Spike

spīk, n. an ear of corn: ( bot. ) an inflorescence in which se ile flowers, or flowers having very short stalks, are arranged around an axis: a small pointed rod: a large nail.— v.t. to set with spikes: to stop the vent of with a cast-iron spike driven in hard and then broken off, as by soldiers obliged to abandon their own guns or unable to remove those of the enemy which they have captured.— adjs. Spī′cate , Spī′cose , Spī′cous , having spikes or ears, like corn; Spicif′erous , bearing spikes: having spurs; Spī′ciform , having the form of a spike.— n. Spicos′ity , state of being spicous or eared.— adjs. Spic′ūlar , resembling a dart: in the shape of, or having, sharp points; Spic′ūlate , covered with, or divided into, minute points.— n. Spic′ūle ( bot. ), a little spike—also Spic′ūla : a minute, slender granule or point.— adjs. Spic′ulīform ; Spicūlig′enous , Spicūlif′erous , producing spicules; Spic′ūlōse , Spic′ūlous , having spicules.— ns. Spic′ūlum , a spicule; Spike′bill , a merganser, a sawbill: the marbled godwit.— p.adj. Spiked , furnished, fastened, or stopped with spikes.— ns. Spike′-extract′or , an apparatus for drawing out spikes, as from railway-ties; Spike′-fish , a kind of sail-fish; Spike′-gra , one of several American gra es with conspicuous spikelets of flowers; Spike′let , a little spike; Spike′-nail , a spike; Spike′-oil , the oil of spike, a species of lavender; Spike′-plank , a platform before the mizzen-mast of a ve el, used in Arctic voyages.— adj. Spī′ky , furnished with spikes: having a sharp point. [L. spica , an ear of corn.]