spike \spike\, n. akin to lg. spiker, spieker, a large nail, d.
   spijker, sw. spik, dan. spiger, icel. spimack; 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.
      1913 webster

   2. anything resembling such a nail in shape.
      1913 webster

            he wears on his head the corona radiata . . .; the
            spikes that shoot out represent the rays of the sun.
                                                  --addison.
      1913 webster

   3. an ear of corn or grain.
      1913 webster

   4. bot. a kind of flower cluster in which sessile flowers
      are arranged on an unbranched elongated axis.
      1913 webster

   spike grass bot., either of two tall perennial american
      grasses uniola paniculata, and uniola latifolia
      having broad leaves and large flattened spikelets.

   spike rush. bot. see under rush.

   spike shell zool., 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.
      1913 webster
see also:
spine spike grass uniola paniculata uniola latifolia spike rush rush 
spike shell styliola spike team