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A small or secondary spike; especially, one of the ultimate parts of the in florescence of grasses. See Illust. of Quaking grass.

ited States it is the Aralia racemosa, often called spignet, and used as a medicine. The spikenard of the ancients is the Nardostachys Jatamansi, a native of the Himalayan region. From its blackish roots a perfume for the hair is still prepared in India.

The pintail duck. [Local, U.S.]

n to pass between the arms; a turnstile. See Turnstile, 1. I move upon my axle like a turnpike. B. Jonson.

To remove a spike from, as from the vent of a cannon.

A genus of ferns (Ophioglossum), whose seeds are produced on a spike resembling a serpent's tongue.

An elephant goad with a sharp spike and hook, resembling a short-handled boat hook. [India] Kipling.

To take by the arm; to take up in one's arms. [Obs.] And make him with our pikes and partisans A grave: come, arm him. Shak. Arm your prize; I know you will not lose him. Two N. Kins.

A European species of lavender (Lavandula spica), which produces a volatile oil. See Spike.

A kind of flag attached to a spear or pike by a crosspiece, and used by a chief as his standard in battle. Hang out our banners on the outward walls. Shak.

A voracious pikelike, marine fish, of the genus Sphyræna, sometimes used as food.

To abase; to let, or cast, down; to lower. [Obs.] If any . . . based his pike. Sir T. North.

A long pole with a spike at the end, used in climbing mountains; an alpenstock.

form of bill consisted of a broad, heavy, double-edged, hook-shaped blade, having a short pike at the back and another at the top, and attached to the end of a long staff. France had no infantry that dared to face the English bows end bills. Macaulay.

oceanic species related to the swordfish; the spearfish. (d) The American fresh-water garpike (Lepidosteus osseus).

or ropes erected at the side of a ship to prevent an enemy from boarding it. -- Boarding pike (Naut.), a pike used by sailors in boarding a vessel, or in repelling an attempt to board it. Totten. -- Boarding school, a school in which pupils receive board and lodging as well as instruction.

Having large or prominent bones. Bony fish (Zoöl.), the menhaden. -- Bony pike (Zoöl.), the gar pike (Lepidosteus).

A peculiar brad-shaped spike, to be driven alongside the end of an abutting timber to prevent its slipping.

f Europe and Asia. They are destitute of chlorophyll, have scales instead of leaves, and spiked flowers, and grow attached to the roots of other plants, as furze, clover, flax, wild carrot, etc. The name is sometimes applied to other plants related to this genus, as Aphyllon uniflorumand A. Ludovicianum.…

erly.] Capstan bar, one of the long bars or levers by which the capstan is worked; a handspike.. -- To pawl the capstan, to drop the pawls so that they will catch in the notches of the pawl ring, and prevent the capstan from turning back. -- To rig the capstan, to prepare the for use, by putting the bars in the socke…