U.S. [a. Du. fuik.] A bag-net used for catching fish, esp. shad.
1860. Bartlett, Dictionary of Americanisms, 165. Fyke. (Dutch, fuik, a weel, bow-net.) The large bow-nets in New York harbor, used for catching shad, are called shad-fykes.
b. Comb., as fyke-net; also fyke-fisherman, one who fishes with a fyke (Cent. Dict.).
1891. W. K. Brooks, Oyster, 181. The shores of our bays and sounds are now so lined by fyke nets and pounds that the number of shad which reach the spawning-grounds at all is proportionally much less than it was in 1880.