previous next

pikes “with a vice—You must put in the,” MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, v. 2. 19. “The circular ‘bucklers’ of the sixteenth century, now called more commonly targets, had frequently a central spike, or ‘pike,’ usually affixed by a screw. It was probably found convenient to detach this spike occasionally; for instance, in cleaning the buckler, or in case of that piece of defensive armour being carried about on any occasion when not actually in use. A sharp projecting spike, four or five inches long, would obviously be inconvenient. . . . ‘Vice’ is the French vis, a screw, a word still in common use, the female screw being called écrou.” Note (communicated by Mr. Albert Way) in Thoms's Three Notelets on Shakespeare, p. 128.

hide Dictionary Entry Lookup
Use this tool to search for dictionary entries in all lexica.
Search for in
hide Display Preferences
Greek Display:
Arabic Display:
View by Default:
Browse Bar: