plural pegs
1
: a small piece of wood, metal, or other material that is used to hold or fasten things or to hang things on
Her coat hung on a peg by the door.
a tent peg [=a pointed piece of wood or metal that is pushed into the ground to hold the corners of a tent in position]
2
: a wooden piece in a musical instrument (such as a violin) that is turned to tighten or loosen a string
a tuning peg
3
British
: clothespin
pegs; pegged; pegging
1
a
: to fasten (something) with pegs
Is the tent pegged down all the way?
(Brit) She was outside pegging the laundry to the clothesline.
b
: to put a peg into (something)
He pegged the boards.
2
a
: to keep (something, such as a price) at a particular level or rate
peg the price of wheat at its current level
b
: to link (something) to another amount or value
The foreign currency is pegged to the U.S. dollar. [=its value changes when the U.S. dollar's value does]
His bonus is pegged to how many sales he makes each year for the company.
3
informal
: to think of or identify (someone) as a certain kind of person
The salesman had me pegged [=understood what kind of person I am] in a matter of minutes.
—usually + asShe pegged him right away as a nice guy.
—sometimes + forShe had him pegged for a liar.
4
US, informal
: throw entry 1
He pegged the ball to first base.
Cite this Entry
“Peg.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/peg. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
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