A pike is a pole weapon, a very long thrusting spear formerly used extensively by infantry. Pikes were used regularly in European warfare from the Late Middle Ages to the Early Modern Period, and were ...

What is the meaning of pikeman?

: a soldier armed with a pike.

How did pikemen fight?

At 'point' is traditionally how pikemen fought each other. Big blocks of pikeman would level their pikes (see right) and advance towards each other into a crush called 'push of pike', when the front ranks would draw swords and engage in deadly hand-to-hand fighting.