Origin and history of spiked

1620s, "fasten with spikes," from spike (n.1). The sense of "furnish with spikes" is from 1680s (implied in spiked). The meaning "rise in a spike" is from 1958. The slang meaning "lace (a drink) with liquor" is by 1889.

The military use (1680s) means "to disable guns by driving a large nail into the touch-hole." Figurative use of this sense is from 1823. The journalism sense of "kill a story before publication" (1908) is from the upright metal spindle on which old-time editors filed hard copy of stories after they were set in type, or, with special vigor, when they were rejected for publication. Related: Spiked; spiking.