6 definitions found
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Spike \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.
2. To set or furnish with spikes.
3. To fix on a spike. [R.] --Young.
4. To stop the vent of (a gun or cannon) by driving a spike
nail, or the like into it
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Spike \Spike\, n. [Akin to LG spiker, spieker a large nail, D.
spijker Sw spik, Dan. spiger, Icel. sp[=i]k; 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.
2. Anything resembling such a nail in shape.
He wears on his head the corona radiata . . .; the
spikes that shoot out represent the rays of the sun.
--Addison.
3. An ear of corn or grain.
4. (Bot.) A kind of flower cluster in which sessile flowers
are arranged on an unbranched elongated axis.
{Spike grass} (Bot.), either of two tall perennial American
grasses ({Uniola paniculata}, and {U. latifolia}) having
broad leaves and large flattened spikelets.
{Spike rush}. (Bot.) See under {Rush}.
{Spike shell} (Zo["o]l.), 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.]
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Spike \Spike\, n. [Cf. G. spieke, L. spica an ear of grain. See
{Spikenard}.] (Bot.)
Spike lavender. See {Lavender}.
{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.
From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]:
spike
n 1: a transient variation in voltage or current
2: sharp point on the sole of shoe worn by athletes; spikes
provide greater traction
3: fruiting spike of a cereal plant especially corn [syn: {ear},
{capitulum}]
4: (botany) an indeterminate inflorescence bearing sessile
flowers on an unbranched axis
5: a sharp-pointed projection along the top of a fence or wall
6: a long sharp-pointed implement (wood or metal)
7: any long sharp-pointed object used as a fastener or holder
8: a long metal nail
v 1: stand in the way of
2: pierce with a sharp stake or point; "impale a shrimp on a
skewer" [syn: {transfix}, {impale}, {empale}]
3: secure with spikes
4: bring forth a spike or spikes, as of flowers, such as
hyacinths [syn: {spike out}]
5: add alcohol beverages [syn: {lace}, {fortify}]
From Jargon File (4.2.3, 23 NOV 2000) [jargon]:
spike v. To defeat a selection mechanism by introducing a
(sometimes temporary) device that forces a specific result. The word
is used in several industries; telephone engineers refer to spiking a
relay by inserting a pin to hold the relay in either the closed or open
state, and railroaders refer to spiking a track switch so that it cannot
be moved In programming environments it normally refers to a temporary
change, usually for testing purposes (as opposed to a permanent change,
which would be called {hardwired}).
From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (13 Mar 01) [foldoc]:
spike
To defeat a selection mechanism by introducing a
(sometimes temporary) device that forces a specific result.
The word is used in several industries; telephone engineers
refer to spiking a relay by inserting a pin to hold the relay
in either the closed or open state, and railroaders refer to
spiking a track switch so that it cannot be moved In
programming environments it normally refers to a temporary
change, usually for testing purposes (as opposed to a
permanent change, which would be called {hard-coded}).
(1999-10-18)
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