Deich
/daɪç/noun
A German term for a dike or embankment built to hold back water.
Did you know?The German Deich and English dike belong to the same ancient Germanic word family, reflecting how communities have battled floodwaters for millennia.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*dʰeyǵʰ-
“To form, shape, or build, especially by working material with the hands.”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*dīką
“An embankment or constructed earthwork.”
Old English
Old English
dīc
“A ditch or defensive earthwork; the word could refer to either the excavation or the raised bank.”
Middle Low German
Middle Low German
dīk
“A dike or embankment built to contain water.”
Modern German
German
Deich
“A dike, levee, or sea wall protecting land from flooding.”