pikestaff

noun

pike·​staff ˈpīk-ˌstaf How to pronounce pikestaff (audio)
1
: a spiked staff for use on slippery ground
2
: the staff of a foot soldier's pike

Examples of pikestaff in a Sentence

pikestaffs were in use from the Middle Ages to the 18th century
Recent Examples on the Web If the garden was a desert, the house was as plain as pikestaff. Town & Country, 28 Apr. 2023 Their weapon of choice was the pikestaff, a long staff topped with a sharp spike. Kristy Totten, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 June 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pikestaff.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pikestaff was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near pikestaff

Cite this Entry

“Pikestaff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pikestaff. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

pikestaff

noun
pike·​staff ˈpīk-ˌstaf How to pronounce pikestaff (audio)
1
: a sharply pointed walking stick
2
: the shaft of a soldier's pike
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!