I. ˈpīk noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English pīc pickax
Date: 13th century
1. : pikestaff 1
2. : a sharp point or spike ; also : the tip of a spear
• piked ˈpīkt adjective
II. noun
Etymology: Middle English, perhaps of Scandinavian origin; akin to Norwegian dialect pīk pointed mountain
Date: 13th century
dialect England : a mountain or hill having a peaked summit — used especially in place names
III. noun
( plural pike or pikes )
Etymology: Middle English, from pike (I)
Date: 14th century
1.
a. : a large elongate long-snouted freshwater bony fish ( Esox lucius ) valued for food and sport and widely distributed in cooler parts of the northern hemisphere — called also northern, northern pike
b. : any of various fishes (family Esocidae) related to the pike: as
(1) : muskellunge
(2) : pickerel
2. : any of various fishes resembling the pike in appearance or habits
IV. noun
Etymology: Middle French pique, from piquer to prick, from Vulgar Latin * piccare, perhaps from Latin picus woodpecker — more at pie
Date: circa 1511
: a heavy spear with a very long shaft used by infantry especially in Europe from the Middle Ages to the 18th century
V. transitive verb
( piked ; pik·ing )
Date: 1798
: to pierce, kill, or wound with a pike
VI. intransitive verb
( piked ; pik·ing )
Etymology: Middle English pyken (reflexive)
Date: 1526
1. : to leave abruptly
get lonely and sore, and pike out — Sinclair Lewis
2. : to make one's way
pike along
VII. noun
Date: 1812
1. : turnpike
2. : a railroad or railroad line or system
•
- down the pike
VIII. noun
Etymology: perhaps from pike (III)
Date: 1928
: a body position (as in diving) in which the hips are bent, the knees are straight, and the hands touch the toes or clasp the legs behind or just above the knees