Hike Means a Walk and Also a Price Rise
To hike is to walk a long way. American English extended the word to any sharp increase.
To hike is to walk a long distance, especially in the country. The word appears in English dialect in the 1800s meaning to walk vigorously, and American English then extended it in two directions: *hike up* meaning to hitch clothing upward, and from that a *price hike*, a sharp increase. The connection is the sudden upward pull. In American football the *hike* is the snap that starts a play, again a sharp movement.
- A long walk. *A day's hike.*
- To pull up. *Hike up your socks.*
- An increase. *A price hike.*
- Take a hike — go away. *Take a hike.*
- English dialect — from the 1800s. *The source.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb | hike | Hiking. |
| Noun | hike | A hike. |
| Past | hiked | Hiked. |
| Agent | hiker | A hiker. |
| Compound | price hike | A price hike. |
- They hiked twenty miles.Walking.
- Rents saw a sharp hike.Increase.
- Take a hike.Dismissal.
Words for walking distances
- Hike — a long walk, usually for pleasure
- Trek — from Afrikaans, a long arduous journey
- Ramble — British, a leisurely country walk
- Yomp — British military, marching over rough ground with a load
- Traipse — to walk wearily or without purpose
English dialect, recorded from the 1800s, of uncertain origin, possibly related to *hitch*.
Why does hike mean a price rise?
From hiking something up, the sense of a sharp upward pull. American English applied it to prices and rates.
What is a hike in American football?
The snap that puts the ball into play, named for the sharp backward movement.