PEER, noun [Latin par.]

1. An equal; one of the same rank. A man may be familiar with his peers.

2. An equal in excellence or endowments.

In song he never had his peer

3. A companion; a fellow; an associate.

He all his peers in beauty did surpass.

4. A nobleman; as a peer of the realm; the house of peers, so called because noblemen and barons were originally considered as the companions of the king, like Latin comes, count. In England, persons belonging to the five degrees of nobility are all peers.

PEER, verb intransitive [Latin pareo.]

1. To come just in sight; to appear; a poetic word.

So honor peereth in the meanest habit.

See how his gorget peers above his gown.

2. To look narrowly; to peep; as the peering day.

PEERing in maps for ports and piers and roads.