diguen.
= dike n.1 (In reference to Holland, Flanders, or France. Now only used for local colouring.)
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > water > flow or flowing > flood or flooding > structures protecting from water or flooding > [noun] > wall or dyke
waterwough?1340
water wall1445
digue1523
dike1642
1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. 4 b/1 With the fyrste flodde they came before the Digues of Holande [pr. Dignes; hence Grafton Chron. II. 210 dignesse].
1645 City Alarum 10 Opposing a Digue to stop the torrent.
1673 W. Temple Observ. United Provinces i. 23 In Zealand they absolutely gave over the working at their Digues.
1702 J. Dennis Monument xvi. 8 Whose stately Tow'rs Are to the Storms of Arbitrary Pow'r, What its Digues are to the Tempestuous Main.
1886 Athenæum 22 May 686/1 Girls gossiping on the digue of stone which defends the place against the sea.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1896; most recently modified version published online December 2019).
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