spike

spike · noun, verb¹

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*spey-“to be pointed; sharp point, stick”
2. Proto-Germanic · derived from*spīkō“stick, splinter, point”
3. Old Norse · derived fromspík“spike, sprig”
4. Middle English · inherited fromspike
5. English todayspike

From Middle English spike, spyke, spik, from Old Norse spík (“spike, sprig”), from Proto-Germanic *spīkō (“stick, splinter, point”), from Proto-Indo-European *spey- (“to be pointed; sharp point, stick”). Cognate with Icelandic spík (“spike”), Swedish spik (“spike, nail”), Dutch spijker (“nail”), Old English spīcing (“spike”), and Latin spīca (“ear of corn”), which may have influenced some senses.

Spike · proper noun²

From spike, variously from having spiky hair, being thin (like a railroad spike), etc.

Spike · proper noun³

From spike, perhaps a nickname for a tall, thin person.

Words from the same roots