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half-pike

American  
[haf-pahyk, hahf-] / ˈhæfˌpaɪk, ˈhɑf- /

noun

  1. spontoon.

  2. a short pike formerly used by sailors boarding enemy vessels.


Etymology

Origin of half-pike

First recorded in 1590–1600

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The first preparation for our setting out was, that the captain's half-pike was placed near the coachman, and a drum behind the coach.

From The Coverley Papers by Various

The raparees were so called from the rapary or half-pike they carried.

From The Prose Works of Jonathan Swift, D.D. — Volume 06 The Drapier's Letters by Swift, Jonathan

More than a dozen times they appeared as Achilles and Hector, with the old-fashioned, full-length, man-protecting shield, the short Argive sword and the heavy lance, half-pike, half-javelin, of Trojan tradition.

From Andivius Hedulio Adventures of a Roman Nobleman in the Days of the Empire by White, Edward Lucas

It is usually fastened to the top of a half-pike, and placed on the weather side of the quarter-deck, in order to show the helmsman the direction of the wind.

From The Sailor's Word-Book An Alphabetical Digest of Nautical Terms, including Some More Especially Military and Scientific, but Useful to Seamen; as well as Archaisms of Early Voyagers, etc. by Belcher, Edward, Sir

He remained behind the pile of logs as he hunkered down, still holding his half-pike.

From Caribbee by Hoover, Thomas

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