pike it

Preserved but no longer current.

Meaning · English

Is said as a hasty and contemptuous, if not angry, dismissal, "if you don’t like it, take a short stick and PIKE it." This is but a form of the attempts at rhyming smartness common in London.

Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)

Where it’s used: Origin British & Irish English
Sources & notes

Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.

Common questions

What does “pike it” mean?

Is said as a hasty and contemptuous, if not angry, dismissal, "if you don’t like it, take a short stick and PIKE it." This is but a form of the attempts at rhyming smartness common in London.

Is “pike it” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.