[f. SPIKE sb.2 Cf. MSw. and Sw. spika to nail; also LG. spikern, Du. spijkeren.]
1. trans. With up: a. To fasten or close firmly with spikes or strong nails.
1624. Capt. Smith, Virginia, V. 198. He went to seeke for a wracke they reported lay vnder water with her hatches spiked vp.
† b. spec. = sense 2. Obs.
1644. Prynne & Walker, Fiennes’ Trial, App. 34. Whereupon himselfe, and one Harris … did spike up the touch-holes of their Canons to make them unservisable to the enemy.
1672. J. Lacy, trans. Tacquett’s Milit. Archit., 50. If they cannot carry away their Guns, they must spike them up, by driving Nails in their Touch-holes.
1747. Gentl. Mag., XVII. 308. We spiked up 15 field pieces, which we could not get off.
1799. Hull Advertiser, 7 Sept., 1/4. Helder Point was last night evacuated and the guns in it spiked up.
† c. spec. (See quot.) Obs.–1
1704. J. Harris, Lex. Techn., I. Spiking up the Ordnance, is fastning a Coin or Quoin with Spikes to the Deck, close to the Breech of the Carriages of the Great Guns, that they may keep close and firm to the Ship-sides and not break loose when the Ship Rolls.
d. To set up as on a spike.
1742. Young, Nt. Th., IV. 771. They … Spike up their inch of reason, on the point Of philosophic wit, call’d argument.
2. To render (a gun) unserviceable by driving a spike into the touch-hole; also, to block or fill up (the touch-hole) with a spike. (Cf. 1 b.)
1687. Lond. Gaz., No. 2270/5. Captain Archburnett … made himself Master of their Guns, which he ordered to be dismounted and spiked.
1700. Rycaut, Hist. Turks, V. iii. 150/1. In one of which [sallies] they spiked or nailed three Pieces of Cannon.
1706. Phillips (ed. Kersey), s.v., Among Mariners, the Touch-hole of a Gun is said To be spiked, when Nails are purposely driven into it, so that no Use can be made of that Gun by an Enemy.
1778. Orme, Milit. Trans. Ind., II. I. 62. Ensign Pischard … seized and spiked the four pieces of cannon.
1811. Wellington, in Gurw., Desp. (1837), VII. 269. Unfortunately the guns in the battery were not spiked, or otherwise destroyed or injured.
1848. Exchequer Rep., II. 174. The defendant … spiked the guns, and placed sentinels at the doors.
fig. 1871. Lowell, Study Wind. (1886), 37. All the batteries of noise are spiked.
3. To fix or secure by means of long nails or spikes. Chiefly with preps., as on, to.
1703. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., 255. Pin’d or spiked down to the pieces of Oak on which they lye. Ibid. [To] spike or pin the Planks to them.
1776. G. Semple, Building in Water, 102. Scantling of the same Size … will answer effectually, by pinning and spiking the Grooves on the corner Pile.
1823. P. Nicholson, Pract. Build., 120. By spiking or bolting each piece [of timber] on both sides of the joint.
1833. Loudon, Encycl. Archit., § 83. Ceiling joists, joggled on,… and spiked … at each end, to the top of the plate.
1875. R. F. Martin, trans. Havrez’ Winding Mach., 6. Four vertical 3-in. planks are spiked into the joints of the lining of the pit.
4. a. To make sharp like a spike. rare–0.
1687. Miége, Gt. Fr. Dict., II. To Spike, faire pointu; encloüer.
1736. Ainsworth, I. To spike, or make sharp at the end, spico, spiculo.
b. To provide, fit or stud with spikes.
1716. M. Davies, Athen. Brit., II. 139. Too much also of our English Prose is spik’d over with keen Cynicks.
1777. Sir A. Campbell, in C. H. Walcott, Life (1898), 32. I am lodged in a dungeon … doubly planked and spiked on every side.
1847. Tennyson, Princess, IV. 188. His brows Had sprouted, and the branches … grimly spiked the gates.
1850. ‘Bat,’ Cricketer’s Manual, 50. It is a good plan to have those shoes spiked which have been worn.
5. To pierce with, or as with, a spike. Also refl.
1687. Miége, Gt. Fr. Dict., II. To spike himself, or fall upon spikes, tomber sur des pointes de fer.
1837. Barham, Ingol. Leg., Ser. I. Spectre Tappington. Charles drank his coffee and spiked some half-dozen eggs.
1884. Browning, Ferishtah, 122. When cold from over-mounts spikes through and through Blood, bone and marrow.
b. spec. In certain sports, to injure (another player or competitor) by means of spiked shoes.
1867. Athlete for 1866, 13. Lord Jersey, a good third, notwithstanding having been accidentally spiked by one of the competitors.
1886. Shaw, Cash. Byron’s Prof. (1901), 197. ‘What does spiking mean?’ said Lydia.
‘Treading on a man’s foot with spiked boots,’ replied Lord Worthington.
6. To drive away with or as with spikes.
1879. Geo. Eliot, Theo. Such, xviii. 346. To urge on that account that we should spike away the peaceful foreigner.
