spike

   1. to adulterate or introduce an intoxicant to (a drink)

   Perhaps from spiking, or destroying, a gun by driving a metal object through the touch-hole, or merely from the practice of inserting a hot piece of metal into a fluid. It is used of the addition of alcohol surreptitiously to a nonalcoholic drink:

    When I complained that it was my first day and I was afraid to drink, Mary reluctantly bought me an orange juice and then spiked it with vodka when my back was turned. (Bolger, 1990)

   or, these days, of the adulteration of a drink by the addition of narcotics:

    A couple of hours later Beano spiked their tequilas with angel dust, which was his idea of a good New Year's joke. (O'Connor, 1991)

   2. to reject for publication

   Editorial jargon, from the metal spike on which rejects were once impaled:

    The chances are that no sub-editor is going to spike the story. (Deighton, 1982)

   3. a hypodermic needle

   A specific sharp-pointed piece of metal:

    It was for the spike he held out toward her in his open hand... Her eyes never left the needle, or the loving smile her face. (Crews, 1990)