Peeping Tom

Peeping Tom

noun \-ˈtäm\

Definition of PEEPING TOM

: a pruriently prying person : voyeur

— Peeping Tom·ism \-ˈtä-ˌmi-zəm\ noun

Origin of PEEPING TOM

Peeping Tom, legendary citizen of Coventry who watched Lady Godiva riding naked

First Known Use: circa 1796

Rhymes with PEEPING TOM

cardamom, carpet bomb, CD-ROM, cherry bomb, cluster bomb, diatom, intercom, lemon balm, letter bomb, logic bomb, neutron bomb, royal palm, sago palm, soccer mom, supermom, telecom, Uncle Tom, Vietnam

Peep·ing Tom

noun \ˌpē-piŋ-ˈtäm\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of PEEPING TOM

: a pruriently prying person : voyeur

—Peeping Tom·ism \-ˈtäm-ˌiz-əm\ (audio pronunciation) noun

Biographical Note for PEEPING TOM

Peeping Tom, British legendary character. According to popular legend, Tom was a prying tailor who was struck blind (or, in some versions, struck dead) as he watched Lady Godiva when she rode naked through the streets of Coventry, England, as a protest against the heavy taxes imposed upon the citizens of Coventry.