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pickeer

verb

pick·​eer pi-ˈkir How to pronounce pickeer (audio)
pickeered; pickeering; pickeers

intransitive verb

archaic
: to skirmish in advance of an army
also : scout, reconnoiter

Word History

Etymology

probably modification of French picorer to maraud, perhaps from Middle French pecore sheep, from Old Italian pecora — more at pecorino

First Known Use

1644, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pickeer was in 1644

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Cite this Entry

“Pickeer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pickeer. Accessed 1 Dec. 2025.

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