spike

spike1 (spaɪk)
—n
1.	a sharp point
2.	any sharp-pointed object, esp one made of metal
3.	a long metal nail
4.	physics
	a.  a transient variation in voltage or current in an electric circuit
	b.  a graphical recording of this, such as one of the peaks on an electroencephalogram
5.	(plural) shoes with metal projections on the sole and heel for greater traction, as used by athletes
6.	the straight unbranched antler of a young deer
7.	slang (Brit) another word for dosshouse
—vb
8.	to secure or supply with or as with spikes
9.	to render ineffective or block the intentions of; thwart
10.	to impale on a spike
11.	to add alcohol to (a drink)
12.	journalism to reject (a news story)
13.	volleyball to hit (a ball) sharply downwards with an overarm motion from the front of one's own court into the opposing court
14.	(formerly) to render (a cannon) ineffective by blocking its vent with a spike
15.	spike someone's guns to thwart someone's purpose
[C13 spyk; related to Old English spīcing nail, Old Norse spīk splinter, Middle Low German spīker spike, Norwegian spīk spoke², Latin spīca sharp point; see spike²]

spike

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.

spike

"large nail," 1345, probably 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 base *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 Gmc. words, OED casts doubt on this whole derivation and says the Eng. word may be a borrowing of L. spica (see 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.

spike

"ear of grain," 1393, from L. spica "ear of grain," related to spina "thorn" (see spike (n.1)).

spike (spīk)
n.
A brief electrical event of 3 to 25 milliseconds that gives the appearance in the electroencephalogram of a rising and falling vertical line.

spike   (spīk)  Pronunciation Key  An elongated indeterminate inflorescence in which the flowers are attached directly to a common stem, rather than borne on individual stalks arising from the stem. The gladiolus produces spikes. The distinctive spikes of grasses such as wheat or barley are known as spikelets. See illustration at inflorescence.

spike definition n. a hypodermic needle; a hypodermic syringe and needle; a medicine dropper and a needle. (Drugs.) : The addict caught some strange disease from a dirty spike. tv. to add ether or alcohol to beer, originally by injecting it through the cork with a hypodermic needle; to add alcohol to a nonalcoholic drink. (From prohibition times. See also spiked.) : He spiked the beer with ether, which is a dangerous thing to do. tv. to puncture an idea. : I explained the plan, but the boss spiked it immediately.

spike definition

jargon
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)