unspike
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 0.00 in modern English
13
Scrabble Score
7
Letters
2
Syllables
7
Unique Chars
Meaning
verb
To neutralize the alcohol (or other adulterant) in a food, drink, or other substance.
Example Sentences
- "To unspike a cannon, attempt to drive the spike into the bore with a punch; if this succeeds, and the bore be obstructed, introduce powder into the vent to force the obstacle out."
- "However, neither the wording of the agreement nor the conduct of the parties under it lends support to the proposition that Signal Maintainers have a right either to demand that they be allowed to unspike and spike hand switches or that they be compensated when an employee of some other class performs such work."
- "It became necessary to move out some of the stored cars, and the carrier used a track foreman to unspike the switch. The spike had to be removed by the use of crowbars and other tools which were in the track foreman's custody."
- "Machine automatically unspikes the old bag and spikes the new bag ."
- "Oh, I'm penitent enough for the Seventh Heaven, but as to kneeling, observe, good friend, how the wicked have transfixed my extremities with nails! Why, bless you, I can move neither hand nor foot! Unspike me , friend - withdraw the iron restraints of the law and see how quickly I will kneel [upon the body of some one whom I hate. It is the dream of my life!]"
- "He sent for some skilled blacksmiths to make the necessary tools to try to unspike them, and while this was being done, the lieutenant at Talut sent a soldier with a letter addressed to the commandant of the marines, to ask him whether he should obey the order he had received from his captain to spike the cannons."
Etymology
From un- + spike.
Word Breakdown
- Prefix: un