pike

pike · noun, verb¹

1. Proto-Germanic · inherited from*pīkaz
2. Proto-West Germanic · inherited from*pīk
3. Old French · derived frompic“sharp point, spike”
4. Middle French · derived frompique“long thrusting weapon”
5. Old English · inherited frompīc“pointed object, pick axe”
6. Middle English · inherited frompyke
7. English todaypike

From Middle English pyke, pyk, pik, pike (“pike; sharp point, iron tip of a staff or spear, pointed toe of an item of footwear; sharp tool; mountain, peak”), from Old English pīc (“pointed object, pick axe”), and Middle French pique (“long thrusting weapon”), from Old French pic (“sharp point, spike”); both ultimately from Proto-West Germanic *pīk, from Proto-Germanic *pīkaz, *pīkō (“sharp point, pike, peak”), related to pick with a narrower meaning. The word is cognate with Middle Dutch pecke, peke, picke (modern Dutch piek), German Pike, Norwegian pik, Danish pig, and possibly Old Irish pīk. It is a doublet of pique. The diving or gymnastics position is probably from tapered appearance of the body when the position is executed. The carnivorous freshwater fish is probably derived from the “sharp point, spike” senses, due to the fish’s pointed jaws. The verb sense “to quit or back out of a promise” may be from the sense of taking up pilgrim's staff or pike and leaving on a pilgrimage; and compare Middle English pī̆ken (“to go, remove oneself”) and Old Danish pikke af (“to go away”).

pike · noun, verb²

1. Middle English · inherited frompī̆ken“to go, remove oneself”
2. English todaypike

Clipping of turnpike (“a toll road, especially a toll expressway; a spiked barrier across a road, originally used to block access to the road until toll had been paid”). Noun sense 2 (“gypsy, itinerant tramp, or traveller”) and verb sense 2 (“to depart, travel, especially to flee, run away”) may refer to someone frequently using turnpikes, or may be derived from Middle English pī̆ken (“to go, remove oneself”).

Pike · proper noun³

1. Middle English · inherited frompike
2. English todayPike

The surname is of multiple origins, including Middle English pike.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from 1920s 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.