Middle English Dictionary Entry
dī̆cher n.
Entry Info
| Forms | dī̆cher n. Also diker. |
| Etymology | From dī̆chen ; cp. OE dīcere. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) One who digs or cleans out ditches, a ditcher; ?also, one who lives near a ditch; (b) ~ man; (c) ?a tree or log used in building dikes or ditches.
Associated quotations
a
- (1210) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms35 : Joh. Dicher.
- (1232) Close R.Hen.III176 : Elyas le Dichare.
- (1238) Close R.Hen.III132 : Robertus le Diker.
- (1273) Pat.R.Edw.I17 : Arnold Dicker.
- (1351) Acc.Chester in LCRS 59194 : Thomas le Dicher.
- (c1380) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.103591 : In sol. facta Rogero Diker pro mundacione unius rivi circa campum de Pittyngton.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)prol.102 : Dykers and deluers þat don heore dedes ille.
- a1425(a1400) Titus & V.(Pep 2014)2468 : I schalle Do make a dyche aboute þe walle..The Emperoure dude sende his sonde For dykers in al þe londe.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.Meas.Treas.(Hrl 2255)106 : Dichers, delverys that greet travaylle endure.
- (1464) Acc.Howard in RC 57261 : My mastyr payed to John Wodeman, the dycher, iij s.
- (1468-9) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.9992 : Joh. Scot, Dykar, pro scuracione et plantacione cum Whik 60 rod. fossati apud Rilley.
- (1469-70) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.9993 : Joh'i Dycar pro factura 18 rod. fossati circa le Conyngarth apud Beaurepair.
- (?1475) Stonor1.161 : John Blakall browtt to Stonor a dyker for to make your dykes in..feld betwen the hy way and the ew tre.
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)4.39.82b : More necessary to the londe is a diker or a deluer than a goldsmyth or a browderer.
b
- (1296) Sub.R.Sus.in Sus.RS 1050 : Adam Dykerman.
c
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.91 : Sepulcre was denyed hym unto þat a dykere [L lignum aridum; Tbr: drye tre; Higd.(2): a wedrede tree] in þe day after i-depped in his blood wex greved [read: grened].