Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
CONSUMPTION DYKE, n. comb. A wall built to use up the stones cleared off a field (Abd.19 1937). Also called consuming dyke.Abd.(D) 1877 W. Alexander North. Rural Life in 18th Cent. xiv.:
The enormous quantities of stones taken off the surface serving to form “consumption” dykes, from 12 to 16 feet thick, and many hundred yards in length.Mearns 1809 G. Robertson Gen. View Agric. Kcd. 26:
The expense of clearing a field of these stones . . . would be much more . . . had they not fallen on the device of making, what they call, consuming dykes for holding them.
