peer \peer\, n. oe. per, of. per, f. pair, fr. l. par equal.
   cf. apparel, pair, par, n., umpire.
   1. one of the same rank, quality, endowments, character,
      etc.; an equal; a match; a mate.
      1913 webster

            in song he never had his peer.        --dryden.
      1913 webster

            shall they consort only with their peers? --i.
                                                  taylor.
      1913 webster

   2. a comrade; a companion; a fellow; an associate.
      1913 webster

            he all his peers in beauty did surpass. --spenser.
      1913 webster

   3. a nobleman; a member of one of the five degrees of the
      british nobility, namely, duke, marquis, earl, viscount,
      baron; as, a peer of the realm.
      1913 webster

            a noble peer of mickle trust and power. --milton.
      1913 webster

   house of peers, the peers, the british house of lords.
      see parliament.

   spiritual peers, the bishops and archibishops, or lords
      spiritual, who sit in the house of lords.
      1913 webster
see also:
apparel pair par umpire house of peers the peers 
parliament spiritual peers