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pike³

(pīk)

1. A turnpike.

2. Archaic

a. A tollgate on a turnpike.

b. A toll paid.

intr.v. piked, pik·ing, pikes

To move quickly.

Idiom:

come down the pike Slang

To come into prominence: "a policy ... allowing for little flexibility if an important new singer comes down the pike" (Christian Science Monitor).

[Short for TURNPIKE.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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