Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “dyke” come from?

Dyke comes from Middle English dike, from Middle Dutch dijk, related to Middle Dutch decken and Old Dutch thecken, ultimately from Proto-Germanic þaką meaning roof or covering.

dyke (English): A long, narrow hollow dug from the ground to...

Definitions

  1. A long, narrow hollow dug from the ground to...

Ancestry of “dyke”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Dutchdijkdike, levee
2Middle Dutchdijcditch; dam
3Old Dutchdiic—
4Frankish*dīk—
5Proto-Germanicdīkazpool, puddle
6Proto-Indo-Europeandʰēygʷ-—

Words derived from “dyke”

  • dykey
  • dykedom
  • leatherdyke
  • dykehood
  • dykedar
  • dykephobia
  • boydyke
  • dykeling
  • dykelet
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰēygʷ- →