GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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Found 3 definitions

  1.       
    
    Spike , n. [Akin to LG. spiker, spieker, a large nail, D. spijker, Sw. spik, Dan. spiger, Icel. spīk; all perhaps from L. spica a point, an ear of grain; but in the sense of nail more likely akin to E. spoke of a wheel. Cf. Spine.]
    1. A sort of very large nail; also, a piece of pointed iron set with points upward or outward.
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    2. Anything resembling such a nail in shape.
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      He wears on his head the corona radiata . . . ; the spikes that shoot out represent the rays of the sun.
      Addison.

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    3. An ear of corn or grain.
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    4. (Bot.) A kind of flower cluster in which sessile flowers are arranged on an unbranched elongated axis.
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      Spike grass (Bot.), either of two tall perennial American grasses (Uniola paniculata, and Uniola latifolia) having broad leaves and large flattened spikelets. -- Spike rush. (Bot.) See under Rush. -- Spike shell (Zool.), any pteropod of the genus Styliola having a slender conical shell. -- Spike team, three horses, or a horse and a yoke of oxen, harnessed together, a horse leading the oxen or the span. [U.S.]

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  2.       
    
    Spike, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spiked ; p. pr. & vb. n. Spiking.]
    1. To fasten with spikes, or long, large nails; as, to spike down planks.
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    2. To set or furnish with spikes.
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    3. To fix on a spike. [R.]
      Young.

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    4. To stop the vent of (a gun or cannon) by driving a spike nail, or the like into it.
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  3.       
    
    Spike, n. [Cf. G. spieke, L. spica an ear of grain. See Spikenard.] (Bot.) Spike lavender. See Lavender.
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    Oil of spike (Chem.), a colorless or yellowish aromatic oil extracted from the European broad-leaved lavender, or aspic (Lavendula Spica), used in artist's varnish and in veterinary medicine. It is often adulterated with oil of turpentine, which it much resembles.

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