Devil's Dyke
hill or mountain · West Sussex · 217m
UnknownSurmised
Probable2 sources · name elements
Devil's Dyke likely refers to a defensive earthwork or ditch, with 'Devil's' used to denote something fearsome or of unknown origin. The specific etymology of 'Dyke' in this context is Old English.
Word origins
- Devil's
- Old EnglishAttestedAttributed to the devil, often implying something fearsome or mysterious.(from deofol "devil")
- Dyke
- Old EnglishAttestedAn embankment or ditch.(from dīc "ditch, embankment")