pike

pike

pike¹ [pīk]

n.

a highway: now chiefly in the informal phrase come down the pike, to happen or appear

pike² [pīk]

n.

[Fr pique < piquer, to pierce, prick < VL * piccare: see PICADOR]

a weapon, formerly used by foot soldiers, consisting of a metal spearhead on a long wooden shaft

vt.

piked, piking

to pierce or kill with or as with a pike

pike³ [pīk]

n.

pl. pike or pikes [ME pik, prob. < pike (see PIKE⁴), from the pointed head]

1. any of a family (Esocidae, order Salmoniformes) of slender, voracious, freshwater bony fishes with a narrow, pointed head and conspicuous, sharp teeth; esp., a species (Esox lucius) of the northern parts of the Northern Hemisphere

2. any of various fishes resembling the true pikes, as the walleye

pike⁴ [pīk]

n.

[ME pike < OE pic, pickax, prob. akin to OFr, pick, pickax < VL * piccus: see PICADOR]

a spike; point, as the pointed tip of a spear

pike⁵ [pīk]

n.

[ME, prob. < ON pik < ? OFr pique < L picus: see PICADOR] [Brit. Dial.] Brit. Dial.

1. a peaked summit

2. a mountain or hill with a peaked summit: Used esp. in place names