Pikes

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

  1. A type of long, pointed weapon used historically in warfare for thrusting and defense against cavalry
  2. A pointed pole or stake, often used for fishing or in agricultural settings for support or tethering
  3. The plural form of an aquatic fish known for its elongated body and sharp teeth, often found in freshwater environments

Etymology: The word "pike" originally referred to a type of weapon—a long spear with a pointed metal tip used primarily by infantry soldiers. This usage dates back to the late Middle Ages, around the 14th or 15th century in English. The term likely comes from the Old French "pique," meaning "pointed weapon," which itself traces back to the Vulgar Latin "*picca," a word of uncertain origin but related to the idea of something sharp or pointed. The plural form "pikes" simply denotes more than one of these weapons. Over time, the meaning of the word broadened beyond weaponry. By the early modern period, "pike" came to describe various elongated, pointed objects resembling the original spear, such as a fish with a long, pointed snout known for its sharp teeth—the pike fish. This sense of the word developed from the shape and sharpness associated with the weapon. The fish name was recorded in English by the late 14th century, highlighting how the term's metaphorical extension was well established. Additionally, "pike" found usage in place names and road terminology in English, particularly in the United States, where "turnpike" and "pike" came to mean a type of toll road or highway. This sense emerged in the 17th and 18th centuries, when roads were often barricaded with a "pike" or spiked barrier to control passage and collect tolls. Though quite distant from the original weapon, this sense retains the core idea of a pointed stake or barrier. Thus, the plural "pikes" can refer to multiple spears, multiple fish of the pike species, or, in some contexts, several toll roads or spiked barriers. Its various meanings all reflect the central concept of a sharp, pointed form adapted into different domains over centuries.

Synonyms: spears, harpoons