spiken.1
/spʌɪk/, U.S. /spaɪk/ I. Senses relating to ears of grain.
1. 1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World I. xviii. vii. 557 All kind of corne carrying spike or eare, called Frumenta.1669 J. Denham Cato Major iii. 33 Drawn up in rancks, and files, the bearded spikes Guard it from birds as with a stand of pikes.1700 J. Dryden tr. Ovid Meleager & Atalanta in Fables 106 Suff'ring not their yellow Beards to rear, He [sc. the wild boar] tramples down the Spikes, and intercepts the Year.1730 J. Thomson Autumn in Seasons 134 The gleaners spread around, and here and there, Spike after spike, their sparing harvest pick.1796 W. Withering Arrangem. Brit. Plants (ed. 3) I. 83 Take a spike (or as it is frequently called, an ear) of wheat.1809 S. T. Coleridge Three Graves iii, in Friend 21 Sept. 90 On the hedge-elms in the narrow lane Still swung the spikes of Corn.1860 G. J. Adler tr. C. C. Fauriel Hist. Provençal Poetry xvi. 359 A man without love is worth no more than the spike without grain.1875 E. H. Knight Amer. Mech. Dict. III. 2265/2 Spica,..a form of bandage resembling a spike of barley. The turns of the bandage cross like the letter V, each leaving a portion uncovered.
a. An ear of grain. Chiefly poetic.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > cereal, corn, or grain > [noun] > cereal plants or corn > ear or part of ear
eareOE
corn-eara1387
spike1393
icker1513
spikelet1860
1393 W. Langland Piers Plowman C. xiii. 180 Bote yf þe sed þat sowen is in þe sloh sterue, Shal neuere spir springen vp ne spik on strawe curne.
b. Astronomy. the virgin's spike [translating Latin spica Virginis] : = spica n. 3.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the universe > star > kind of star > small star > [noun] > dwarf > Spica
the virgin's spike1559
spica1728
1559 W. Cuningham Cosmogr. Glasse 104 A fixed sterre, called the virgins spike.
1765 Philos. Trans. 1764 (Royal Soc.) 54 359 The virgin's spike, and a small star preceding it.
1802 O. G. Gregory Treat. Astron. vi. 109 On the 8th of April, 1801, at what hour will the star called virgin's spike be on the meridian of London?
c. The receptacle in which the grains of maize are fixed.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > cereal, corn, or grain > [noun] > maize > head, cob, ear, or inflorescence
tassel1646
roasting ear1651
nubbin1692
grappe1693
cob1702
corn-cob1787
spike1800
ear leaf1835
maize ear1855
tucket1874
ear bud1901
1800 Med. & Physical Jrnl. 4 249 From the young fresh stalks, as well as from the spikes of India corn, a true sugar can be extracted.
1809 A. Henry Trav. & Adventures Canada 134 I was requested not to break the spikes.
1809 A. Henry Trav. & Adventures Canada 134 The grains of maize..grow in compact cells, round a spike.
2. Botany. A form of inflorescence consisting of sessile flowers borne on an elongated simple axis.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > part of plant > reproductive part(s) > flower or part containing reproductive organs > inflorescence or collective flower > [noun] > of particular type, shape, or arrangement > spike
spike1578
torch1578
spica1693
spicula1760
spicule1785
spire1850
1578 H. Lyte tr. R. Dodoens Niewe Herball 103 Long purple, spykie knoppes like to the eares or spikes of Bistorte.
1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World I. 364 The head of Nardus spreadeth into certaine spikes or eares, whereby it hath a twofold use, both of spike and also of leafe.
1668 Bp. J. Wilkins Ess. Real Char. 78 Naked stalks; and flowers in a spike.
1668 Bp. J. Wilkins Ess. Real Char. 78 Whose leaves are of a dark green above,..bearing a spike of flowers.
1676 M. Lister in J. Ray Corr. (1848) 124 The fulminating powder, which the spikes of Muscus Lycopod. yield.
1726 Flower Gard. Displ. (ed. 2) Introd. Spikes, Trusses or Bunches, when the Flowers grow in such a manner as to form an Acute Cone.
1753 Chambers's Cycl. Suppl. at Lychnis The wild white lychnis with a bending spike of flowers.
1785 W. Cowper Task vi. 159 Her beauteous head now set With purple spikes pyramidal.
1850 G. Glenny Hand-bk. Flower Garden 158 The blossoms are purple, and grow in spikes at the ends of the branches.
1889 Hardwicke's Sci.-gossip 25 122 They were beautiful trees, with their leaves..growing in thickly-set spikes.
II. Senses relating to plants.† 3. attributive.1702 R. Neve Apopiroscopy i. 48 You need not fear much the laying on of the Varnish the second time, provided..it be Oil of Spike Varnish.† 4. spike celtic n. a species of valerian. Obsolete.† 5. Spikenard. Obsolete. rare.
a. French lavender ( Lavandula spica); = spick n.2 Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > fragrant plants or plants used in perfumery > [noun] > trees or shrubs > lavender plants
lavendera1300
stechados1526
spike1541
stœchas1548
spick1558
French lavender1562
spikenard1563
cassidony1578
cast-me-down1597
stickadove1597
aspic1604
spike-lavender1607
1541 T. Elyot Castel of Helthe (new ed.) 11 Thinges good for a colde head: Cububes: Galingale:..Pionye: Hyssope: Spyke: Yreos.
1578 H. Lyte tr. R. Dodoens Niewe Herball 265 It is called..in English Spike and Lauender.
1605 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. i. vi. 215 Heere bitter Wormwood, there sweet-smelling Spike.
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Spicaire, Roman Spike, or Lauender.
1621 R. Burton Anat. Melancholy iii. iv. i. i. 709 Sweet sents of saffron, spike, calamus and cynamon.
1712 J. Browne tr. P. Pomet et al. Compl. Hist. Druggs I. 26 Of a strong smell, very much like Spike or Lavender.
b. oil of spike, an essential oil obtained by distillation from Lavendula Spica (and L. Stœchas), employed in painting and in veterinary medicine. (Cf. spike-oil n. at Compounds 2.)
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > extracted or refined oil > [noun] > other plant-derived oils
oil de baya1398
oil roseta1400
alkitranc1400
laurinec1400
oil of spicac1400
seed oil1400
rape oil1420
nut-oil?c1425
masticine?1440
oil de rose?1440
oil of myrtine?a1450
gingellya1544
rose oil1552
alchitrean1562
oil of spike1577
oil of ben1594
myrtle oil1601
sesamus1601
sampsuchine1616
oil of walnuts1622
rape1641
oil of rhodium1649
rapeseed oil1652
neroli1676
oil of mace1681
spirit of scurvy-grass1682
beech-oil1716
poppy oil1737
castor oil1746
oil of sassafras1753
orange-peel oil1757
wood-oil1759
bergamot1766
sunflower oil1768
Russia oil1773
oil castor1779
tung-yu1788
poppy-seed oil1799
cocoa butter1801
sassafras oil1801
phulwara1805
oil of wine1807
grass oil1827
oil of marjoram1829
cajuput oil1832
essence of mustarda1834
picamar1835
spurge oil1836
oenanthic ether1837
tea oil1837
capnomor1838
cinnamon-oil1838
oil of mustard1838
orange-flower oil1838
resinein1841
mustard oil1844
myrrhol1845
styrol1845
oenanthol1847
shea butter1847
wintergreen1847
gaultheria oil1848
ginger-grass oil.1849
nutmeg oil1849
pine oil1849
peppermint oil1850
cocoa fat1851
orange oil1853
neem oil1856
poonga oil1857
xanthoxylene1857
crab-oil1858
illupi oil1858
Shanghai oil1861
stand oil1862
mustard-seed oil1863
carap oilc1865
cocum butter or oilc1865
Kurung oil1866
muduga oil1866
pichurim oil1866
serpolet1866
sumbul oil1868
sesame oil1870
niger oil1872
summer yellow1872
olibene1873
patchouli oil1875
pilocarpene1876
styrolene1881
tung oil1881
becuiba tallow1884
soy oil1884
tea-seed oil1884
eucalyptus1885
sage oil1888
hop-oil1889
cotton-seed oil1891
lemon oil1896
palmarosa oil1897
illipe butter1904
hydnocarpus oil1905
tung1911
niger seed oil1917
sun oil1937
vanaspati1949
fennel oil-
1577 W. Harrison Descr. Eng. (1878) iii. ix. ii. 65 A most delectable and sweet oile, comparable to..oile of spike in smell, was found naturallie included in a stone.
1594 H. Plat Diuers Chimicall Concl. Distillation 9 in Jewell House I speak not here of the oile of spike which will extende very farre this way.
1669 S. Sturmy Mariners Mag. vii. xxxiv. 49 Yellow Oker, well ground Oyle of Spike or Turpentine.
1686 R. Plot Nat. Hist. Staffs. ix. 379 They use Litharge pounded and searced fine, mixt with oyle of Spike.
1753 J. Bartlet Gentleman's Farriery xxiv. 213 The hot oils, as spike, turpentine and origanum.
1815 J. Smith Panorama Sci. & Art II. 755 The colours..are then mixed with oil of spike, and applied to the glass with camel's hair-pencils.
1861 R. Bentley Man. Bot. ii. iii. 610 Oil of Spike or Foreign Oil of Lavender.
1861 R. Bentley Man. Bot. ii. iii. 610 L. Stœchas also yields..an essential oil, which is commonly distinguished as the True Oil of Spike.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular medicinal plants or parts > [noun] > valerian
valerianc1386
setwalla1400
spike celtic1540
capon's-tail1548
phu1562
poor man's remedy1657
spikenard1688
countryman's treacle1745–7
tobacco-root1845
the world > health and disease > healing > medicines or physic > medical preparations of specific origin > medicine composed of a plant > [noun] > plant used in medicine > specific plant > valerian
valerianc1386
spike celtic1540
countryman's treacle1745–7
1540 R. Jonas tr. E. Roesslin Byrth of Mankynde ii. f. lxx For this take spyke celtyke, whiche some call mary mawdelyne flower,..& sethe it in the oyle of sesamum,..& laye it on the place.
1597 W. Langham Garden of Health 16 Seethe Spike celtike in oyle of Almonds, and a little Turpentine and dip well therein and apply it.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular medicinal plants or parts > non-British medicinal plants > [noun] > spikenard
nardOE
nardusOE
spike?1529
spikenard1548
sumbul1791
?1529 R. Hyrde tr. J. L. Vives Instr. Christen Woman i. ix. sig. I.iiij Mary Magdalene poured vpon ye heed of our lorde oyntment of precious spike.
Compounds
C1.
a. General attributive.
(a)
spike-corn n.
ΚΠ
1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World I. 559 White Amel-corn, called Olyra, which is among them holden for the third sort of Spike-corne.
spike-stalk n.
ΚΠ
1796 W. Withering Arrangem. Brit. Plants (ed. 3) I. 83 Spike-stalk,..a long, rough, slender receptacle, upon which the flowers composing a spike are placed.
(b)
spike-flowered adj.
ΚΠ
1833 Penny Cycl. I. 77/1 Acer spicatum, the spike-flowered maple.
spike-like adj.
ΚΠ
1857 A. Henfrey Elem. Course Bot. §126 The term catkin..is applied to the..spike-like inflorescence of the Willow, Poplar, Birch.
1880 R. Jefferies Round about Great Estate 136 Beside them a rolled spike-like bloom not yet unfolded.
(c)
spike-wise adv.
ΚΠ
1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World I. 559 The graines arranged spike-wise.
b. In some specific names of plants (see quots. and spiked adj.1 2).
spike-cudweed n.
ΚΠ
1716 Philos. Trans. 1714–16 (Royal Soc.) 29 355 Welted Antego Spike-Cudweed.
spike-grass n.
ΚΠ
1760 J. Lee Introd. Bot. App. 327 Spike-grass, Winged, Stipa.
1771 J. R. Forster Flora Amer. Septentrionalis 4 Spike-grass, Uniola paniculata.
1856 A. Gray Man. Bot. Northern U.S. (ed. 2) 567 Uniola,..Spike-Grass.
spike-mint n.
ΚΠ
1731 P. Miller Gardeners Dict. I. Index Spike-mint, Spear-mint.
spike-rush n.
ΚΠ
1836 J. C. Loudon Encycl. Plants (rev. ed.) 48 Eleocharis,..Spike-rush. Spike oval naked.
1859 A. Pratt Brit. Grasses & Sedges 11 Spike-rush. Spikelet many-flowered, solitary, terminal.
C2. General attributive (in sense 3).† spike-water n. Obsolete
spike-flower n.
ΚΠ
1583 L. Mascall tr. Profitable Bk. Spottes & Staines 12 Take 2 pound of spike flowers, one pound of rose marie.
1737 Compl. Family-piece (ed. 2) i. iv. 252 Then put to them Balm, Spike-flowers,..of each 1 Ounce.
spike-lavender n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > fragrant plants or plants used in perfumery > [noun] > trees or shrubs > lavender plants
lavendera1300
stechados1526
spike1541
stœchas1548
spick1558
French lavender1562
spikenard1563
cassidony1578
cast-me-down1597
stickadove1597
aspic1604
spike-lavender1607
1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 444 With the decoction or liquor which commeth from Spike-Lauender.
1738 G. Smith tr. Laboratory ii. 37 Temper..with Oil of Spike.
1879 Cassell's Techn. Educator (new ed.) III. 247/1 Oil of spike lavender, or..turpentine, may be used instead of the coal-naphtha.
spike-leaf n.
ΚΠ
1741 W. Ellis Mod. Husbandman May xiv. 178 Boil some Lavender and Spike-leaves.
spike-oil n. [compare Dutch spijkolie, German spieköl]
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > smell and odour > fragrance > [noun] > fragrant substance or perfume > specifically
ewrosec1350
stacte1382
oil of rosesa1398
rose watera1398
sandalc1400
musk?a1425
damask water?1520
malabathrum1543
orris1545
civet1553
ambracan1555
rose cake1559
lavender-water1563
oil of spikenard1565
zibet1594
orange-flower water1595
orris powder?1600
spike-oil1611
angel water1634
cypress-powder1634
angelica1653
jasmine1670
jessamy1671
rosat1674
frangipane1676
marechale1676
orangery1676
tuberose1682
jasmine-water1750
otto1759
rose geranium1773
millefleurs1775
new-mown hay1789
attar1798
eau-de-Cologne1802
Cologne1814
dedes1817
eau de Portugal1825
verbena1837
rondeletia1838
bay-rum1840
Florida water1840
citronelle1841
patchouli1843
citronella1849
gardenia1851
sandalwood oil1851
Ess Bouquet1855
marmala water1857
mignonette1858
spikenard oil1861
sandalwood1865
serpolet1866
ylang-ylang1876
flower-water1886
lily1890
lilac1895
stephanotis1895
tea rose1897
chypre1898
Peau d'Espagne1898
violette de Parme1904
poppy1905
Parma violet1907
wallflower1907
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Huile nardin, spike oyle.
1685 R. Baxter Paraphr. New Test. Mark xiii. 3 It was a Cruise of precious Spike-oil shaken and poured out.
1868 H. Watts Dict. Chem. V. 399 According to Gastell, spike-oil is obtained from the leaves and stalks, true lavender-oil from the flowers, of several species of Lavendula.
ΚΠ
1558 W. Ward tr. G. Ruscelli Secretes Alexis of Piemount f. 46v Take..Lauender water, Spike water, of eche of them thre vnces.
1572 in A. Feuillerat Documents Office of Revels Queen Elizabeth (1908) 175 i pynte of spike water.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1914; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
spiken.2
/spʌɪk/, U.S. /spaɪk/ 1.
a. A sharp-pointed piece of metal (esp. iron) or wood used for fastening things securely together; a large and strong kind of nail.Cf. earlier spike-nail n. and spiking n.1
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > building and constructing equipment > fastenings > [noun] > nail > large or strong
spiking1261
board-nail1303
spiking-nail1311
spike-nail1314
spike1345
bragc1440
garron-nail1552
tine nail1555
spiker1574
spig-naila1600
speek1611
spick1611
dog1857
1345–6 in Nicholas Hist. Royal Navy (1847) II. 477 [Nails, called] glots, midelglots, spikes, rundnails, cloutnails [and] lednails.
1390 Earl Derby's Exp. (Camden) 26 Pro Mlcc spyks, vj s.
1486 in M. Oppenheim Naval Accts. & Inventories Henry VII (1896) 15 c lb of spykes..xxvs ijd; also for xl lb spikes.
a1616 F. Bacon Advice to G. Villiers in Wks. (1778) II. 270 We need not borrow of any other iron for spikes, or nails to fasten them together.
1627 J. Smith Sea Gram. xi. 53 It is strongly nailed with Spikes.
1706 Phillips's New World of Words (new ed.) Speeks or Spikes,..great and long Iron-nails with flat Heads and of divers Lengths.
1719 D. Defoe Farther Adventures Robinson Crusoe 123 In this manner he made many Things, but especially Hooks, Staples and Spikes.
1753 J. Hanway Hist. Acct. Brit. Trade Caspian Sea I. xvi. 103 Instead of iron bolts, they have spikes of deal.
1825 ‘J. Nicholson’ Operative Mechanic 565 Fasten them together by pins, spikes, or bolts, as the case may require.
a1884 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. Suppl. 839/2 The following table shows the amount of spikes to a mile of railroad.
b. A pointed piece of steel used for driving into the touch-hole of a cannon in order to render it unserviceable.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > [noun] > spike for disabling guns
spike1617
spiker1868
1617 F. Moryson Itinerary ii. 166 Some were found having spikes and hammers to cloy the cannon.
1828 J. M. Spearman Brit. Gunner 385 There are two descriptions of spikes in the service. The common conical spike, which serves for all natures of ordnance is 4 inches long.
1859 F. A. Griffiths Artillerist's Man. (1862) 60 For Spiking Ordnance, two kinds of spikes are used:..The Common Spike... The Spring, or temporary spike.
1876 G. E. Voyle & G. de Saint-Clair-Stevenson Mil. Dict. (ed. 3) 395/1 Spikes form a portion of the stores of a battery.
2. 1969 Astrophysical Jrnl.: Lett. 157 l73 Four out of five consecutive optical spikes, each reaching in some 10 days a peak of luminosity that is a factor of 2–3 above a varying background level,..have been observed for the single QSS 3C 345.1974 Nature 8 Nov. 113/1 Well known transient phenomena such as supernovae, galactic radio noise spikes.1975 D. G. Fink Electronics Engineers' Handbk. xi. 13 The typical output of an optical laser consists of a series of spikes.1977 Sci. Amer. Oct. 53/2 Grindlay and Gursky suggested that the X-ray photons of a burst are released in a two-second ‘spike’.1980 Nature 7 Feb. 551/1 There are no clear spikes in the Kavalur bursts.
a. A sharp-pointed piece of metal (or other hard material) which is, or may be, so fixed in something that the point is turned outwards; a stout sharp-pointed projecting part of a metal object.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > shape > unevenness > projection or prominence > sharp unevenness > [noun] > a sharp prominence
bill1382
pointa1387
tatter1402
beakc1440
spike1488
neb1578
prong1591
prow1601
taggera1687
tang1688
jog1715
nib1788
tusk1823
spur1872
1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) xi. l. 42 Sa tha sam folk he send to the Drip furd, Gert set the ground with scharp spykis off burd.
1532–3 in E. Law Hist. Hampton Court Palace (1885) 347 Item 11 spikes of Irne to stand uppon the sayd typys.
1676 R. Wiseman Severall Chirurg. Treat. v. iii. 359 In his falling he was catcht by one of those Spikes in the middle of his Wrist.
1728 E. Chambers Cycl. at Movement The gutter'd Wheel, with Iron Spikes at bottom, wherein the Line of ordinary Clocks runs.
1791 J. Bentham Panopticon i. Postscr. 137 But a person cannot press against the point of a spike as he could against a bar.
a1822 P. B. Shelley Let. to — in Posthumous Poems (1824) 60 Spain..grew dim with Empire:—With thumbscrews, wheels, with tooth and spike and jag.
1846 C. Holtzapffel Turning & Mech. Manip. II. 818 The length of files is always measured exclusively of the tang or spike, by which the file is fixed in its handle.
1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps i. xi. 83 The iron spike at the end of the baton made a hole sufficiently deep [etc.].
b. transferred. A stiff sharp-pointed object or part.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > shape > fact or condition of tapering > condition of tapering to a point > [noun] > pointed object or part
goadeOE
pikeOE
point1390
broad arrowhead1545
spire1551
pick1614–15
stob1637
icicle1644
arrow point1655
spike1718
jagger1825
spear-point1861
spear-head1894
1718 Lady M. W. Montagu Let. 31 July (1965) I. 425 The spikes or thorns are as long and sharp as Bodkins.
1756 tr. J. G. Keyssler Trav. I. 31 Shoes with long points or spikes..were worn... Some of these spikes were an ell long.
1859 C. Dickens Tale of Two Cities ii. i. 36 His son..was garnished with tenderer spikes [of hair].
1868 W. Morris Earthly Paradise ii. 261 Then shot up on high A steady spike of light.
c. A young mackerel.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > fish > superorder Acanthopterygii (spiny fins) > order Perciformes (perches) > suborder Scombroidei (mackerel) > [noun] > family Scombridae > genus Scomber > member of (mackerel) > at certain stage in life
shiner1836
tinker1848
tinker mackerel1851
blink1884
spike1884
1884 G. B. Goode in G. B. Goode et al. Fisheries U.S.: Sect. I 298 Mackerel..six and a half or seven inches in length;..fish of this size are sometimes called ‘Spikes’.
d. Usually in plural. One of a number of sharp-pointed metal studs driven into the sole of a cricket boot, running shoe, etc., to give a surer foothold. Also (plural) by metonymy, a pair of spiked shoes.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > general equipment > [noun] > spikes on boot or shoe
spike1832
sprig1835
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > footwear > parts of footwear > [noun] > protective studs or plates > spikes or prongs to prevent slipping
ice spur?a1549
frosts1718
calk1805
spur1820
spike1832
sprig1835
mud-shoe1846
clamper1856
shoe-nail1860
ice calk1863
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > footwear > shoe or boot > shoe > [noun] > types of > with specific types of sole > other > pair of
spike1832
1832 P. Egan Bk. Sports 348/2 And all in spikes and jackets clad, Elate for vict'ry came.
1898 N.Y. Tribune 23 Apr. 9/3 He was in collision with Jennings and McGann and his foot and legs were injured with their spikes.
1955 R. Bannister First Four Minutes ii. 16 I suddenly noticed that my best pair of spikes had split along the side.
1976 J. Wainwright Who goes Next? 29 ‘Footprints..Spiked. Now he isn't wearing spikes.’ Enfield nodded towards the corpse. ‘The two Herberts who found him—I doubt if they'll have spiked shoes.’
e. figurative. A prickly resentment; anger, venom. Frequently in to have (or get) the spike, to be (or become) angry or offended.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > anger > indignation or resentment > [noun]
wrathc900
disdain1297
indignationc1384
heavinessc1386
gall1390
offencea1393
mislikinga1400
despitec1400
rankling?a1425
jealousyc1475
grudge1477
engaigne1489
grutch1541
outrage1572
dudgeon1573
indignance1590
indignity1596
spleen1596
resentiment1606
dolour1609
resentment1613
endugine1638
stomachosity1656
ressentiment1658
resent1680
umbrage1724
resentfulness1735
niff1777
indignancy1790
saeva indignatio1796
hard feeling1803
grudgement1845
to have a chip on one's shoulder1856
affrontedness1878
spike1890
the mind > emotion > anger > indignation or resentment > be or become resentful [verb (intransitive)]
to pick (also peck) mooda1225
disdaina1382
endeigna1382
indeign1382
risec1390
to take offencea1393
to take pepper in the nose1520
stomach1557
offenda1578
sdeigna1593
huff1598
to snuff pepper1624
check1635
to bear, owe (a person) a grudge1657
to take check1663
to take (‥) umbrage1683
to ride rusty1709
to flame out, up1753
to take a niff1777
niff1841
spleen1885
to put one's shoulder out1886
to have (or get) the spike1890
derry1896
1890 J. D. Robertson Gloss. Words County of Gloucester 147 ‘To have the spike’ is to be out of temper, or offended.
1895 Daily News 4 Jan. 3/7 Of course Chris gets the spike (in a temper) because Sullivan had shopped him.
1922 J. Joyce Ulysses ii. xiv. [Oxen of the Sun] 377 He had in his bosom a spike named Bitterness.
1960 N. Hilliard Maori Girl ii. xi. 141 But you don't have to get the spike with me just for that.
1978 Chicago June 166/3 I had located the spike inside him, the one that Arabs get hooked on when they detect a Jewish émigré.
f.
(a) A quantity of alcohol, esp. spirits, added to a drink. U.S. slang.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > drink > intoxicating liquor > [noun] > intoxicating element in drink > alcohol added to drink
kick1844
spike1906
1906 Dial. Notes 3 157 Spike, n., alcohol, an alcoholic beverage. ‘This punch has a good big spike in it.’
1969 J. Cheever Bullet Park xiv. 189 She..returned with a bottle of whiskey and spiked her coffee... The spike steadied her hand.
1974 Times-Picayune (New Orleans) 14 Aug. iii. 2 It's like chips without dips, or punch without the spike.
(b) A small quantity of a radioisotope or other substance added to a material in order to act as a tracer, reference, etc.
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the world > matter > chemistry > chemical reactions or processes > [noun] > substances involved in > spike
spike1959
1959 R. E. Tate in Hausner & Schumar Nucl. Fuel Elements viii. 110 Spike enrichment, in which some of the fuel elements..contain plutonium dispersed in an inert matrix, requires a high through-put of the enriched elements.
1962 Analyt. Chem. 34 709/2 The U233 plus U236 isotopic dilution spike is added to an unknown uranium sample.
1965 Jrnl. Geophysical Res. 70 1844/1 Five to twenty grams of sample was dissolved in 1 N HCl, TH234 and U232 spike added, and the solution evaporated to dryness.
1976 Nature 24 June 685/2 After ensuring that the spike and sample were well mixed, the cadmium was chemically extracted by ion exchange.
g. A bayonet. Military slang.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > sharp weapon > side arms > knife or dagger > [noun] > bayonet
dagger1688
bayonet1704
fixed bayonet1802
ring bayonet1841
sword-bayonet1844
winkle-pin1924
spike1928
1928 E. Blunden Undertones of War 270 The cowman now turned warrior measured out His up-and-down sans fierce ‘bundook and spike’.
h. A hypodermic needle or syringe used for the injection of an intoxicating drug; hence, the drug itself or an injection of this. slang (originally U.S.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > use of drugs and poison > [noun] > equipment for taking drugs
outfit1881
cooker1905
quill1916
spike1934
work1934
joint1935
rig1935
the world > physical sensation > use of drugs and poison > an intoxicating drug > [noun]
drug1668
stuporific1853
candy1925
spike1934
shit1946
juice1957
street drug1967
substance1967
dadah1980
product1983
the world > physical sensation > use of drugs and poison > an intoxicating drug > [noun] > a dose of > for injection
shot1889
spike1934
pop1935
needle1943
1923 J. Manchon Le Slang 285 Spike, s... 30 V[ulgaire] une aiguille.]
1934 Detective Fiction Weekly 21 Apr. 107/2 Both me and the twist was on junk and when they fanned us they found a spike on me but no stuff.
1953 H. J. Anslinger & W. F. Tompkins Traffic in Narcotics 315 Spike, a drug. Also a hypodermic needle, an injection of a drug.
1959 ‘E. McBain’ Pusher viii. 383 ‘You say you shot up together? Did you both use the same syringe?’ ‘No, Annabelle had his spike, and I had mine.’
1964 Daily Tel. 25 Nov. 22/6 Among the terms used by addicts are..‘blast parties’, for groups of marijuana smokers, and ‘spikes’ for hypodermic needles.
1974 J. Wainwright Evidence I shall Give xxxvii. 211 It was a mounting yearning. A craving... He needed a spike—badly!
1979 P. Driscoll Pangolin xvii. 139 This punk kid, shooting amphetamines, can't find enough spikes.
i. A young buffalo (see quot.). U.S.
ΚΠ
1931 Amer. Speech 7 7 A two-year-old ‘bull’ having short sharp horns was called a ‘spike’.
j. (a) An electrical pulse of very short duration in which a rapid increase in voltage is followed immediately by a rapid decrease; (b) a burst of electromagnetic radiation marked by short duration or great intensity, esp. one from space.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > voltage > [noun] > pulse, surge
impulse1883
surge1908
pulse1932
spike1935
pip1946
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > [noun] > burst of
spike1969
zap1979
the world > matter > physics > atomic nucleus > radioactivity > ionizing radiation > [noun] > cosmic rays > large or intense pulse
burst1960
spike1969
1935 Arch. Neurol. & Psychiatry (Chicago) 34 1140 The presence of the sharp negative spikes in the record often seems to be associated with motor movements of a clonic sort.
1957 Wireless World Jan. 10/2 Some of the output-signals have the form of sharp spikes, each pulse of ignition interference producing two spikes of the same polarity.
1969 J. J. Sparkes Transistor Switching iv. 109 Noise-voltage spikes in the earth line or at the input have to exceed about 600 mV before significant signals appear at the output.
1973 T. Pynchon Gravity's Rainbow i. 146 He's been under Rollo Groast's EEG countless times since first he came to ‘The White Visitation’, and all's normal-adult except for, oh once or twice perhaps a stray 50-millivolt spike off a temporal lobe.
k. Journalism. A spindle on which recent newspaper stories are filed, spec. when rejected for publication.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > journalism > newspaper offices > [noun] > equipment
Balaam-box1826
spike1936
1936 B. Brooker Think of Earth ii. iii. 141 The editor picked up a spike-file from the top of the desk.
1942 W. Faulkner Go down, Moses & Other Stories 374 He took the press association flimsy from its spike and handed it to Stevens.
1962 ‘A. Lejeune’ Duel in Shadows i. 11 The Managing Editor and his myrmidons huddled round the backbench examining a damp page-proof, the copy-taster's spike piled high with rejected stories.
1974 D. Seaman Bomb that could Lip-read vii. 58 The P.A. copy was neatly pierced by a spike, Fleet Street's time-honoured way of giving the thumbs-down to a story.
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society > occupation and work > equipment > lever or crowbar > [noun]
lever1297
speke1366
crowa1400
gavelock1497
prisea1500
handspoke1513
porter1538
sway1545
handspike1559
heaver1598
coleweigh1600
handspeek1644
forcer1649
ringer1650
ripping-chisel1659
pinch1685
crow-spike1692
Betty1700
wringer1703
crowbar1748
spike1771
pry1803
jemmy1811
crow-iron1817
dog1825
pinchbar1837
jimmy1848
stick1848
pry bar1872
peiser1873
nail bar1929
cane1930
1771 Act 11 Geo. III c. 45 §7 To purchase or make..Winches, Spikes, Dams, Flood Gates and Engines for the completing and carrying on the said Navigation.
1802 C. James New Mil. Dict. Spikes, in gunnery. See Hand-Spikes.
4. slang. The workhouse. Also spec. the casual ward of a workhouse (see casual adj. 9a); an institution affording more or less temporary accommodation for the homeless.
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society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > dwelling place or abode > institutional homes > [noun] > for the poor, infirm, etc. > workhouse
working-house1597
workhouse1631
house of industry1679
spin-house1702
parish house1709
poorhouse1727
poorshouse1732
house?1825
union workhouse1830
union house1835
pauper asylum1837
great house1838
union1839
big house1851
spiniken1859
spike1866
lump1874
1866 Temple Bar XVII. 184 Let the ‘spikes’ be what they may they were a great deal better than the ‘paddingkens’.
1894 D. C. Murray Making of Novelist 107 To sleep in the workhouse is to go ‘on the spike’.
1900 ‘J. Flynt’ Tramping with Tramps (U.K. ed.) 260 The next two nights of our stay..were spent in the Notting Hill casual ward, or ‘spike’, as it is called in tramp parlance.
1903 J. London People of Abyss viii. 78 On asking him what the ‘spike’ was, he answered, ‘The casual ward. It's a cant word.’
1933 ‘G. Orwell’ Down & Out xxvi. 189 D'you come out o' one o' de London spikes (casual wards), eh?
1949 C. Graves Ireland Revisited viii. 125 At first we did not understand thieves' slang, or that a ‘spike’ meant a workhouse. (We were told to avoid the Portsmouth ‘spike’.)
1972 Times 27 Dec. 2/8 ‘If this place was not here,’ a proud articulate Glaswegian ‘dosser’ said, ‘we'd be on the road or in the reception centre, the spike. I have been in the spike for the past 11 months.’
1980 Guardian 2 Oct. 18/1 A generation ago there were half a dozen lodging houses in the town..as well as the ‘spike’ or casual ward of the workhouse.
Compounds
C1. General attributive.
a. With the sense ‘resembling or formed like a spike’, as spike bit, spike bowsprit, spike gimlet, spike rod.
ΚΠ
1766 Museum Rusticum 6 392 A hole made with a spike gimblet.
1815 ‘J. Mathers’ Hist. Mr. John Decastro & Brother Bat I. 109 The man who had a spike bit in his hand, and would have forced the door.
1856 J. C. Morton Cycl. Agric. (new ed.) II. (Gloss.) 721/2 Rods of hazel, &c., split and twisted for use by the thatcher (spike rods).
1895 Daily News 19 June 3/2 With nothing standing but her spike bowsprit, which was painted white.
b. With the sense ‘provided or furnished with spikes’, as spike-roller, spike-wheel.
ΚΠ
1799 A. Young Gen. View Agric. County Lincoln 74 A capital spike-roller, which cost £40.
1805 R. W. Dickson Pract. Agric. I. 27 It is, perhaps, a more efficient implement than the spike-roller.
1875 E. H. Knight Amer. Mech. Dict. III. 2267/2 Spike-wheel Propeller.
c. Miscellaneous.Also spike-drawer, spike-extractor (Knight, 1875).
(a)
spike-hole n.
ΚΠ
1691 T. Hale Acct. New Inventions 45 They were forced to..spile the Spike-holes.
(b)
spike-heeled adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > footwear > shoe or boot > [adjective] > with heel > with specific type of heel
corked1519
high-heeled1618
high heel1677
red-heeled1709
low-heel1712
stilt-heeled1772
court1903
wedge-heeled1939
Cuban-heeled1940
spike-heeled1953
stiletto-heeled1959
1953 D. Dodge To catch Thief i. 11 She was dressed for the evening; a long gown, fragile, spike-heeled slippers, a fur wrap.
1981 A. Lurie Lang. of Costume iv. 106 French-speaking Canadians..negotiating the icy snow-heaped streets..in nyloned legs and spike-heeled boots.
spike-helmeted adj.
ΚΠ
1916 R. Graves Goliath & David 6 And look, spike-helmeted, grey, grim, Goliath straddles over him.
spike-horned adj.
ΚΠ
1890 W. P. Lett in Shields Big Game N. Amer. 84 There is a difference..between the branching and spike-horned Deer.
spike-leaved adj.
ΚΠ
1864 G. P. Marsh Man & Nature 109 Dead trees, especially of the spikeleaved kinds,..are often allowed to stand until they fall of themselves.
spike-like adj.
ΚΠ
1896 Pop. Sci. Jrnl. 50 207 It was chipped..with a spike-like stone implement.
spike-tailed adj.
ΚΠ
1870 North Alabamian (Tuscaloosa, Alabama) 12 Jan. 1/2 ‘Who's that gentleman, my little man?’ was asked of an urchin. ‘That one with the spike-tailed coat?’
1884 Harper's Mag. Sept. 514/2 You needn't worry about any spike-tailed coat or clerical tie.
1891 Cent. Dict. (at cited word) Spike-tailed grouse, the sharp-tailed..or pin-tailed grouse.
(c)
spike-wise adv.
ΚΠ
1850 R. Browning Christmas-eve ii. 8 I sent my elbow spikewise At the shutting door, and entered likewise.
1865 G. MacDonald Alec Forbes II. v. 30 They were kept upright..by the constant application, ‘spikewise’, of the paternal elbow.
C2. Special combinations. † spike-park n. slang Obsolete the grounds of a prison.† spike-ring n. Obsolete (?).† spike-shot n. Obsolete cannon-shot having projecting spikes.
spike-buck n. U.S. a buck in its first year.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > group Ruminantia (sheep, goats, cows, etc.) > male > [noun] > in its first year
spike-buck1860
spike-horn1869
spiked buck1897
spiker1924
1860 M. Reid Hunters' Feast (new ed.) xxiii In the first year they grow in the shape of two short straight spikes; hence the name ‘spike-bucks’ given to the animals of that age.
1897 Outing 30 330 A tidy spike-buck splashed through a shallow.
spike-disease n. a disease affecting the leaves of certain plants and trees.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > disease or injury > [noun] > type of disease > fungal > various diseases
footrot1706
botrytis1751
leaf spot1846
winter rot1857
leaf blotch1860
downy mildew1886
sun scald1896
Septoria1897
spike-disease1906
fusarium rot1907
hadromycosis1916
verticillium wilt1916
wilt1916
die-off1918
rhynchosporium1918
shoestring rot1931
vascular wilt (disease)1946
1906 Athenæum 24 Nov. 661/3 A suitable reward to any one who can discover the cause of spike disease in sandal trees.
spike-fiddle n. Music = rebab n.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > musical instrument > stringed instruments > bowable instrument > [noun] > other bowable instruments
monochorda1450
tympan?a1475
rebab1671
ravanastron1788
vihuela1832
sarinda1851
sarod1867
arpeggione1879
quinton1889
surbahar1896
dilruba1921
esraj1921
spike-fiddle1940
1940 C. Sachs Hist. Musical Instrum. (1942) xii. 242 Most Islamic instruments..have no place in art music, with the exception of the Persian spike fiddle (called rabâb or kamânǵa a‘ǵûz in the Near East)... Malay fiddles, which have preserved the old Persian name in the form rebab, are much simpler.
1974 Schacht & Bosworth Legacy of Islam (ed. 2) x. 500 Al-Fārābī also provides the first description of a bowed instrument, the rabāb. This was later known in two forms, one with a separate neck, the other a spike-fiddle with a hemispherical sound-chest.
Categories »
spike-fish n. U.S. the sailfish ( Histiophorus americanus).
spike heel n. a fashionable narrow high heel of a woman's shoe, tapering towards a point (cf. stiletto heel n. at stiletto n. Compounds 3); hence, a spike-heeled shoe.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > footwear > parts of footwear > [noun] > heel > types of
heelc1400
cork1609
Polonia heel1613
high heel1645
French heel1651
spur box1862
rubber heel1867
boot-heel1870
Louis Quinze1875
Louis heel1906
Cuban heel1908
brogue heel1927
spike heel1929
stiletto heel1931
wedge-heel1939
stiletto1953
wedge1959
stacked heel1960
stilt heel1973
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > footwear > shoe or boot > shoe > [noun] > types of > with specific heels > high heels
high shoe1606
heels1667
court shoe1885
spike heel1929
stiletto heel1931
wedge-heel1939
wedge shoe1939
wedge sole1939
wedgie1940
court1959
wedge1959
pump1967
stilt heel1973
Manolo Blahnik1988
1929 D. L. Moore Pandora's Let. Box xi. 205 The ‘spike’ heel now popular is disgustingly difficult to balance on.
1950 ‘S. Ransome’ Deadly Miss Ashley xi. 136 A pair of sandals..featured spike heels decorated with brilliants.
1971 D. C. Brown Yukon Trophy Trails ii. 31 I wanted to live in a log cabin, shoot my own steaks and never wear another pair of spike heels.
spike-horn n. (a) a deer's horn in the form of a spike; (b) a spike-buck (so spike-horn buck).
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > group Ruminantia (sheep, goats, cows, etc.) > male > [noun] > in its first year
spike-buck1860
spike-horn1869
spiked buck1897
spiker1924
the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > group Ruminantia (sheep, goats, cows, etc.) > male > [noun] > body and parts > antler > straight and unbranched
dagger1600
pricket1775
upright1856
dag1859
spike-horn1869
switch-horn1880
1869 Amer. Naturalist 3 552 The spike-horn differs greatly from the common antler of the Cervus Virginianus.
1869 Amer. Naturalist 3 553 The first spike-horn buck was merely an accidental freak of nature.
1897 Outing 29 439 So the gamey spikehorn turned to bay.
spike-machine n. (see quot. 1851).
ΚΠ
1851 Official Descriptive & Illustr. Catal. Great Exhib. V. 1468/2 A spike machine. This machine is for the purpose of making wrought spikes.
spike-maul n. a mallet for driving in spikes.
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society > occupation and work > equipment > driving or beating tools > [noun] > mallet > types of
tunning mell1362
dresser1688
spike-maul1886
1886 Pall Mall Gaz. 16 June 14/1 Two squads, the one armed with claw bars, the other with spike mauls.
spike microphone n. (see quot. 1962).
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > audibility > sound magnification or reproduction > [noun] > microphone
carbon transmitter1878
microphone1878
carbon microphone1879
pantelephone1881
phonoscope1890
mike1911
condenser microphone1921
magnetophone1922
radio microphone1922
ionophone1924
crystal microphone1925
ribbon microphone1925
radio mike1926
laryngophone1927
velocity microphone1931
ribbon mike1933
pressure microphone1934
bug1936
eight ball1937
ribbon1937
throat microphone1937
throat mike1937
rifle microphone1938
parabolic microphone1939
lip microphone1941
intercept1942
spike mike1950
spy-mike1955
spy-microphone1960
mic1961
rifle mike1961
gun microphone1962
spike microphone1962
shotgun microphone1968
Lavallière1972
wire1973
sneaky1974
multi-mikes1990
1962 Symposia of Zool. Soc. VII. 8 There is also the ‘spike’ microphone, which is extremely small, and can be driven through hard material to record sounds in an inner chamber.
1966 Economist 3 Dec. 1029/2 Though there is no federal law against bugging or wire-tapping per se, the Supreme Court held that the spike microphone driven through the wall of Mr Black's hotel room constituted physical trespass.
spike mike n. colloquial = spike microphone n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > audibility > sound magnification or reproduction > [noun] > microphone
carbon transmitter1878
microphone1878
carbon microphone1879
pantelephone1881
phonoscope1890
mike1911
condenser microphone1921
magnetophone1922
radio microphone1922
ionophone1924
crystal microphone1925
ribbon microphone1925
radio mike1926
laryngophone1927
velocity microphone1931
ribbon mike1933
pressure microphone1934
bug1936
eight ball1937
ribbon1937
throat microphone1937
throat mike1937
rifle microphone1938
parabolic microphone1939
lip microphone1941
intercept1942
spike mike1950
spy-mike1955
spy-microphone1960
mic1961
rifle mike1961
gun microphone1962
spike microphone1962
shotgun microphone1968
Lavallière1972
wire1973
sneaky1974
multi-mikes1990
1950 Washington Post 20 Mar. d1/4 Police had slipped the ‘spike mike’ into a wall common to the adjoining premises.
1973 ‘D. Halliday’ Dolly & Starry Bird xvi. 248 No one in sneakers with spike mikes and tapes and transmitters?
spike-nose n. U.S. (see quot.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > fish > superorder Acanthopterygii (spiny fins) > order Perciformes (perches) > family Percidae (perches) > [noun] > genus Stizostedion (pike-perches) > stizostedion vitreum (wall-eye)
pickerel1709
jack salmon1850
wall-eyed pike1869
walleye1888
spike-nose1891
blow-fish1893
1891 Cent. Dict. Spike-nose, the pike-perch, or wall-eyed pike, Stizostedion vitreum.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > punishment > imprisonment > prison > [noun] > grounds of prison
spike-park1837
1837 C. Dickens Pickwick Papers xli. 454 No danger of over-walking yourself here—spike park—grounds pretty—romantic, but not extensive.
spike-pole n. dialect (see quot. 1841); also, a pole fitted with a spike.
ΚΠ
1841 C. H. Hartshorne Salopia Antiqua Gloss. Spike-pole, a rafter eight feet long, bound with iron at its end,..used in ‘tying’ dangerous places in the roof of a pit.
a1862 H. D. Thoreau Maine Woods (1864) i. 43 He uses..a long spike-pole, with a screw at the end of the spike to make it hold.
ΚΠ
1597 in W. Greenwell Wills & Inventories Registry Durham (1860) II. 267 One spike-ringe, j paire of goulde weights, and an oulde halbarte.
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society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > missile > ammunition for firearms > [noun] > bullet or shot collectively > shot > of large guns
fricasseec1575
murdering shot1583
chain-shota1586
crossbar1589
cross-bar shot1591
case shot1599
langrel1627
trundle-shot1627
partridge1635
chain-bullet1636
pelican1639
case1642
spike-shota1661
double-head1678
double-headed shot1678
partridge-shot1683
grape1687
burrel-shot1706
double1707
angel-shot1730
grapeshot1747
star shot1753
bar-shot1756
langrage1769
canister1801
stang-ball1802
chain1804
canister-shot1809
tier-shot1828
pot-leg1852
six-pounder1855
shunt shot1864
sand-shot1867
mitraille1868
a1661 T. Fuller Worthies (1662) Kent 61 They have Round- double- head- Bur- spike- Crow- Bar- Case- Chain shot.
spike-tail n. U.S. a dress-coat.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > clothing for body or trunk (and limbs) > [noun] > coat > types of > dress-coat
body coat1697
dress coat1749
spike-tail1894
1894 W. D. Howells Traveller from Altruria 139 He says he isn't dressed for dinner; left his spike-tail in the city.
spike-team n. U.S. (see quots.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > domestic animal > [noun] > work animals > draught animal > team of
teamOE
yokeOE
draught?1523
teamware1567
plough team1726
work team1809
span1812
farm team1818
spike-team1848
1848 J. R. Bartlett Dict. Americanisms Spike Team, a waggon drawn by three horses, or by two oxen and a horse, the latter leading the oxen or span of horses.
1890 L. C. D'Oyle Notches Rough Edge Life 178 I got there with a loaded waggon, and a ‘spike’ team—three mules.
Draft additions 1993
(a) Any sharp narrow peak on a graph representing the sudden rapid increase of some parameter to a high level immediately followed by a rapid decrease; also used of an event, brief period of activity, etc., such as might be so represented.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > number > graph or diagram > [noun] > graph > part of
peak1785
flatline1867
tail1895
upper bound1917
valley1935
trough1938
skirt1940
shoulder1956
spike1961
1961 in N. Webster
1970 O. Sacks Migraine x. 205 It has been impossible to define any EEG abnormality which bears a specific relation to migraine, as wave-and-spike patterns do to epilepsy.
1978 Nature 11 May 141/1 A series of brief episodes of relatively heavy influx of tree pollen (‘spikes’), separated by longer intervals with little or no exotic pollen.
1988 New Yorker 26 Oct. 70/2 The five-minute spike of greatest downpour occurred at about one-thirty.
(b) Commerce. A sudden rapid increase, esp. of prices.
ΚΠ
1982 Times 6 Sept. 13/7 Technology issues were joined by the big oil companies in the upward spike of prices.
1983 W. Safire in N.Y. Times Mag. 10 Apr. 16 As a noun, spike now figures prominently in the lingo of economists. It has replaced peak in discussions of lofty upthrusts on charts.
1988 Sunday Times 10 Apr. d1/2 Many analysts believe that an upward ‘spike’ into the range of DM3.15 to DM3.20 is quite possible.
Draft additions 1993
Volleyball. An act or instance of spiking the ball. See spike v.1 Additions a.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > handball, etc. > [noun] > volleyball > act or instance of spiking ball
spike1934
1933 R. E. Laveaga Volley Ball vi. 97 The second method or the running spike attack is essential.]
1934 Official Volleyball Rules 69 Three men on the Texas team would jump in a group to block the spike.
1953 C. M. Emery Mod. Volleyball iii. 29 The spike should be made as the body reaches to maximum height.
1964 Volleyball (‘Know the Game’ Ser.) (ed. 2) 20/1 The counter to the ‘smash’ or ‘spike’ is the ‘block’.
1978 G. Wright Illustr. Handbk. Sporting Terms 67/3 Because of the net's height, the player making the spike is invariably in mid-air.
1989 Times 24 Nov. 44/3 Only those in the front box may ‘block’ at the net an opponent's ‘spike’ with hands raised above the net.
Draft additions 1993
A segment of hair shaped artificially into an upright point on the head, as part of a distinctive hairstyle (usually in plural); a hairstyle characterized by these.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > beautification of the person > beautification of the hair > styles of hair > [noun] > lock of hair worn in a specific style
sidelock1530
glib1537
cow-lick1598
soap-lock1840
Newgate knocker1851
quiff1890
comb-over1980
spike1981
1981 Washington Post 22 Jan. dc1/4 (caption) The punk look includes leather jackets and hair combed into spikes.
1983 Times 5 July 8/8 Gels can be used on damp or dry hair for slicked-back styles, sleek bobs and spikes.
1983 Harpers & Queen Aug. 70/3 The Inn Place... Packed with quiffs, spikes and non-stop dancers.
1987 Sunday Sun (Brisbane) 1 Mar. (TV Suppl.) 9/1 Johnson..sported a new haircut when he returned—a sort of spike.
Draft additions July 2020
spike protein n. Virology (a) (more fully tail spike protein) a protein forming part of the tail of a bacteriophage; (b) (in various human and animal viruses) a glycoprotein projecting from the envelope which binds to a receptor on the host cell and facilitates entry of the viral genome into the host cell.
ΚΠ
1959 C. Lamanna & M. F. Mallette Basic Bacteriol. (ed. 2) xii. 566 Four distinct proteins have been detected: Head protein, proximal tail protein, spike protein, and distal tail protein.
1968 Progress Nucleic Acid Res. & Molecular Biol. 8 132 Analysis of the proteins of this particle reveals that one of the spike proteins..is missing.
1993 B. A. Chrunyk et al. in J. L. Cleland Protein Folding iv. 47 At permissive temperatures..the mutant tail spike proteins both folded and assembled properly in vivo.
2003 Wall St. Jrnl. 12 May b2/6 In their report, they documented mutations in the spike protein, a key surface molecule that allows coronaviruses to invade cells.
2020 S. K. Saxena et al. in S. K. Saxena Coronavirus Dis. 2019 (COVID-19) i. 3 Studies have demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 spike protein has higher affinity to the ACE2 receptor as compared with SARS.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1914; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
† spiken.3
Obsolete.
= spike-hole n.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > defence > defensive work(s) > defensive walls > [noun] > battlements > embrasure
kernel?c1225
cornelc1300
carnelc1320
cornerc1400
vent1429
loop1477
crenel1481
gun-hole1532
spike1577
cannonery1598
spike-hole1598
casemate1611
porthole1637
skitegate1677
embrasure1702
crenelet1860
port1946
1577 R. Stanyhurst Hist. Irelande iii. 95/1 in R. Holinshed Chron. I Hee perceyued one of the enimies, leueling at the windowe or spike at which he stoode.
1633 T. Stafford Pacata Hibernia i. ix. 64 Where from out of a Spike, they slewe foure of our men.
1633 T. Stafford Pacata Hibernia iii. viii. 317 A spike or window that..commands that part of the barbicon of the Castle.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1914; most recently modified version published online March 2021).
spiken.4
slang.
An Anglican who advocates or practises Anglo-Catholic ritual and observances.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > worship > observance, ritual > rule, rubric > [noun] > conformity to > slavish > person characterized by
formalist1609
ritualist1625
ceremonialist1682
rubrician?1734
formalizer1742
rubricist1843
Rit1868
externalist1879
spike1902
1902 Church Times 14 Mar. 320/2 A priest is wanted for this parish. A hard-working Catholic. Not a ‘spike’.
1914 J. W. Legg Eng. Ch. Life 159 It would seem that there were spikes (as Dr. Bright of Christ-church used to call them) in 1768.
1922 E. Raymond Tell Eng. ii. iii. 204 My altar has generally been two ration boxes, marked ‘Unsweetened Milk’, but the spike has surrounded it. And look here.., the spike knows how to die. He just asks for his absolution and his last sacrament, and—and dies.
1930 D. L. Sayers & ‘R. Eustace’ Documents in Case i. 37 He turned out to be an earnest and cultivated middle-aged spike from Keble.
1952 R. Macaulay Let. 23 May (1961) 318 Is she one who would be shocked at seeing communicants at High Mass? There have always been those there, I gather; and ‘spikes’ don't like it.
1963 C. Mackenzie My Life & Times II. 203 In that summer of 1897 Sandys Wason was still a deacon... It was he who started using ‘spike’ for an extremist... One can still be spiked up; one can still talk of spikiness, and in Anglican circles be understood.
1980 A. N. Wilson Healing Art iv. 47 There were several other effigies of famous spikes, including the legendary Father Tooth.
Derivatives
spike v.2 transitive with up: to make (more) ‘spiky’ or High Church; to enliven with ritual.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > worship > observance, ritual > rule, rubric > bring under ritualism [verb (transitive)]
directorize1651
formalize1855
ceremonialize1858
ritualize1909
spike1923
1923 C. Mackenzie Parson's Progress xvi. 214 Was it really worth while trying to spike up the Rector and his services and his flock?
1958 B. Pym Glass of Blessings iii. 48 A new vicar trying to spike things up a bit.
1972 C. Stephenson Merrily on High ii. 35 I was encouraged by the high church ladies who would listen with amusement and interest to my plans for ‘spiking’ up the church.
ˈspikery n. ‘spiky’ character or behaviour.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > worship > observance, ritual > rule, rubric > [noun] > conformity to > slavish
formalizinga1656
externalness1667
rituality1679
externality1833
ritualism1838
rubricism1840
ecclesiolatry1847
ceremonialism1854
externalism1856
formalism1856
exterioritya1875
liturgism1926
spikery1965
1965 C. P. Pocknee Dearmer's Parson's Handbk. (ed. 13) vii. 85 There is no ancient authority for the custom of sitting for the psalms. This is a slovenly piece of modern ‘spikery’.
1980 A. N. Wilson Healing Art ix. 110 For all her spikery, there would always be a part of herself which found it impossible to shake off the freedoms of scepticism.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1933; most recently modified version published online September 2018).
spikev.1
/spʌɪk/, U.S. /spaɪk/ 1. transitive. With up:† b. spec. = sense 2. Obsolete.† c. spec. (See quot. 1704) Obsolete. rare.Apparently only attested in dictionaries or glossaries.
a. To fasten or close firmly with spikes or strong nails.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > industry > working with tools or equipment > fastening > fasten [verb (transitive)] > with nails > with specific type
spike1624
treenail1626
spike1700
sprig1712
brad1794
clinker1824
thumbtack1884
toe-nail1900
1624 J. Smith Gen. Hist. Virginia v. 198 He went to seeke for a wracke they reported lay vnder water with her hatches spiked vp.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > operation and use of weapons > putting weapons or equipment out of action > put weapons or equipment out of action [verb (transitive)] > silence a gun > by spiking
clowa1522
peg1551
to nail up1562
cloy1577
nail1598
spick1623
spike1644
wedge1680
spike1687
1644 W. Prynne & C. Walker True Relation Prosecution N. Fiennes App. 34 Where~upon himselfe, and one Harris,..did spike up the touch~holes of their Canons to make them unservisable to the enemy.
1672 J. Lacey tr. A. Tacquet Mil. Archit. xxiv. 50 in T. Venn Mil. & Maritine Discipline ii If they cannot carry away their Guns, they must spike them up, by driving Nails in their Touch-holes.
1747 Gentleman's Mag. July 308/2 We spiked up 15 field pieces which we could not get off.
1799 Hull Advertiser 7 Sept. 1/4 Helder Point was last night evacuated and the guns in it spiked up.
ΚΠ
1704 J. Harris Lexicon Technicum I Spiking up the Ordnance, is fastning a Coin or Quoin with Spikes to the Deck, close to the Breech of the Carriages of the Great Guns, that they may keep close and firm to the Ship-sides and not break loose when the Ship Rolls.
d. To set up as on a spike.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > high position > set in a high position [verb (transitive)]
to set upc1290
mountc1300
erect1552
hoise1581
perch1648
pinnacle1656
spike1743
imperch1786
1743 E. Young Complaint: Night the Fourth 44 They..Spike up their Inch of Reason, on the Point Of Philosophic Wit, call'd Argument.
2. To render (a gun) unserviceable by driving a spike into the touch-hole; also, to block or fill up (the touch-hole) with a spike. (Cf. 1b.) Also figurative, esp. in to spike (some)one's guns.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > difficulty > hindrance > hindering completely or preventing > hinder completely or prevent [verb (transitive)] > check (in) a course of action
stanchc1315
arrestc1374
checka1400
stem?c1450
stay1525
to take up1530
rebate1532
suspend1565
nip1575
countercheck1590
to nip in the bud1590
to clip the wings ofa1593
to nip in (also by, on) the head (also neck, pate)1594
trasha1616
to scotch the wheels of1648
spike1687
spoke1854
to pull up1861
society > armed hostility > military equipment > operation and use of weapons > putting weapons or equipment out of action > put weapons or equipment out of action [verb (transitive)] > silence a gun > by spiking
clowa1522
peg1551
to nail up1562
cloy1577
nail1598
spick1623
spike1644
wedge1680
spike1687
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > uselessness > be useless for [verb (transitive)] > make useless > make unserviceable
spike1871
throw1902
spike-bozzle1915
1687 London Gaz. No. 2270/5 Captain Archburnett..made himself Master of their Guns, which he ordered to be dismounted and spiked.
1700 P. Rycaut Hist. Turks 150/1 In one of which [sallies] they spiked or nailed three Pieces of Cannon.
1706 Phillips's New World of Words (new ed.) (at cited word) Among Mariners, the Touch-hole of a Gun is said To be spiked, when Nails are purposely driven into it, so that no Use can be made of that Gun by an Enemy.
1778 R. Orme Hist. Mil. Trans. Brit. Nation II. 62 Ensign Pischard..seized and spiked the four pieces of cannon.
1811 Duke of Wellington Dispatches (1837) VII. 269 Unfortunately the guns in the battery were not spiked, or otherwise destroyed or injured.
1848 Exchequer Rep. II. 174 The defendant.. spiked the guns, and placed sentinels at the doors.
3. To fix or secure by means of long nails or spikes. Chiefly with prepositions, as on, to.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > industry > working with tools or equipment > fastening > fasten [verb (transitive)] > with nails > with specific type
spike1624
treenail1626
spike1700
sprig1712
brad1794
clinker1824
thumbtack1884
toe-nail1900
1700 Moxon's Mech. Exercises: Bricklayers-wks. 18 Pin'd or spiked down to the pieces of Oak on which they lye.
1700 Moxon's Mech. Exercises: Bricklayers-wks. 18 [To] spike or pinn the Planks to them.
1776 G. Semple Treat. Building in Water 102 Scantling of the same Size..will answer effectually, by pinning and spiking the Grooves on the corner Pile.
1823 P. Nicholson New Pract. Builder 120 By spiking or bolting each piece [of timber] on both sides of the joint.
1833 J. C. Loudon Encycl. Cottage Archit. §83 Ceiling joists, joggled on,..and spiked..at each end, to the top of the plate.
1875 R. F. Martin tr. J. Havrez On Recent Improvem. Winding Machinery 6 Four vertical 3-in. planks are spiked into the joints of the lining of the pit.
4.
a. To make sharp like a spike. rare.Apparently only attested in dictionaries or glossaries.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > shape > fact or condition of tapering > condition of tapering to a point > make pointed [verb (transitive)]
thorn1483
acuminate1611
cuspidate1623
spiculate1623
spike1688
1688 G. Miege Great French Dict. ii. sig. Rrr4/1 To Spike, faire pointu; encloüer.
1736 R. Ainsworth Thes. Linguæ Latinæ I. (at cited word) To spike, or make sharp at the end, spico, spiculo.
b. To provide, fit, or stud with spikes.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > shape > unevenness > projection or prominence > sharp unevenness > project sharply from [verb (transitive)] > furnish with (a) sharp projection(s)
tooth1483
tang1566
spike1716
jag1748
teethe1775
prong1874
1716 M. Davies Athenæ Britannicæ II. 139 Too much also of our English Prose is spik'd over with keen Cynicks.
1777 Sir A. Campbell in C. H. Walcott Life (1898) 32 I am lodged in a dungeon..doubly planked and spiked on every side.
1847 Ld. Tennyson Princess iv. 74 His brows Had sprouted, and the branches..grimly spiked the gates.
1850 ‘Bat’ Cricketer's Man. (rev. ed.) 50 It is a good plan to have those shoes spiked which have been worn.
5. 1837 J. L. Williams Territory of Florida 42 The inhabitants of the keys are generally adepts in the art of spiking them [sc. turtles].1840 R. H. Barham Spectre of Tappington in Ingoldsby Legends 1st Ser. 11 Charles drank his coffee and spiked some half-dozen eggs.1884 R. Browning Ferishtah's Fancies 122 When cold from over-mounts spikes through and through Blood, bone and marrow.
a. To pierce with, or as with, a spike. Also reflexive.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > condition of being open or not closed > making holes or becoming holed > make holes in [verb (reflexive)] > pierce with something sharp
rivec1330
spike1687
the world > space > relative position > condition of being open or not closed > making holes or becoming holed > make (an opening or hole) [verb (transitive)] > make an opening or hole in or into > bore, pierce, or perforate > with something sharp-pointed
shearOE
sting993
stickOE
spita1225
wound?c1225
stitchc1230
pitcha1275
threstc1275
forprick1297
steekc1300
piercec1325
rivec1330
dag?a1400
jag?a1400
lancec1400
pickc1400
tamec1400
forpierce1413
punch1440
launch1460
thringc1485
empiercec1487
to-pierce1488
joba1500
ding1529
stob?1530
probe1542
enthrill1563
inthirlc1580
cloy1590
burt1597
pink1597
lancinate1603
perterebrate1623
puncture1675
spike1687
skiver1832
bepierce1840
gimlet1841
prong1848
javelin1859
1687 G. Miege Great French Dict. ii. sig. Rrr4/1 To spike himself, or fall upon spikes, tomber sur des pointes de fer.
b. spec. In certain sports, to injure (another player or competitor) by means of spiked shoes.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > injury > injure [verb (transitive)] > wound > pierce > with spiked shoes
spike1867
1867 Athlete for 1866 13 Lord Jersey, a good third, not~withstanding having been accidentally spiked by one of the competitors.
1886 G. B. Shaw Cashel Byron's Profession (1901) 197 ‘What does spiking mean?’ said Lydia. ‘Treading on a man's foot with spiked boots,’ replied Lord Worthington.
c. To lace (a drink) with alcohol; to fortify (beer, etc.) by the addition of spirits. Also transferred. slang (originally U.S.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > drink > preparation of drinks > [verb (transitive)] > add dash of spirits
lace1685
brandy1835
spike1889
1889 L. Pendleton In Wiregrass xviii. 201 Water from biled hops an' poke root, an' 's sweetened wi' 'lasses and spiked wi' good strong whiskey.
1900 Dial. Notes 2 63 Spike, to fortify a drink by adding wine or spirits.
1915 Dial. Notes 4 229 Spike, to flavor with wine or whiskey, as ‘She spikes her cakes.’
1941 J. Smiley Hash House Lingo 52 Spike, (bar) add liquor to a drink.
1952 B. Malamud Natural 24 A crushed cocoanut [sic] drink which he privately spiked with a shot from a new bottle.
1962 Sunday Times 14 Oct. (Colour Suppl.) 24/1 Spike a béchamel sauce with Parmesan cheese.
1980 G. Thompson Murder Myst. (1981) xxii. 175 She made tea, which he spiked with bourbon.
d. Of a newspaper editor: to reject (a story or part of one) as by filing it on a spike (spike n.2 2k).
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > journalism > editing > edit [verb (transitive)] > reject a story
kill1865
spike1908
1908 A. S. M. Hutchinson Once aboard Lugger v. vii. 263 Tiny little scrap of news..copied out a dozen times by Mr. Issy Jago and left..at the offices of as many newspapers. Seven sub-editors ‘spiked’ it, [etc.].
1940 W. P. Crozier Jrnl. 9 Dec. in D. Ayerst Guardian (1971) xxxiv. 539 E.A.M. disgruntled because I spiked pars (for London letter) on last night's bombing.
1950 C. M. Kornbluth in Astounding Sci. Fiction July 150/2 The M[anaging] E[ditor]..decided nobody would believe it. He spiked the story on the ‘dead’ hook.
1961 ‘B. Wells’ Day Earth caught Fire vii. 115 This is the newsroom, the place where all the best stories are spiked.
1978 L. Heren Growing up on The Times viii. 283 I discovered that my story had been spiked. It was the first and only time the paper had questioned my judgment, and I felt badly about it.
e. intransitive. To inject another or (for reflexive) oneself with an intoxicating drug. Also transitive and figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > use of drugs and poison > drugging a person or thing > drug [verb (intransitive)]
spike1935
hit1953
1935 N. Ersine Underworld & Prison Slang 69 Spike, to take a shot of dope. ‘He spiked about an hour ago.’
1971 J. Mandelkau Buttons v. 68 Almost immediately I was spiked with wine and acid.
1973 T. Pynchon Gravity's Rainbow i. 47 Kevin Spectro will take his syringe and spike away a dozen times tonight..to sedate Fox (his generic term for any patient).
1974 Guardian 28 Jan. 11/5 The addicts..'ll sometime try and spike you, try and get you mainlining too.
1977 ‘J. le Carré’ Honourable Schoolboy ii. 46 The girl..alone and spiked with tiredness.
f. To enrich (a nuclear reactor or its fuel) with a particular isotope; to add a small proportion of some distinctive material to.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > atomic nucleus > nuclear fission > nuclear fuel > enrich (reactor or fuel) [verb (transitive)]
spike1956
the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > condition or state of being mixed or blended > mix or blend [verb (transitive)] > add as ingredient to a mixture > qualify by admixture > to a slight degree
hue1576
salt1576
season1604
taint1605
tinct1616
tincture1636
tinge1690
spike1956
1956 Ann. Rev. Nucl. Sci. 6 330 A natural uranium power reactor of this size might not become critical, so that the reactor will be ‘spiked’ with a few enriched elements.
1959 F. G. Foote in Hausner & Schumar Nucl. Fuel Elements v. 78 The uranium can be spiked with either plutonium or U233.
1971 New Scientist 13 May 386/2 Early work in Britain on spiking enriched uranium with plutonium as a possible fuel for Advanced Gas-cooled Reactors.
1974 Nature 1 Feb. 310/2 The homogenised mixture was spiked with a known volume of a solution containing 1 μg ml−1 of the N-nitroso compound.
1976 Lancet 4 Dec. 1223/1 Concentrations were measured against cadmium standards..prepared from blood spiked with cadmium chloride standard solution.
1977 Rolling Stone 13 Jan. 31/2 Silkwood had slipped a vial of plutonium into her vagina or rectum, then used a syringe to spike her samples at home.
6. To drive away with or as with spikes.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > causing to go away > command to go away [verb (transitive)] > drive away > with or as with spikes
spike1879
1879 ‘G. Eliot’ Theophrastus Such xviii. 346 To urge on that account that we should spike away the peaceful foreigner.
7. intransitive. To rise in a spike; to protrude angularly.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > shape > unevenness > projection or prominence > sharp unevenness > project as sharp prominence [verb (intransitive)]
beaka1549
point1612
tongue1856
pierce1872
spike1958
1958 Listener 18 Sept. 418/2 High mounds of rubble and tangled, bombed machinery which spiked into the air like the legs of dead animals.
1975 N. Nicholson Wednesday Early Closing i. 21 St. George's steeple spikes up against the sky, graceful as a larch tree and bold as Blackpool Tower.
Draft additions 1993
To plant a concealed microphone in (a place); to bug, esp. with a spike microphone. Also in extended use. slang.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > hear [verb (transitive)] > listen to > eavesdrop > by microphone
bug1955
spike1974
1974 ‘J. le Carré’ Tinker, Tailor xvii. 145 Clear a foreign letter box, prime a safe house, watch someone's back, spike an embassy... You might think he was acting on instructions from the fifth floor.
1974 ‘J. le Carré’ Tinker, Tailor xxi. 172 A one-time operation to spike a pair of Belgian arms dealers.
1982 Verbatim Spring 2/2 Spike, to tap a telephone, open mail, plant a microphone.
1983 D. Gethin Wyatt vi. 38 Quittenden's plumbers..were the crack team who could spike a high security building in under an hour.
1984 Christian Sci. Monitor 27 Apr. 32/1 Police..spiked the walls of the besieged building with microphones.
Draft additions 1993
a. Volleyball. To strike (the ball) sharply downward into the opposing court, at a speed and angle which makes return difficult. Also intransitive.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > handball, etc. > play handball, etc. [verb (transitive)] > strike ball sharply downwards in volleyball
spike1922
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > handball, etc. > engage in handball, etc. [verb (intransitive)] > strike ball sharply downwards in volleyball
spike1964
1922 Official Volley Ball Rules 18 A player may not ‘spike’ or ‘kill’ the ball when he is playing a back position.
1964 Volleyball (‘Know the Game’ Ser.) (ed. 2) 29 ‘Rotation’ drills are very useful in volleyball... A sets the ball up, B spikes, C retrieves, then sets, A spikes, B retrieves, and so on.
1989 Times 24 Nov. 44/1 Noel Despaigne..strikes the ball downwards—or spikes it in the parlance of the game—from a height of about 11 feet at something approaching 100mph.
b. American Football. To throw (the ball) down hard on its end, causing it to bounce up spectacularly, esp. in triumph after scoring a touchdown.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > football > American football > play American football [verb (transitive)] > actions to ball
return1884
snap1887
drive1889
centre1895
to turn over1921
convert1932
lateral1932
snag1942
shovel pass1948
bootleg1951
squib1966
to take a (also the) knee1972
spike1976
1976 Webster's Sports Dict. 411/2 Spike,..to throw the ball down hard especially in the end zone after scoring a touchdown.
1977 Washington Post 20 Sept. d5/4 Bryant was given his touchdown too—and a penalty against the Ducks..for spiking the ball in anger when he thought at first he had been denied.
1985 Los Angeles Times 26 Nov. iii. 5/2 Denver tight end Clarence Kay caught a touchdown pass and started to spike the ball, but Rod Martin tipped it out of his hands.
1989 Boston Globe 10 Sept. 77/5 We haven't had a delay-of-game call other than when Ray Alexander spiked the ball.
Draft additions October 2011
a. intransitive. Also with up. Of a temperature, price, etc.: to rise sharply or rapidly; to peak. Hence also with down: to fall sharply. Cf. spike n.2 Additions, spiking adj. 2.
ΚΠ
1898 Dublin Jrnl. Med. Sci. 106 504 After four days' apyrexia the temperature spiked slightly in the evening.
1950 Public Health Rep. (U.S. Public Health Service) 65 969 Temperature spiked up to 104° the first 2 days, then went gradually lower.
1976 J. Farris Fury iv. 32 Her fever had spiked to nearly 106, and she was having difficulty breathing.
1982 Amer. Banker 6 July 16/3 That is assuming that interest rates, even if they were to spike up, would begin to ebb in the second half.
1987 Forbes 13 July 466/1 For months now the Nikkei has spiked down only to go on to hit new highs.
2005 Guardian 24 Sept. (Friday Review section) 22/1 The temperature of the sea water is spiking above the key freeze-point of 28.6°F.
b. transitive. Originally U.S. To show a sudden rise in (body temperature); to experience the rapid onset of (a fever). Chiefly in to spike a fever, to spike a temperature.
ΚΠ
1941 Amer. Jrnl. Surg. 53 507/1 The patient spiked a temperature to 106.8° f. on one occasion, but it fluctuated mainly between 100.0° f. and 103.0° f.
1949 Amer. Jrnl. Surg. 77 227/2 The patient spiked a fever on the twelfth day and shortly thereafter expired.
1988 E. Segal Doctors xxiv. 377 The high fever he spiked may have caused a seizure.
2005 J. W. Houghton Rough Magicke iv. 44 There's a trooper named Shaw in room five who's..spiked a temp of 113.
2010 D. Hamilton Homeopathic Care Cats & Dogs (rev. ed.) xv. 345 This is especially true for cats, as they may spike a fever due to stress upon entering a veterinary clinic.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1914; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
spikev.2
/spʌɪk/, U.S. /spaɪk/ intransitive. Of plants: To form a spike or spikes of flowers. Also with up.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > part of plant > reproductive part(s) > flower or part containing reproductive organs > inflorescence or collective flower > be or have an inflorescence [verb (intransitive)] > form spike
spike1712
1712 Philos. Trans. 1710–12 (Royal Soc.) 27 377 The last and the preceding Summer it spiked very plentifully in Chelsea Garden.
1852 Beck's Florist 234 If a Hollyhock do not ‘spike up’ well..it cannot be called ‘first rate’.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1914; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.11393
n.21345
n.31577
n.41902v.11624v.21712