What does pikeman mean?
A pikeman was a soldier who fought with a pike, a long spear that allowed infantry to attack opponents at a distance. Pikemen were especially important in medieval and early modern European warfare, when pike formations could be used to protect troops and resist cavalry. The word also applied in some historical contexts to guards or officials associated with a pike. Today, “pikeman” is mainly encountered in historical writing rather than ordinary conversation. It remains a useful term because it identifies not merely the weapon but the military role and historical period associated with it.
A soldier armed with a pike.
"The pikemen formed a defensive line against the approaching cavalry."
Chiefly historical; especially associated with medieval and early modern European infantry.
A guard or official whose role involved carrying or using a pike.
"A pikeman stood beside the palace entrance."
This is a less common historical sense found in accounts of ceremonial guards and officials.
The usual plural is “pikemen,” treating “man” as the irregular plural “men.”
"The pikemen guarded the bridge throughout the night."
Before firearms transformed warfare, the pikeman was an infantry soldier whose pike could reach an enemy several metres away.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does pikeman come from?
“Pikeman” is a compound formed in the late Middle English period from “pike,” the word for the spear-like weapon, and “man.” “Pike” itself comes through Old French from Latin “picus,” originally meaning a peak or pointed object. The compound became especially common as military terminology, alongside related forms such as “piker” and “pikestaff.”
Related word forms
How pikeman is actually used
This is chiefly a historical term. In modern writing it is more likely to appear in historical novels, military history, or descriptions of medieval and early modern armies than in everyday speech.
Easily confused with pikeman
A pike is the long spear or similar weapon, whereas a pikeman is the person who carries or fights with one.