Peeping Tom

Peeping Tom
a person who obtains sexual gratification by observing others surreptitiously, esp. a man who looks through windows at night.
[1910-15; allusion to the legendary man who peeped at Lady Godiva as she rode naked through Coventry]

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▪ sexual behaviour
      person who derives sexual satisfaction from watching from hiding places as others disrobe or engage in sexual acts. The term derives from the legendary Peeping Tom, a prying tailor who was struck blind (in some accounts, struck dead) for opening his window and watching Lady Godiva (Godiva, Lady) as she rode naked through Coventry to demonstrate against heavy taxes on the town. Though Godiva's ride supposedly took place in the 11th century and was recorded as early as the 13th, the legend of Peeping Tom was not added to the story until about the 17th century. See also voyeurism.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • peeping Tom — A person who stealthily peeks into windows, holes in restroom walls, or other openings with the purpose of seeing people undressed or couples making love. The term comes from the legendary Tom who peeked when Lady Godiva rode her horse naked… …   Law dictionary

  • Peeping Tom — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Peeping Tom puede referirse a: La película Peeping Tom del director Michael Powell La banda Peeping Tom liderada por Mike Patton Obtenido de Peeping Tom Categoría: Wikipedia:Desambiguación …   Wikipedia Español

  • Peeping Tom — steht für eine Person in der Legende um Lady Godiva im englischen Sprachgebrauch für einen Voyeur, bzw. Spanner (nach der Figur in dieser Legende, übersetzt etwa: linsender oder spähender Thomas) einen Song von der Band Toots and the Maytals… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • peeping tom — A peeping Tom is someone who tries to look through other people s windows without being seen in order to spy on people in their homes …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • Peeping Tom — Peeping Toms N COUNT (disapproval) If you refer to someone as a Peeping Tom, you mean that they secretly watch other people, especially when those people are taking their clothes off. Syn: voyeur …   English dictionary

  • Peeping Tom — n. 1. Eng. Legend a Coventry tailor who was struck blind after peeping at Lady Godiva 2. [p T ] a person who gets pleasure, esp. sexual pleasure, from watching others, esp. furtively …   English World dictionary

  • peeping Tom — [ˌpi:pıŋ ˈtɔm US ˈta:m] n someone who secretly watches people, especially people who are taking off their clothes, having sex etc …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • peeping Tom — ► NOUN ▪ a person who gains sexual pleasure from secretly watching people undress or engage in sexual activity. ORIGIN the name of the tailor said to have watched Lady Godiva ride naked through Coventry …   English terms dictionary

  • Peeping Tom — Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. Peeping Tom est une expression anglaise signifiant Voyeur, trouvant son origine dans la légende de Lady Godiva, où il aurait été le seul curieux à… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Peeping Tom — [ James Gillray, Lady Godina s Rout; or Peeping Tom spying out Pope Joan (1796)] Peeping Tom may refer to:* A person in the legend of Lady Godiva * A voyeur, who derives sexual pleasure from observing other people * Peeping Tom (film), a 1960… …   Wikipedia

  • Peeping Tom — noun a viewer who enjoys seeing the sex acts or sex organs of others • Syn: ↑voyeur, ↑peeper • Derivationally related forms: ↑peep (for: ↑peeper), ↑voyeuristical (for: ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

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