peg

1 of 4

noun

1
a
: a small usually cylindrical pointed or tapered piece (as of wood) used to pin down or fasten things or to fit into or close holes : pin, plug
b
British : clothespin
c
: a predetermined level at which something (such as a price) is fixed
2
a
: a projecting piece used as a support or boundary marker
b
: something (such as a fact or issue) used as a support, pretext, or reason
a news peg for the story
3
a
: one of the movable wooden pegs set in the head of a stringed instrument (such as a violin) that are turned to regulate the pitch of the strings see violin illustration
b
: a step or degree especially in estimation
4
: a pointed prong or claw for catching or tearing
5
British : drink
poured himself out a stiff pegDorothy Sayers
6
: something (such as a leg) resembling a peg
7
: throw
especially : a hard throw in baseball made in an attempt to put out a base runner

peg

2 of 4

verb

pegged; pegging

transitive verb

1
a
: to put a peg into
b
British : to pin (laundry) on a clothesline
2
: to attach or fix as if with a peg: such as
a
: to pin down : restrict
b
: to fix or hold (something, such as prices or wage increases) at a predetermined level or rate
c
: to place in a definite category : identify
was pegged as an intellectual
3
: to mark by pegs
4
: throw

intransitive verb

1
: to work steadily and diligently
often used with away
2
: to move along vigorously or hastily : hustle

peg

3 of 4

adjective

variants or pegged
: wide at the top and narrow at the bottom
peg pants

PEG

4 of 4

abbreviation

polyethylene glycol

Examples of peg in a Sentence

Noun Her coat hung on a peg by the door. took the arrogant student down a peg Verb Is the tent pegged down all the way? peg the price of wheat at its current level His bonus is pegged to how many sales he makes each year for the company.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The addition of Clarkson could bump him down a peg rotationally already, but if the Knicks also hold on to Brogdon and/or Shamet, McBride's development could be further curtailed. Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025 Don’t try to fit a square peg into a round hole. Frank Williamson, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Verb
The value of TikTok’s US assets had previously been pegged at anywhere between $20 billion and $100 billion, depending on whether the agreement included access to the app’s algorithm. Samantha Waldenberg, CNN Money, 25 Sep. 2025 Stablecoins are a type of cryptocurrency designed to provide users with greater price stability by pegging to an existing fiat currency — such as the dollar or euro — or commodity. Hugh Leask, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
The most controversial were the inclusion of single-unders and double-under crossovers which appeared during Event 3 alongside strict peg-board climbs. Gabrielle Kassel, Men's Health, 8 Aug. 2022 The toymaker father of young Olivia is dramatically kidnapped by a peg-legged bat. Dewayne Bevil, orlandosentinel.com, 18 Sep. 2020 See All Example Sentences for peg

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English pegge, probably from Middle Dutch

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1543, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Adjective

1681, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of peg was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Peg.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/peg. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

peg

1 of 2 noun
1
a
: a small usually cylindrical pointed piece (as of wood) used to pin down or fasten things or to fit into or close holes
a tent peg
b
: a tapered wooden piece in a musical instrument (as a violin) that is turned to tighten or loosen a string to adjust pitch
2
: a piece that sticks out and is used as a support or boundary marker
3
: step entry 1 sense 5, degree
take someone down a peg
4
: throw entry 2 sense 1
a quick peg to first base

peg

2 of 2 verb
pegged; pegging
1
a
: to fasten or mark with pegs
b
: to fix or hold (as prices) at a level or rate of increase
2
: to place in a class or group
3
4
: to work steadily and diligently

Medical Definition

More from Merriam-Webster on peg

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