PECK  , a dry measure of capacity, especially used for

grain . It contains 8 quarts or 2 gallons, and is 4 of a bushel . The imperial peck contains 554'548 cub. in., in the United States of America 537'6 cub. in . The word is in M.E. pek, and is found latinized as peccum or pekka . In Med . Lat. are found picotinus, " mensura frumentaria," and picotus, " mensura liquidorum " (Du Cange, Gloss. s.vv.) These words seem to be connected with the Fr. picoter, to peck, of a bird, and this would identify the word with " peck," a variant of " pick," a tap or stroke of the beak, especially used of the action of a bird in picking up grain or other food .