dike

dike · noun, verb¹

1. Middle Low German · derived fromdīk“dam”
2. Middle Dutch · derived fromdijc“ditch; dam”
3. Old Norse · derived fromdíki“ditch”
4. Northern Middle English · derived fromdik
5. English todaydike

From Northern Middle English dik and dike (“ditch”), from Old Norse díki (“ditch”). Influenced by Middle Dutch dijc (“ditch; dam”) and Middle Low German dīk (“dam”). See also ditch.

dike · verb, noun²

Of uncertain etymology, first attested in mid-19th century Virginia. Possibly a variant of deck and deck out or influenced by them.

dike · verb, noun³

Contraction of diagonal + cutters.

Dike · proper noun⁴

From Middle English (see the noun dike). Compare Dyke.

Dike · proper noun⁵

1. Ancient Greek · borrowed fromΔίκη
2. English todayDike

From Ancient Greek Δίκη (Díkē, literally “Justice; Order; Judgement”).

Words from the same roots