Green’s Dictionary of Slang

pike v.²

(US) to hold back, to shirk, to act cautiously, often in gambling.

1899–1900		C.L. Cullen Tales of the Ex-Tanks 339: I [...] piked along at a ten-cent table with the last two dollars I had.
1902		‘Hugh McHugh’ Back to the Woods 23: ‘Still piking, eh?’ he chuckled; ‘you wouldn’t trail along after Your Uncle Bunch and get next to the candy man, would you?’.
1904		Ade ‘The Fable of Another Brave Effort’ in True Bills 57: He couldn t bear the Thought of having it said that he was Piking and flying low.
1920		Ade Hand-made Fables 134: If one is accustomed to the Best [...] one must not Pike when telephoning the Orders.
1931		W.R. Burnett Silver Eagle 108: ‘Here’s a tip. I’m taking over the city. It’ll cause me a lot of grief, but I been piking compared to what I’m going to do’.
1957		‘Nino Culotta’ They’re a Weird Mob (1958) 78: Nino on the metal. Twelve shovelfuls, Nino, an’ no pikin’.
1967		J. Hibberd White with Wire Wheels (1973) 199: mal: Simon’s piking out. rod: Yellow belly.
1979		D. Maitland Breaking Out 73: No tricks, no piking, no bullshit; and complete and irrevocable commitment on both sides.

In compounds

pike bet (n.)

a small bet.

1908

K. McGaffey Sorrows of a Show Girl Ch. xvii: I landed this buzz wagon out of a ten dollar pike bet. [...] Talk about playing in luck.

In phrases

pike on (v.)

(N.Z.) to let down, to disappoint.

1988		McGill Dict. of Kiwi Sl. 83/2: pike on to let down.
2003		McGill Reed Dict. of N.Z. Sl. [as cit. 1988].