pikey

Etymology 1

pike + -y.

noun

1. (informal) A pike (fish).
   The first time he comes to the surface of the water he gasps for breath, his huge mouth gapes, he gives his head a shake and out tumbles the bait, hooks and all, not one of them having had hold, and away goes pikey quite satisfied with his entertainment pro tem., and wondering what that ugly two-legged moster with the hop pole in his hand, and who looked in such a state of perplexity and stew, had to do with the matter 1867, Francis, A book on angling, page 93
   In 1876, in twelve fishings in the same months, there were caught 31 Pikeys, 4 Spotted Dogs, and 441 Nowds. 1881, Robert Lloyd Patterson, The Birds, Fishes & Cetacea of Belfast Lough, page 226
   A pikey's a pike. It's the dirtiest fish in the water. 2011, Jim Nally, Big Fat Gypsy Weddings
   The boated Pikey makes a series of tailstands as it lunges about, biting at feet, bags, hands, creels and thwarts. 2015, E.M. Grant, Grant's Guide to Fishes: The Fisherman's Bible

adj

1. Associated with or filled with pike (fish).
   Like its schoolboy master, the rod built from the cane then chosen has since had many a narrow escape "by flood and fell," and not a few damaged 'tips,' aye, and 'joints' too; but its main timbers are as sound as ever, and I trust may yet be destined to wave death over many a pikey pool and glittering torrent when the hand that chose them is no longer able to do justice to their supple graces. 1865, Henry Cholmondeley-Pennell, The Book of the Pike, page 126
   The Broadland waters are pikey waters. There is no doubt that if Norfolk is famous for any one species of fish, then it is for none other than Esox himself, the predatory pike. 1965, The Fishing Gazette [New Series] - Issues 4560-4585, page 14
   The name gar-pike has gone some way to suggest the non-existent relationship, while (two dorsal fins notwithstanding) the pike-perches look remarkably 'pikey'. 1979, Len Cacutt, British Freshwater Fishes: The Story of Their Evolution, page 98
   We travel along tortuous forest roads in the most 'pikey' part ofVarmland — the whole time alongside water. 2003, Michael Jensen, Fly-Fishing: For Pike, page 12

Etymology 2

Possibly from obsolete pike (“depart or travel”), or possibly from turnpike. The verb is derived from the stereotype that the Romani people or other travellers are thieves.

noun

1. (UK, Ireland, ethnic slur, offensive) An itinerant person, especially one of Romani or Irish Traveller heritage.
   “They must be the pikeys who live up there. They're a nasty bunch. Shouldn't get mixed up with them.” “Well, we told them to fuck off, they didn't seem that nasty to me! What are pikeys anyway?” “Well, they're like vagabonds.” 2012, Pat Coppard, In Spite of Everything: a Life-story, page 15
   Gipsies and the pikey race generally were a class outside Lord Sandbar's previous experience, and he listened greedily. 1887, Belgravia - Volume 62, page 416
2. (UK, Ireland, derogatory, offensive) A working-class (often underclass) person with negative connotations of benefit fraud, theft and living on rundown estates.
   But if there's one thing he hates more than pikeys, it's posh people. 2011, Jonathan Trigell, Cham

adj

1. (UK, slang, derogatory) Associated with pikeys.
   Blimey. The least pikey place on the planet. September 9 2006, Huge, “Re: Oh for FU--S sake!”, in uk.rec.driving (Usenet)
   > You could try moving somewhere less pikey? October 18 2007, PC Paul, “Re: Exhaust security bolts help”, in uk.rec.cars.maintenance (Usenet)
   >> > No, you're more pikey than a traffic warden. >> >> Nothing is more pikey than a traffic warden, even an immigrant. >> >> > Not even a Glaswegian? 2012 March 11, "Lieutenant Scott", Re: Definition of "loading" in a parking space, in uk.rec.driving, Usenet, quoting another user

verb

1. (UK, slang, derogatory) To steal.
   >It's getting hold of a copy that isn't pikeyed that I'm having >difficulty with :-( October 25 2004, Lister, “Re: Monday, Monday, Play, Want, Bin”, in uk.games.video.misc (Usenet)
   Agree with Adrian about it being Pikeyed. At least you've a cheque to go buy something else. September 29 2006, Conor, “Re: Car legally removed or stolen?”, in uk.rec.cars.misc (Usenet)
   Rumour has it that you once posting something interesting that was pikeyed straight from scrotexes lame troll book. August 9 2007, Diablos Rojos, “Re: Special offer to all Scummers”, in alt.sports.soccer.manchester.united (Usenet)