pike

1 of 8

noun (1)

ˈpīk

1

: pikestaff sense 1

2

: a sharp point or spike

also : the tip of a spear

piked

ˈpīkt

adjective

pike

2 of 8

noun (2)

dialectal, England

: a mountain or hill having a peaked summit —

used especially in place names

pike

3 of 8

noun (3)

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

pike

4 of 8

noun (4)

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

pike

5 of 8

verb (1)

piked; piking

transitive verb

: to pierce, kill, or wound with a pike

pike

6 of 8

verb (2)

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

pike

7 of 8

noun (5)

1

: turnpike

2

: a railroad or railroad line or system

pike

8 of 8

noun (6)

: 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

Phrases

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

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English pīc pickax

Noun (2)

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

Noun (3)

Middle English, from pike entry 1

Noun (4)

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

Verb (2)

Middle English pyken (reflexive)

Noun (6)

perhaps from pike entry 3

First Known Use

Noun (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (4)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb (1)

1787, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

circa 1529, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (5)

1812, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (6)

1928, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of pike was in the 13th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Pike.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pike. Accessed 18 Aug. 2022.

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Kids Definition

pike

1 of 3 noun

ˈpīk

plural pike or pikes

: a long slender freshwater fish with a large mouth

pike

2 of 3 noun

: a long wooden pole with a steel point once used as a weapon by soldiers

pike

3 of 3 noun

: turnpike, road

Biographical Definition

Pike

biographical name

ˈpīk

Zebulon Montgomery 1779–1813 American general and explorer

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