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: 1769

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

Medical Dictionary

Peeping Tom

noun Peep·ing Tom \ˌpē-piŋ-ˈtäm\

Medical Definition of PEEPING TOM

: a pruriently prying person : voyeur

—Peeping Tom·ism \-ˈtäm-ˌiz-əm\ 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.