n. A bar or lever, generally of wood, used in a windlass or capstan, for heaving anchor, and, in modified forms, for various purposes. [ 1913 Webster ]
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. ]
He wears on his head the corona radiata . . . ; the spikes that shoot out represent the rays of the sun. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]
Spike grass (Bot.),
Spike rush. (Bot.)
Spike shell (Zool.),
Spike team,
v. t.
[ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ Cf. G. spieke, L. spica an ear of grain. See Spikenard. ] (Bot.) Spike lavender. See Lavender. [ 1913 Webster ]
Oil of spike (Chem.),
n. (Zool.)
a. Furnished or set with spikes, as corn; fastened with spikes; stopped with spikes. [ 1913 Webster ]
A youth, leaping over the spiked pales, . . . was caught by those spikes. Wiseman. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. (Zool.) See Sailfish
n. (Bot.) A small or secondary spike; especially, one of the ultimate parts of the in florescence of grasses. See Illust. of Quaking grass. [ 1913 Webster ]
n.[ For spiked nard; cf. G. spieknarde, NL. spica nardi. See Spike an ear, and Nard. ]
n. (Zool.) The pintail duck. [ Local, U.S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]
v. t. [ 1st pref. un- + spike. ] To remove a spike from, as from the vent of a cannon. [ 1913 Webster ]