Pronunciation: [pˈɪpɪŋ] (IPA) 
The word "pipping" can be spelled with two "p's" or one, depending on the context. If referring to the act of a chick breaking through its eggshell, it is typically spelled with two "p's" - "pip-ping" /ˈpɪpɪŋ/. However, if using it to describe a small, high-pitched sound, it can be spelled with only one "p" - "pip-ing" /ˈpɪpɪŋ/. Knowing the difference in spelling can help avoid confusion in written communication.
Pipping, also known as hatchlings emerging from their shells, refers to the process by which an animal, particularly birds or reptiles, breaks through the shell during the final stages of embryonic development. It is a crucial and significant milestone for organisms that lay eggs, as it is the moment when the individual transitions from the internal environment of the egg to the external world.
Pipping occurs shortly before hatching and is marked by the initial cracking or breaking of the eggshell. The embryo uses its egg tooth, a temporary and pointed structure located on its beak or snout, to create a small hole or "pip" in the shell. This piercing allows the animal to breathe and adjust to the outside air, signaling the onset of the hatching process.
The pipping stage can be a physically demanding task for the developing organism, as it requires strength and determination to break free from the confining shell. Using a combination of head movements, body contractions, and its egg tooth, the hatchling gradually enlarges the initial pip into a full opening, allowing it to push its way out completely.
Pipping is a crucial step toward the creature's successful transition into an independent life. It demonstrates the individual's final stages of development inside the egg, culminating in its ability to break free and embark on its journey as a newly hatched organism.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "pipping" most commonly refers to the process of a bird hatching from its egg by breaking through the shell. The etymology of the word can be traced back to the Middle English term "pipen" or "pippe", which meant "to chirp" or "to peep". This verb likely derived from the sound that baby birds make when they hatch and produce a high-pitched noise. Over time, the term "pipen" transformed into "pipping", specifically referring to the hatching process.
