sike

sike [sahyk, sik] ExamplesWord Origin noun Scot. and North England.

1. a small stream.
2. a gully or ditch, especially one that fills with water after a heavy rain.

Also syke. Origin of sike 1300–50; Middle English Old Norse sīk small stream, ditch, pond, cognate with Old English sīc (now sitch) rill, Middle Low German sīk puddle; akin to Old High German seih urine, Old English sicerian to ooze Examples from the Web for sike Historical Examples of sike

Page 50, changed “even raughed” to “even laughed” and “Sike’s case” to “Sikes case.”

Step Lively!

George Niblo

Tarn (a mountain pool), grain and sike (mountain streams) are also Scandinavian terms.

Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 4

Various

As to the name Well-syke, “sike” is an old term for a “beck,” or small running stream.

A History of Horncastle

James Conway Walter

A very brief exercise of Mr. Sike’s art, sufficed to overcome the fastening of the lattice; and it soon stood wide open also.

Oliver Twist, Illustrated

Charles Dickens

If them as is left, should know waat’s coom tiv’un, there’ll be sike a revolution and rebel!

The Life And Adventures Of Nicholas Nickleby

Charles Dickens

Word Origin and History for sike n.

also syke, “small stream,” a Scottish and Northern word, from Old English sic or cognate Old Norse sik “a ditch, trench.”