spike

spike
\ \ English has two etymologically distinct words spike, although they are so similar in meaning that they are commonly regarded as one and the same. Spikelong sharp piece’ [13] was probably borrowed from Middle Dutch spīker. It has another relative in Swedish spiknail’, and goes back ultimately to prehistoric Germanic *speik-, *spaik- (source also of English spoke).
\ \ The spick of spick and span [17] is a variant of spike. The expression is an elaboration of an earlier span-newbrand-new’, which was borrowed from Old Norse spánnýras new as a new chip of wood’ (spánnchip’ is related to English spoon, which originally meant ‘chip’).
\ \ The spick was added in imitation of Dutch spiksplinter nieuwspike-splinter new’. Spikeear of corn, arrangement of flowers on a stalk similar to this’ [14] was borrowed from Latin spīca, a close relative of spīnathorn’ (source of English spine). Spīca is also ultimately responsible for English spigot [14], perhaps via the diminutive spiculum; and it forms the first syllable of spikenard [14], the name of a sort of ancient aromatic ointment or of the plant that probably produced it.
\ \ Cf.SPICK; SPIGOT, SPINE, SPOKE

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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Synonyms:
(of grain), /


Look at other dictionaries:

  • Spike — Spike(s) may refer to:Device to puncture or fasten* Nail (fastener), especially one over four inches long * Rail spike, used to construct railroad tracks * Tree spiking, making a tree dangerous to cut with a chainsaw * Spike strip, tire deflation …   Wikipedia

  • Spike — (homonymie) Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. Spike est un prénom américain. En anglais, spike signifie pique, aiguille, baïonnette ou peut désigner un outil destiné à piquer. En anglais,… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Spike — (engl. ‚Spitze‘) steht für: Spikes (Reifen), Stifte im Profil von Reifen Schuhspikes, Gleitschutz für das Gehen auf glattem Untergrund Spikes (Leichtathletik), in der Leichtathletik Schuhe mit an der Sohle angebrachten Dornen Spike (HiFi), ein… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Spike TV — (a veces Spike solo) es un canal de televisión estadounidense diseñado para el publico masculino. Spike TV es propiedad de MTV Networks, que es una subsidiaria de Viacom Inc. Historia El canal comenzó como The Nashville Networks (TNN) fundado por …   Wikipedia Español

  • Spike CO — Spike (entreprise) Pour les articles homonymes, voir Spike (homonymie). Logo de Spike Siège social …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Spike — [ʃpai̮k], der; s, s: 1. 1Stift (1) an den Schuhsohlen von Läufern oder an Autoreifen, der das [Aus]gleiten verhindert: Schuhe, Autoreifen mit Spikes. 2. <Plural> Laufschuhe, an deren Sohlen sich Spikes (1) befinden: ein Paar Spikes; mit… …   Universal-Lexikon

  • spike — spike1 [spīk] n. [ME < ON spīkr, a nail, spike, or < MDu & MLowG spīker, both ult. < IE base * (s)p(h)ei , sharp, pointed splinter > SPIT1, SPOKE1, L spica, ear of grain, spina,SPINE] 1. a long, heavy nail 2. a sh …   English World dictionary

  • 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • spike — spike; spike·let; spike·man; spike·nard; un·spike; hand·spike; …   English syllables

  • 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. [1913 Webster] 2. To set or furnish with spikes. [1913 Webster] 3. To fix on a spike. [R.] Young. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Spike — Spike, 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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