peepshow
peepshow Lexical Profile
peepshow Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A coin-operated video display or live performance of a sexually explicit nature, viewed from a private booth through a small window or slot.
"Urban redevelopment in the late twentieth century replaced many of the district's neon-lit peepshows with upscale cafes and boutiques."
An exhibition of pictures, objects, or scenes viewed through a small hole or magnifying lens set into a box.
"The museum's Victorian gallery featured an antique wooden peepshow that allowed visitors to peer through a brass lens at painted panoramas of London."
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the mid-19th century as a compound of "peep" and "show," the word originally referred to innocent optical novelty boxes displayed by traveling showmen at fairs before acquiring its modern association with adult entertainment.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.