Hike

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -aɪk

Origin

From English dialectal hyke ("to walk vigorously"), probably a Northern form of hitch, from Middle English hytchen, hichen, icchen ("to move, jerk, stir"). Cognate with Scots hyke ("to move with a jerk"), German dialectal hicken ("to hobble, walk with a limp"), Danish hinke ("to hop"). More at hick.

Full definition of hike

Noun

1. A long walk.
2. An abrupt increase.The tenants were not happy with the rent hike.
3. (American football) The snap of the ball to start a play.
4. A command to a dog sled team, given by a musher

Verb

1. To take a long walk for pleasure or exercise.Don't forget to bring the map when we go hiking tomorrow.
2. To unfairly or suddenly raise a price.
3. (American football) To snap the ball to start a play.
4. (nautical) To lean out to the windward side of a sailboat in order to counterbalance the effects of the wind on the sails.
5. To pull up or tug upwards sharply.She hiked her skirt up.

Synonyms

• (to lean to the windward side) lean out, sit out

Derived terms

• hiker
• hiking