Definition of "pike" in English

noun

1. (military, historical) A very long spear used two-handed by infantry soldiers for thrusting (not throwing), both for attacks on enemy foot soldiers and as a countermeasure against cavalry assaults.

2. A sharp, pointed staff or implement.

3. A large haycock (“conical stack of hay left in a field to dry before adding to a haystack”).

4. Any carnivorous freshwater fish of the genus Esox, especially the northern pike, Esox lucius.

5. (diving, gymnastics) A position with the knees straight and a tight bend at the hips with the torso folded over the legs, usually part of a jack-knife.

6. (fashion, dated) A pointy extrusion at the toe of a shoe.

7. (chiefly Northern England) Especially in place names: a hill or mountain, particularly one with a sharp peak or summit.

   • Scafell Pike is the highest mountain in England.

8. (obsolete) A pick, a pickaxe.

9. (obsolete, British, dialectal) A hayfork.

10. (obsolete, often euphemistic) A penis.

verb

1. (transitive) To prod, attack, or injure someone with a pike.

2. (ambitransitive, diving, gymnastics) To assume a pike position.

3. (intransitive, gambling) To bet or gamble with only small amounts of money.

4. (intransitive, Australia, New Zealand, slang) Often followed by on or out: to quit or back out of a promise.

   • Don’t pike on me like you did last time!

noun

1. (chiefly US) Clipping of turnpike.

   • They tried out every idea that came down the pike.
   • There is heavy traffic on the Mass Pike.

2. (derogatory, ethnic slur, slang) A gypsy, itinerant tramp, or traveller from any ethnic background; a pikey.

verb

1. (intransitive) To equip with a turnpike.

2. (intransitive, obsolete, British, thieves' cant) To depart or travel (as if by a turnpike), especially to flee, to run away.