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pike¹

(pīk)

A long spear formerly used by infantry.

tr.v. piked, pik·ing, pikes

To attack or pierce with a pike.

[French pique, from Old French, from piquer, to prick; see PIQUE.]

piked adj.

pike²

(pīk)

n. pl. pike or pikes

1. A freshwater game and food fish (Esox lucius) of the Northern Hemisphere that has a long snout and attains a length of over 1.2 meters (4 feet). Also called northern pike.

2. Any of various fishes closely related to this fish, such as the muskellunge or the pickerels.

3. Any of various fishes that resemble this fish.

[Middle English, perhaps from Old English pīc, sharp point (from its shape).]

pike³

(pīk)

1. A turnpike.

2. Archaic

a. A tollgate on a turnpike.

b. A toll paid.

intr.v. piked, pik·ing, pikes

To move quickly.

Idiom:

come down the pike Slang

To come into prominence: "a policy ... allowing for little flexibility if an important new singer comes down the pike" (Christian Science Monitor).

[Short for TURNPIKE.]

pike⁴

(pīk)

n.
Chiefly British

A hill with a pointed summit.

[Middle English, possibly of Scandinavian origin.]

pike⁵

(pīk)

A spike or sharp point, as on the tip of a spear.

[Middle English, from Old English pīc.]

pike ⁶

(pīk)

A mid-air position in sports such as diving and gymnastics in which the athlete bends to touch the feet or grab the calves or back of the thighs while keeping the legs together and straight.

[Probably from PIKE² (from the resemblance of the position to the fish's head ).]

(click for a larger image)

pike6

Tania Cagnotto of Italy

at the 2009 FINA World

Swimming Championships

Rome, Italy

Pike

(pīk), Zebulon Montgomery 1779-1813.

American army officer and explorer noted for his expedition up the Arkansas River to the Rocky Mountains (1806-1807). Pikes Peak is named for him.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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