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pike
pike common name for the family Esocidae, freshwater game and food fishes of Europe, Asia, and North America. The pike, the muskellunge, and the pickerel form a small but well-known group of long, thin fishes with spineless dorsal fins, large anal fins, and long, narrow jaws with formidable teeth. There are five species in the single genus Esox, found in the lakes and streams of central and E North America. The muskellunge, named by the Native Americans, is the largest of these, averaging from 2 to 7 ft (61–213.5 cm) in length and from 10 to 20 lb (4.5 to 9 kg) in weight, though some may reach 60 lb (27 kg). Carnivorous and solitary except at spawning time, muskellunges feed on fish, frogs, snakes, and even the young of aquatic mammals and waterfowl. The American, northern, or great northern pike, Esox lucius, called jackfish in Canada, is also voracious, lurking in weedy shallows to ambush its prey. This pike, believed to be the same species as the European pike, is said to consume one fifth of its own weight (10–35 lb or 4.5–16 kg) daily. Although a prized game fish in its native habitat, it has been reviled as a pest with the potential to devastate other game species in areas where it has been introduced. The pickerels are smaller members of the family. The grass, or barred, pickerel rarely exceeds 1 ft (30 cm) in length and 1 lb (.45 kg) in weight; the larger Eastern pickerel is found in clear lakes and streams together with bass. Pikes are stubborn fighters and are valued as game fishes; their flesh, though bony, is delicious. The walleyed pike is really a perch . Pikes are classified in the phylum Chordata , subphylum Vertebrata, class Osteichthyes, order Clupeiformes, family Esocidae. |
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"pike." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "pike." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-pike1.html "pike." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-pike1.html |
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pike
pike1 / pīk/ • n. (pl. same) a long-bodied predatory freshwater fish (genus Esox, family Esocidae) with a pointed snout and large teeth, of North America and Eurasia. Its five species include the widespread northern pike (E. lucius). ∎ any fish with similar characteristics, such as the walleye. pike2 • n. hist. an infantry weapon with a pointed steel or iron head on a long wooden shaft. ∎ chiefly Brit. (in names) a hill with a peaked top: Scafell pike. • v. [tr.] hist. kill or thrust (someone) through with a pike. pike3 • n. short for turnpike. PHRASES: come down the pike appear on the scene; come to notice. pike4 (also pike position) • n. [often as adj.] a position in diving or gymnastics in which the body is bent at the waist but the legs remain straight. |
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"pike." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "pike." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-pike005.html "pike." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-pike005.html |
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Pike
Pike in California and other Pacific states of the US, a name given in the 19th century to a perceived class of poor white migrants from the southern states of the US; the name comes from Pike County, Missouri, from which the first people of this kind were said to have come to California.
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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Pike." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Pike." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-Pike.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Pike." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-Pike.html |
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pike
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"pike." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "pike." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-pike.html "pike." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-pike.html |
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pike
pike1 large voracious freshwater fish. XIV. perh. of OE. date (being perh. repr. XI in place-names), and identical with OE. pīc point, pick, the fish being so named from its pointed jaw.
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T. F. HOAD. "pike." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "pike." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-pike.html T. F. HOAD. "pike." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-pike.html |
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pike
pike2 weapon consisting of a long wooden shaft with pointed head. XVI. — (O)F. pique.
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Cite this article
T. F. HOAD. "pike." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "pike." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-pike1.html T. F. HOAD. "pike." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-pike1.html |
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Pike
Pike (Píce) Laois, Tipperary, Waterford. ‘Pike’.
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A. D. MILLS. "Pike." A Dictionary of British Place-Names. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. A. D. MILLS. "Pike." A Dictionary of British Place-Names. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O40-Pike.html A. D. MILLS. "Pike." A Dictionary of British Place-Names. 2003. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O40-Pike.html |
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pike
pike in U.S. history: see turnpike . |
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Cite this article
"pike." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "pike." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-X-pike2.html "pike." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-X-pike2.html |
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pike
pike Freshwater fish, Esox lucius.
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DAVID A. BENDER. "pike." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. DAVID A. BENDER. "pike." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O39-pike.html DAVID A. BENDER. "pike." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O39-pike.html |
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pike
pike weapon: see spear . |
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Cite this article
"pike." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "pike." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-X-pike3.html "pike." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-X-pike3.html |
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pike
pike3 short for TURNPIKE. XIX.
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Cite this article
T. F. HOAD. "pike." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "pike." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-pike2.html T. F. HOAD. "pike." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-pike2.html |
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pike
pike See ESOCIDAE.
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MICHAEL ALLABY. "pike." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "pike." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-pike.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "pike." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-pike.html |
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Pike
Pike see JS-3.
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"Pike." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Pike." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-Pike.html "Pike." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-Pike.html |
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pike
pike •alike, bike, dyke, haik, hike, kike, like, mic, mike, mislike, pike, psych, psyche, shrike, spike, strike, trike, tyke, Van Dyck, vandyke
•pushbike • motorbike • Klondike
•Thorndike • Updike • hitchhike
•crablike • lamblike
•fanlike, manlike, panlike
•trap-like • catlike • starlike • calf-like
•glass-like, grass-like
•branch-like • plant-like • thread-like
•gem-like • deathlike • waiflike
•vein-like • wraithlike • fiendlike
•leaf-like • dreamlike • queen-like
•sheeplike • witchlike • sylphlike
•piglike
•springlike, string-like, wing-like
•lip-like • princelike • ladylike
•businesslike • lifelike • childlike
•Christlike, vice-like
•knob-like
•godlike, rod-like
•doglike • rock-like • swanlike
•foxlike • warlike • lord-like
•horselike • globe-like
•dome-like, homelike
•ghostlike • rose-like • toylike
•root-like • tooth-like • hood-like
•wolf-like • hook-like
•wool-like • suchlike • sponge-like
•nunlike, sunlike
•dovelike • lion-like • flower-like
•soundalike • lookalike
•statesmanlike • seamanlike
•sportsmanlike • womanlike
•workmanlike • fatherlike • worm-like
•handspike • garpike • marlinspike
•turnpike
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Cite this article
"pike." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "pike." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-pike.html "pike." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-pike.html |
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