dike
UK[daɪk]US[daɪk]
n
A long wall or embankment built to prevent flooding from the sea or a river.
n
A ditch or channel for draining water.
n
(Geology) A sheet of rock that cuts across existing rock layers.
Etymology
The word 'dike' originates from the Old English 'dic', a versatile term that could refer to either a trench dug to hold water or the earth banked up beside it. This duality of meaning—encompassing both excavation and construction—reflects the practical reality of water management in early societies. It is cognate with similar words across Germanic languages, such as Dutch 'dijk' (embankment) and German 'Teich' (pond), all stemming from the Proto-Germanic 'dīkaz'. The geological sense, referring to an intrusive sheet of rock, is a later metaphorical extension from the 19th century, drawing an analogy between the rock formation cutting across strata and a man-made trench cutting through the earth.
Analysis
The word 'dike' is a simplex word of Old English origin, derived from the Old English 'dic', meaning both "ditch" and "embankment." It is related to the Old Norse 'díki' (ditch, moat) and shares a common Proto-Germanic ancestor 'dīkaz'.
Examples
The villagers reinforced the dike to protect their fields from the rising river.
An ancient dike system was discovered, designed to drain the marshy land for farming.
The geologist pointed out a prominent basalt dike cutting vertically through the sandstone cliffs.