tyke

noun

variants or less commonly tike
1
a
: a small child
b
chiefly British : a clumsy, churlish, or eccentric person
2
: dog
especially : an inferior or mongrel dog

Examples of tyke in a Sentence

adopted a lovable tyke from the local animal shelter
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
And with nearly 7,500 square feet of living space, tiny tykes are afforded lots of breathing room to enjoy. Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 12 Oct. 2024 Their reputation and their small tyke’s appetite are counting on something to turn around, and fast. David John Chávez, The Mercury News, 4 Oct. 2024 Her fave baby monitor, toy her tyke loves, and baby clothes are all here too. Anna Moeslein, Glamour, 16 July 2024 Adolescence and even childhood have become arenas of intense competition for the future students of elite colleges, whose typically upper- or upper-middle-class parents hover nearby at all times, reminding their tykes of the stakes. George Scialabba, Foreign Affairs, 1 Mar. 2015 See all Example Sentences for tyke 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English tyke, from Old Norse tīk bitch; akin to Middle Low German tīke bitch

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of tyke was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near tyke

Cite this Entry

“Tyke.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tyke. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

tyke

noun
variants also tike
ˈtīk
: a small child
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