- spike
- {{11}}spike (n.1) "large nail," mid-14c., perhaps from O.N. spik "splinter" (related to O.E. spicing "large nail"), from P.Gmc. *spikaz (Cf. M.Du. spicher, Du. spijker "nail," O.E. spaca, O.H.G. speihha "spoke"), from PIE root *spei- "sharp point" (Cf. L. spica "ear of corn," spina "thorn, prickle, backbone," pinna "pin;" Gk. spilas "rock, cliff;" Lett. spile "wooden fork;" Lith. speigliai "thorns," spitna "tongue of a buckle," O.E. spitu "spit").But based on gender difficulties in the Germanic words, OED casts doubt on this whole derivation and says the English word may be a borrowing of L. spica (see SPIKE (Cf. spike) (n.2)), from the same root. Slang meaning "needle" is from 1923. Meaning "pointed stud in athletic shoes" is from 1832. Electrical sense of "pulse of short duration" is from 1935.{{12}}spike (n.2) "ear of grain," late 14c., from L. spica "ear of grain," related to spina "thorn" (see SPIKE (Cf. spike) (n.1)).{{12}}spike (v.) 1620s, "to fasten with spikes," see SPIKE (Cf. spike) (n.1). Meaning "To rise in a spike" is from 1958. Military sense (1680s) means "to disable guns by driving a big nail into the touch-hole." Figurative use of this sense is from 1823. Meaning "to lace (a drink) with liquor" is from 1889. Journalism sense of "to kill a story before publication" (1908) is from the metal spindle in which old-time editors filed hard copy of stories after they were set in type, or especially when rejected for publication.
Etymology dictionary. 2014.
