%spik%

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Anything resembling such a nail in shape. [ 1913 Webster ]

He wears on his head the corona radiata . . . ; the spikes that shoot out represent the rays of the sun. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. An ear of corn or grain. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Bot.) A kind of flower cluster in which sessile flowers are arranged on an unbranched elongated axis. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To set or furnish with spikes. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To fix on a spike. [ R. ] Young. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To stop the vent of (a gun or cannon) by driving a spike nail, or the like into it. [ 1913 Webster ]

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n. [ Cf. G. spieke, L. spica an ear of grain. See Spikenard. ] (Bot.) Spike lavender. See Lavender. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) (a) The hooded merganser. (b) The marbled godwit (Limosa fedoa). [ 1913 Webster ]

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 (a) [ 1913 Webster ]

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. ] 1. (Bot.) An aromatic plant. In the United States it is the Aralia racemosa, often called spignet, and used as a medicine. The spikenard of the ancients is the Nardostachys Jatamansi, a native of the Himalayan region. From its blackish roots a perfume for the hair is still prepared in India. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A fragrant essential oil, as that from the Nardostachys Jatamansi. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) The pintail duck. [ Local, U.S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Like a spike; spikelike. [ 1913 Webster ]

These spiky, vivid outbursts of metallic vapors. C. A. Young. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Having a sharp point, or sharp points; furnished or armed with spikes. [ 1913 Webster ]

Or by the spiky harrow cleared away. Dyer. [ 1913 Webster ]

The spiky wheels through heaps of carnage tore. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]