Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

PEE-COO, n. Also -koo, -ku; †pi-cow. A game resembling hide-and-seek or prisoner's base (Ags. 1808 Jam., 1891 Brechin Advertiser (21 July)); also the call used in the game to summon the searchers. See quots. and cf. Lampeekoo. [′pi′ku, †-kʌu]Ags., Per. 1825 Jam.:
The name of a game in which the one half of the players are supposed to keep a castle, while the others go out as a foraging or marauding party. When the latter are all gone out, one of them cries Pee-ku, which is a signal to those within to be on the alert. Then those who are without, attempt to get in.Ags. 1887 J. M. M'Bain Arbroath 339:
In the game of Pee-koo, the one who is “It” or “Hit” as we pronounced it, was obliged to hide his face while the others made off and hid themselves. Someone, supposed to be the last who had found a hiding-place, then halloes “Pee-koo”, and the game was to hunt up the hidden ones, and one being found, is, after a hard chase, nabbed and tappied, and he in turn is now “It”.Ags. 1895 Arbroath Guide (25 Oct.) 3:
Maister an' mistress moose like to play at pee-coo wi' their faimily.