecks at food in small bits rather than eating a full meal. The word dates from the late 18th century, so it is a relatively recent addition to English compared with many everyday adjectives. Its meaning has stayed close to its origin: a mild desire to eat, short of genuine hunger.

Synonyms: hungry, starving, ravenous

Antonyms: full, satiated