As a noun pikey
is a low-ranking soldier who merely carries a pike or pikey can be (british|pejorative) a working-class (often underclass) person; can vary from specifically irish travellers to gypsies or travellers from any ethnic background, but now increasingly used for any socially undesirable person, with negative connotations of benefit fraud, theft, single-parent families and living on run-down estates.
As a verb pikey
is (uk|slang|derogatory) to steal.
As an adjective spikey is
.
pikey
English
Etymology 1
pike + -y
Noun
(
en noun)
A low-ranking soldier who merely carries a pike.
Etymology 2
From obsolete pike , to depart or travel, or possibly from turnpike
(en) - needs to be confirmed
Noun
(
en noun)
(British, pejorative) A working-class (often underclass) person; can vary from specifically Irish Travellers to gypsies or travellers from any ethnic background, but now increasingly used for any socially undesirable person, with negative connotations of benefit fraud, theft, single-parent families and living on run-down estates.
See also
* charva
* chav
* yob
* gypsy
Etymology 3
Derived from the stereotype that all gypsies or other travellers are thieves.
Verb
(
en verb)
(UK, slang, derogatory) to steal.