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pike

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Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Pike is a long thrusting spear used by infantry in dense formations, dominant in early modern warfare.

Detailed Definition
Pike enters poetry as a stark emblem of the collective point and the wall of steel. In literary contexts it represents the massed defense. Poets use the pike to explore themes of the extended reach, the push of the formation, and the weapon that has shaped images of the infantry's courage and the bristling front of battle.
Example
Example in poetry:
The pike’s long thrust and massed formation supply poets with images of collective and extended force; Historical verse places the weapon in the hands of the infantry wall; “The pikes came down and the charge of the horse was broken” illustrates disciplined defense; Educational poetry shows the tool as the defining instrument of early modern battle; Poets use the pike when individual courage must be multiplied by the length of the shaft.
Additional Notes
The pike’s long thrust and massed formation made it the defining weapon of the early modern infantry wall. Poets who choose it often wish to emphasize collective reach and the refusal of the cavalry charge. Classroom discussion can usefully contrast the pike with the shorter spear or the later bayonet. Related pole-arms include the lance and the halberd. The image is effective when individual courage must be multiplied by the length of the shaft and the density of the ranks.
Also Known As
Halberd Lance Spear
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