pike

noun \ ˈpīk \

Definition of pike

1 : pikestaff 1

2 : a sharp point or spike; also : the tip of a spear

—

piked

play \ˈpīkt\ adjective

Origin and Etymology of pike

Middle English, from Old English pīc pickax

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First Known Use: 13th century

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pike

noun

Definition of pike

dialectal, England

: a mountain or hill having a peaked summit —used especially in place names

Origin and Etymology of pike

Middle English, perhaps of Scandinavian origin; akin to Norwegian dialect pīk pointed mountain

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First Known Use: 13th century

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pike

noun

Definition of pike

plural pike or pikes

1 a : a large elongate long-snouted freshwater bony fish (Esox lucius) valued for food and sport and widely distributed in cooler parts of the northern hemisphere — called also northern, northern pike

b : any of various fishes (family Esocidae) related to the pike: such as

(1) : muskellunge

(2) : pickerel

2 : any of various fishes resembling the pike in appearance or habits

Origin and Etymology of pike

Middle English, from ¹pike

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First Known Use: 14th century

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Other Fishes Terms

char, chum, ichthyology, smelt, tetra, turbot

pike

noun

Definition of pike

: a heavy spear with a very long shaft used by infantry especially in Europe from the Middle Ages to the 18th century

Origin and Etymology of pike

Middle French pique, from piquer to prick, from Vulgar Latin *piccare, perhaps from Latin picus woodpecker — more at pie

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First Known Use: 15th century

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pike

verb

Definition of pike

piked; piking

transitive verb

: to pierce, kill, or wound with a pike

First Known Use of pike

1787

pike

verb

Definition of pike

piked; piking

intransitive verb

1 : to leave abruptly

get lonely and sore, and pike out
—Sinclair Lewis

2 : to make one's way

pike along

Origin and Etymology of pike

Middle English pyken (reflexive)

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First Known Use: circa 1529

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pike

noun

Definition of pike

1 : turnpike

2 : a railroad or railroad line or system

— down the pike

1 : in the course of events

the greatest boxer to come down the pike in years

2 : in the future

today's advances only hint at what's down the pike

First Known Use of pike

1812

Other Transportation Terms

camber, corduroy, demurrage, milestone

pike

noun

Definition of pike

: a body position (as in diving) in which the hips are bent, the knees are straight, and the hands touch the toes or clasp the legs behind or just above the knees