Where does “spike” come from?
Spike comes from Middle English spike, from Old English spic, from Proto-Germanic spikką, from Proto-Indo-European spēy-.
spike (English): A sort of very large nail; A piece of pointed...
Definitions
- A sort of very large nail; A piece of pointed...
Ancestry of “spike”, step by step
spike traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle English spike
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | spike | — |
| 2 | Old Norse | spík | spike, sprig |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | spiką | bacon |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | spēy- | to stretch; thrive; succeed |
via Middle English spik
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | spik | — |
| 2 | Latin | spīca | a head, ear, spike |
| 3 | Proto-Italic | speikā | — |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | spey- | sharp point, stick |
via Middle English spyke
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | spyke | — |