The word 'tike' entered Middle English from Old Norse 'tík', which originally referred to a female dog. This canine term was used figuratively as a term of contempt or abuse for a woman. Over time, the meaning broadened and softened. By the 16th century, it was applied to a low-bred or lazy person, and later, in a more affectionate and diminutive sense, to a small child, particularly a lively or cheeky one. This evolution from a derogatory term for an animal to a colloquial, sometimes endearing term for a child illustrates a common path of semantic shift where negative connotations are bleached away, leaving a term of familiar address.

The word 'tike' is a simplex word of Middle English origin, derived from Old Norse 'tík', meaning a female dog or bitch. Its functional role is as a complete lexical unit.