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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Dyk(e, v. Also: dik(e, dyik, dyck. [ME. dyke, dike, OE. dícian.]

1. tr. To surround or enclose with a ditch or wall.According to English chroniclers used by the Scots at the siege of Berwick by Edward I in 1296. 1375 Barb. xvii. 271 (E).
That he … will … To the toune ane assege set, And gert dyk [C. dik] thaim sa stalwartly [etc.] c1420 Wynt. v. 239 (W).
The cete All about of Rome fand he Dykit bot with faill or mude 1548 Stirling B. Rec. I. 52.
The said werk hous … weill wallit … with the yaird tharof dykit with stane and mortar 1564 Inverness B. Rec. I. 115.
That the kirk yard be biggit and dykit sufficientle … for stopping of horses and bestiall 1574 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. I. 265.
The cornis nov growand on the ground debaittable … to be schorne … and to be sufficientlie dyikit and preseruit frome skaytht 1597 Reg. Great S. 188/2.
As the samyne is parkit and dykit round about 1671 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. III. 359.
To cause dyk or ditch the highwayes

b. To close in, close or build up, shut out, by means of a dike. 1533 Boece xi. xviii. 443 b.
To the castell was ane narow passage quhilk eftirwart Danis distroyit, and dykit out the sey, filling it vp with erd 1556 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 320.
The aucht dayis expensis to dyk up the bulwart quhen it sandit 1582 Ib. IV. 230.
Jhone Jhonestoun, collectour, to caus dyke in the waist grund at the eist end of the duikis lugeing 1596 Dalr. I. 293/8.
This was a lang way, and dyket in on ilk syd 1624 Urie Baron Ct. 54.
The haill tennents … ar … ordeanit to gang … and dyik in hauld [sic] the watter to the milne 1674 Glasgow B. Rec. III. 180.
The whoill places quher they wer wont to bleitch and wash on ar dycked in and parked

2. intr. To make ditches or dikes. a1500 Bernardus 392.
Lat tham … tel and saw, and dyk and delff the erde, Or vse sum craft 1593 Lanark B. Rec. 110.
Ilk man to cast his pairt this yeir and to dik within ilk man pairt quhen it is corne