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Definition pike

Etymology 1

From Middle English pyke, pyk, pik, pike (�pike; sharp point, iron tip of a staff or spear, pointed toe of an item of footwear; sharp tool; mountain, peak�), from Old English p?c (�pointed object, pick axe�), and Middle French pique (�long thrusting weapon�), from Old French pic (�sharp point, spike�); both ultimately from Proto-Germanic *p?kaz, *p?k? (�sharp point, pike, peak�), related to pick with a narrower meaning.

The word is cognate with Middle Dutch pecke, peke, picke (modern Dutch piek), German Pike, Norwegian pik, and possibly Old Irish p?k. It is a doublet of pique.

The diving or gymnastics position is probably from tapered appearance of the body when the position is executed.

The carnivorous freshwater fish is probably derived from the �sharp point, spike� senses, due to the fish�s pointed jaws.

The verb sense �to quit or back out of a promise� may be from the sense of taking up pilgrim's staff or pike and leaving on a pilgrimage; and compare Middle English p??ken (�to go, remove oneself�) and Old Danish pikke af (�to go away�).

Noun

pike (plural pikes)

(military, historical) A very long spear used two-handed by infantry soldiers for thrusting (not throwing), both for attacks on enemy foot soldiers and as a countermeasure against cavalry assaults.
A sharp point, such as that of the weapon.
A large haycock (�conical stack of hay left in a field to dry before adding to a haystack�).
Any carnivorous freshwater fish of the genus Esox, especially the northern pike, Esox lucius.
(diving, gymnastics) A position with the knees straight and a tight bend at the hips with the torso folded over the legs, usually part of a jack-knife. [from 1920s]
(fashion, dated) A pointy extrusion at the toe of a shoe.
(chiefly Northern England) Especially in place names: a hill or mountain, particularly one with a sharp peak or summit.
(obsolete) A pick, a pickaxe.
(obsolete, Britain, dialectal) A hayfork.
(obsolete, often euphemistic) A penis.

Verb

pike (third-person singular simple present pikes, present participle piking, simple past and past participle piked)

(transitive) To prod, attack, or injure someone with a pike.
(transitive, intransitive, diving, gymnastics) To assume a pike position.
(intransitive, gambling) To bet or gamble with only small amounts of money.
(intransitive, Australia, New Zealand, slang) Often followed by on or out: to quit or back out of a promise.

Etymology 2

Clipping of turnpike (�a toll road, especially a toll expressway; a spiked barrier across a road, originally used to block access to the road until toll had been paid�).

Noun sense 2 (�gypsy, itinerant tramp, or traveller�) and verb sense 2 (�to depart, travel, especially to flee, run away�) may refer to someone frequently using turnpikes, or may be derived from Middle English p??ken (�to go, remove oneself�).

Noun

pike (plural pikes)

Short for turnpike.
(derogatory, slang) A gypsy, itinerant tramp, or traveller from any ethnic background; a pikey.

Verb

pike (third-person singular simple present pikes, present participle piking, simple past and past participle piked)

(intransitive) To equip with a turnpike.
(intransitive, obsolete, Britain, thieves' cant) To depart or travel (as if by a turnpike), especially to flee, to run away.