pike
noun
[ pʌɪk ]
• a long-bodied predatory freshwater fish with a pointed snout and large teeth, of both Eurasia and North America.
Origin:
Middle English: from pike2 (because of the fish's pointed jaw).
pike
noun
• an infantry weapon with a pointed steel or iron head on a long wooden shaft.
• (in names of hills in the Lake District) a hill with a peaked top.
• "Scafell Pike"
pike
verb
• kill or thrust (someone) through with a pike.
• "many prisoners were taken out and piked"
Origin:
early 16th century: from French pique, back-formation from piquer ‘pierce’, from pic ‘pick, pike’; compare with Old English pīc ‘point, prick’ (of unknown origin). pike2 (sense 2 of the noun) is apparently of Scandinavian origin; compare with West Norwegian dialect pīk ‘pointed mountain’.
pike
noun
• short for turnpike.
pike
noun
• a jackknife position in diving or gymnastics.
Origin:
1920s: of unknown origin.
pike
verb
• withdraw from or go back on (a plan or agreement).
• let (someone) down.
Origin:
late Middle English (as pike oneself ‘take up a pilgrim's staff’): compare with Danish pigge af ‘hasten off’. The current senses date from the mid 20th century.
