pecking order; peck order
Refers to the social hierarchy within a group, originally from the behavior of chickens. Used figuratively for human organizations.
In the company, the pecking order is clear.
Newcomers start at the bottom of the pecking order.
階級 refers to class or rank in a structured system (e.g., social class, military rank), whereas つつきの順位 is about the informal dominance hierarchy within a group.
Standard kana-mixed spelling; the kanji 順位 is clear and common.
Kanji spelling using 突き; less common but still seen. The reading つつき is not the most common reading of 突き, so the kana-mixed form is preferred.
From つつき (pecking) + の (possessive particle) + 順位 (order, rank). The term is a direct translation of the English 'pecking order', which originated from observations of chicken social behavior.