pike

¹

[pahyk]

noun

plural

pike ,

plural

pikes .

1. any of several large, slender, voracious freshwater fishes of the genus Esox, having a long, flat snout.

2. any of various superficially similar fishes, as the walleye or pikeperch.

pike

²

[pahyk]

noun

1. a shafted weapon having a pointed head, formerly used by infantry.

verb (used with object)

piked, piking 

1. to pierce, wound, or kill with or as with a pike.

pike

³

[pahyk]

noun

1. a toll road or highway; turnpike.

2. a tollgate on a turnpike.

3. the toll paid at a tollgate.

pike

⁴

[pahyk]

noun

Chiefly British.

1. a hill or mountain with a pointed summit.

pike

⁵

[pahyk]

noun

1. a sharply pointed projection or spike.

2. the pointed end of anything, as of an arrow or a spear.

pike

⁶

[pahyk]

verb (used without object)

Older Slang.

piked, piking 

1. to go, leave, or move along quickly.

pike

⁷

[pahyk]

noun

Diving, Gymnastics.

1. a body position, resembling a V shape, in which the back and head are bent forward and the legs lifted and held together, with the hands touching the feet or backs of the knees or the arms extended sideways.

Pike

⁸

[pahyk]

noun

1. James Albert, 1913–69, U.S. Protestant Episcopal clergyman, lawyer, and author.

2. Zebulon Montgomery 1779–1813, U.S. general and explorer.

pike

¹

/ paɪk /

noun

1. a medieval weapon consisting of an iron or steel spearhead joined to a long pole, the pikestaff

2. a point or spike

verb

1. (tr) to stab or pierce using a pike

pike

²

/ paɪk /

noun

1. any of several large predatory freshwater teleost fishes of the genus Esox, esp E. lucius ( northern pike ), having a broad flat snout, strong teeth, and an elongated body covered with small scales: family Esocidae

2. any of various similar fishes

pike

³

/ paɪk /

noun

1. short for turnpike

pike

⁴

/ paɪk /

noun

1. dialect,  a pointed or conical hill

pike

⁵

/ paɪkt, paɪk /

adjective

1. (of the body position of a diver) bent at the hips but with the legs straight

Other Word Forms

• pikelike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pike¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English; so called from its pointed snout ( pike ⁵ )

Origin of pike²

First recorded in 1505–15; from Middle French pique, feminine variant of pic “a pointed tool,” from Germanic. See pick ², pike ⁵, pique ¹

Origin of pike³

An Americanism dating back to 1820–30; short for turnpike

Origin of pike⁴

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; special use of pike ⁵; compare Old English hornpīc “pinnacle”

Origin of pike⁵

First recorded before 900; Middle English pik “pick, spike, (pilgrim's) staff,” Old English pīc “pointed tool”; pick ²

Origin of pike⁶

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English pyke (intransitive); perhaps originally “to equip oneself with a walking stick”; pike ⁵

Origin of pike⁷

First recorded in 1955–60; perhaps special use of pike ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of pike¹

Old English pīc point, of obscure origin

Origin of pike²

C14: short for pikefish, from Old English pīc point, with reference to the shape of its jaw

Origin of pike³

Old English pīc, of obscure origin

Origin of pike⁴

C20: of obscure origin

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. come down the pike, to appear or come forth.

   the greatest idea that ever came down the pike.