Spike

Encyclopedia : S : SP : SPI : Spike

Contents

1 Objects
2 People
3 Fictional characters
4 Titles
5 See also

Spike may refer to:

Objects

A pointed object like a nail:
*a large nail, usually more than 4 inches (100 mm), especially rail spikes used to secure railroad rails to the wooden ties - the symbolic Golden Spike, driven at Promontory Summit in Utah on 1869 May 10, marked the joining of the first trans-continental railroad in North America, and the Last Spike, which marked the completion of the railroad across Canada
*spiked shoes worn by athletes, which provide more traction (similar to cleats)
An adolescent male deer
An upswing in activity, shown by a spike on a graph or chart:
*a spike, a short electrical pulse (see: surge suppressor, transient voltage)
*a spike in the crime rate, birth rate, cancer rate, or other rate
In neuroscience, the action potential which transmits signals along axons is often called a spike
To spike a gun is to render it unusable. The term originally referred to muzzle-loading cannon. Driving an iron hand-spike (part of the gun's equipment) into the touch-hole on the cannon's breech would enlarge the hole and leave the gun unusable until repaired, or bushed, an hour or more work
To "spike" a drink is a term meaning to add something to it, usually adding to the effect of an alcoholic drink, generally unknown to the person drinking it. See also Mickey Finn (drugs), and the date rape drugs GHB and Flunitrazepam (Rohypnol)
An unbranched, indeterminate inflorescence (Botanical) with sessile flowers arranged along the axis. Compare with raceme
The Spire of Dublin, a massive needle-like structure erected in Dublin in 2003, widely known as The Spike
Spike (missile), an Israel-developed guided anti-tank missile. A US-Navy missile of the same name is under development.
Spike TV, a cable network that caters to a young male demographic (originally known as TNN, The National Network, or The Nashville Network)
In chess the opening move 1.g4 (Grob's Attack) is also called "the Spike"
A spike is a certain move in volleyball
In American football, to spike the ball is to throw it forcefully and intentionally into the ground. During the game, it is an offensive play used to stop the game clock; it is also a common celebration following a touchdown
In computer programming a spike is a small software application written as a proof of concept
In real estate lingo, a spike is a property owner that owns a pivotal property, but holds out selling
In Anglicanism, spike is a slang expression for Anglo-Catholic or "high church" styles of worship
The village in Derbyshire now known as Poolsbrook

People

Spike Lee, a filmmaker
Spike Jonze, a filmmaker
Spike Jones, a satirist
Spike Milligan, a satirist
Spike Robinson, a jazz musician
Spike Slawson, a punk vocalist and bassist of the Swinging Utters and Me First and the Gimme Gimmes
Matt Hyson (aka Spike Dudley), former WWE & ECW wrestler
Spike, a gay pornography actor
Takeo Spikes, a Buffalo Bills linebacker

Fictional characters

Spike Spiegel, from the Japanese anime Cowboy Bebop
Spike (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
Spike, Fonzie's cousin in Happy Days
Spike Fumo, in Spike of Bensonhurst
Christine "Spike" Nelson, in the Degrassi series
Spike Thomson, in Press Gang
Spike, a member of the Screws Gang in Medabots
Spike, in Passions
The Spike (Marvel Comics), a member of the X-Statix
Spike, unofficial nickname for the mutant baby in the film Eraserhead
Spike, a young Stegosaurus in The Land Before Time film series
Spike, a character originating in Super Mario Bros. 3 who launches spiked mace balls at you
Spike, the boss of the Midday Gardens world in the "" video game
Spike, a main character in the Ape Escape video game series
Spike, main character of Knuckles' Chaotix 2 (PC - soon to be released)
Spike, a character in the DC Comics comic book Sugar and Spike
Father Spike, a high-church parish priest who is mentioned in CS Lewis' book The Screwtape Letters

Cartoon dogs named "Spike":

Spike, the family pet in Rugrats (voiced by Bruce Willis in the spin-off movie Rugrats Go Wild!)
Spike (Peanuts), Snoopy's brother in Peanuts
Spike, Tom's nemesis in the theatrical cartoon series Tom and Jerry
Spike, Heathcliff's nemesis in the comic strip and animated series Heathcliff
Spike, Droopy's nemesis in Tex Avery's Droopy theatrical cartoon series.
Spike the Bulldog and Chester the Terrier, in the Warner Bros. Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series of cartoons.

Titles

Spike (Elvis Costello album), a 1989 album by Elvis Costello
Spike (Puffy AmiYumi album), a 2001 album by Puffy AmiYumi
Spike (P. Diddy album), a 2001 album by P. Diddy
The Spike (Borchgrave/Moss), a 1980 novel by Arnaud de Borchgrave, former editor of The Washington Times
The Spike (1997), a 1997 (revised 2001) book by Damien Broderick

See also: Spike (album)