pike

¹

[ pahyk ]

noun

, plural (especially collectively) pike, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) 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, pik·ing.

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, pik·ing.

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. Compare layout ( def 10 ), tuck ¹( def 14 ).

Pike

⁸

[ pahyk ]

noun

1. James Albert, 1913–69, U.S. Protestant Episcopal clergyman, lawyer, and author.
2. Zeb·u·lon Montgomery [zeb, -y, oo, -l, uh, n], 1779–1813, U.S. general and explorer.

pike

¹

/ paɪk /

noun

1. dialect.
   a pointed or conical hill

pike

²

/ paɪkt; paɪk /

adjective

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

pike

³

/ paɪk /

noun

1. See turnpike
   short for turnpike

pike

⁴

/ 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

⁵

/ 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

Other Words From

• pikelike 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, of obscure origin

Origin of pike²

C20: of obscure origin

Origin of pike³

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

Origin of pike⁴

Old English pīc point, of obscure origin

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

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

   the greatest idea that ever came down the pike.

Example Sentences

In addition, Pike notes that “pandemic, and the time off, opened many people’s eyes to so many injustices, inequities and racism in our world.”

From Washington Blade

She said Wednesday that she will “definitely debut” another new skill, a Yurchenko double pike on vault, before Tokyo.

From Washington Post

Pike has played a version of this role before, as the carrara-cool wife in Gone Girl, and she’s not bad at it.

From Time

We will have proven the ability of this technology to scale up manufacturing, and that scale-up of manufacturing will have implications not just for other vaccines, also for other mRNA medicines coming down the pike.

From Freakonomics

The gunslinging 5-foot-4-inch president galloped on the pike toward Bladensburg.

From Washington Post

With lights flashing, the cruiser arrived at the Blooming Grove State Police barracks in Pike County.

From The Daily Beast

Tall, dark, and handsome Ben Affleck against icy blonde Rosamund Pike.

From The Daily Beast

There's a scene in which a nude Amy Elliott-Dunne, played with committed gusto by Rosamund Pike, is washing off in the shower.

From The Daily Beast

Check out the popular bakery Piroshky Piroshky in Pike Place Market for some Eastern European stuffed delights.

From The Daily Beast

Many probably believed he would emerge from the side carrying a pike with the head of a banker.

From The Daily Beast

If ever the cool impudence was suddenly taken out of a man, this question seemed to take it out of Pike.

From Project Gutenberg

After that Pike was a little more cautious, and kept aloof for a time; but Val knew that he was still watched on occasion.

From Project Gutenberg

"I was just thinking the same thing yesterday—that your lordship was always meeting me," said Pike.

From Project Gutenberg

Pike's head suddenly appeared above the hurdles, and he began inquiring after her health.

From Project Gutenberg

You'll get interfered with in a way you won't like, Pike, one of these days, unless you mend your manners.

From Project Gutenberg