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. 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

²

/ 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

pike

³

/ paɪkt; paɪk /

adjective

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

pike

⁴

/ paɪk /

noun

1. dialect.
   a pointed or conical hill

pike

⁵

/ paɪk /

noun

1. short for turnpike

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

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

Origin of pike²

Old English pīc point, of obscure origin

Origin of pike³

C20: of obscure origin

Origin of pike⁴

Old English pīc, 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

The Yurchenko double pike vault was renamed after Simone Biles when she became the first woman to land it in international competition.

From Los Angeles Times

It’s called the Biles II, also known as the Yurchenko double pike, a nod to the former Soviet gymnast who originated the cartwheeling approach to the vault.

From Los Angeles Times

In a sport that blends power and grace, Biles’ Yurchenko double pike is at the center of its own Venn diagram: athletic feat, scientific marvel and artistic genius all in six seconds.

From Los Angeles Times

“Most of the time I’m just trying not to die,” Biles says of executing the extremely difficult Yurchenko double pike, not exaggerating.

From Los Angeles Times

“Go ahead, shut down PEN America, put a few heads on pikes,” the novelist Margaret Atwood, a former president of PEN Canada, said of the group’s critics in an email.

From New York Times