Spike (?), 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.
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
(Zoöl.), 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.]
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.
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.