tyke
1 Americannoun
-
a child, especially a small boy.
-
any small child.
-
a cur; mongrel.
-
Chiefly Scot. a low, contemptible fellow; boor.
noun
noun
-
a dog, esp a mongrel
-
informal a small or cheeky child: used esp in affectionate reproof
-
dialect a rough ill-mannered person
-
Also called: Yorkshire tyke. slang a person from Yorkshire
-
slang a Roman Catholic
Etymology
Origin of tyke1
1350–1400; Middle English < Old Norse tīk bitch
Origin of tyke2
1940–45; compare Ulster English Taig contemptuous term for a Roman Catholic Irishman, archaic English teague derogatory name for an Irishman < Irish Tadhg a common personal name
Explanation
A tyke is a child, especially a small one. A nursery school is full of tykes. Little kids are a handful, as all parents and teachers know. Maybe that's why there are some slangy words for them, such as rugrat and tyke. Tyke is a very informal word: a letter from the principal wouldn't call a kid a tyke. However, an uncle or friend of the family might say, "How are you tykes doing?" This word is a little old-fashioned, but it's still used.
Vocabulary lists containing tyke
My Brother Sam is Dead
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Gathering Blue
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Full of Beans
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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 wisdom David’s character imparts to the tyke?
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 8, 2024
Caesar salad is a nostalgia-inducing dish: I remember being a very little tyke and having my first Caesar and being astonished at the flavor.
From Salon ● Sep. 9, 2023
Today, he’s the tantrum-throwing tyke who refuses to take off his Batman cape and stomps out of the room when things don’t go his way.
From Washington Post ● Mar. 25, 2022
Maple Leaf-based historian Peter Blecha, though just a tyke at the time, was “there” to revel in it.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 29, 2021
“We don’t have anything to give you,” she explained to the tyke.
From "Gathering Blue" by Lois Lowry
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
