Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun Plural form of handspike.

Etymologies

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Examples

  • They were armed with everything from muskets to handspikes.

    The King's Best Highway Eric Jaffe 2010

  • They were armed with everything from muskets to handspikes.

    The King's Best Highway Eric Jaffe 2010

  • They were armed with everything from muskets to handspikes.

    The King's Best Highway Eric Jaffe 2010

  • There was no doubt in the minds of the people as to the real purpose of this visit – if the lanterns, hatchets, pickaxes, spades, handspikes, and coils of rope with which the regiment were equipped, had not already given them away.

    History of American Women Maggiemac 2009

  • The sailors manage to keep them at a distance by means of handspikes, but I shall not be surprised if they persist in following us, instinctively intelligent that we are destined to become their prey.

    The Survivors of the Chancellor 2003

  • In vain handspikes and crows were brought to bear upon the immovable fluke-chains, to pry them adrift from the timberheads; and so low had the whale now settled that the submerged ends could not be at all approached, while every moment whole tons of ponderosity seemed added to the sinking bulk, and the ship seemed on the point of going over.

    Moby Dick; or the Whale 2002

  • Thundering with the butts of three clubbed handspikes on the forecastle deck, Daggoo roused the sleepers with such judgment claps that they seemed to exhale from the scuttle, so instantaneously did they appear with their clothes in their hands.

    Moby Dick; or the Whale 2002

  • That bravely and uninjured takes the jam which would have snapped all their oaken handspikes and iron crow-bars.

    Moby Dick; or the Whale 2002

  • There were handspikes available, great club-like wooden levers that could be used to turn the gun left or right, but none of the crews used them.

    Sharpe's Trafalgar Cornwell, Bernard, 1944- 2000

  • The Pucelle's gunners had abandoned their cannon to fight the invaders with cutlasses, handspikes, rammers and pikes.

    Sharpe's Trafalgar Cornwell, Bernard, 1944- 2000

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