Sharp-pointed projections; sudden increases in quantity, rate, or intensity. Also refers to athletic shoes with protruding studs for traction.
From Middle English spik, possibly from Old Norse spik (splinter) or Middle Dutch spiker (nail). The verb sense of 'sudden increase' developed from the visual metaphor of a sharp upward projection.
The word 'spike' perfectly demonstrates how physical metaphors shape our understanding of abstract concepts - we visualize data increases, fever rises, and voltage surges all as sharp upward movements, even though they're not literally pointed objects.
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