ˈdike-grave
Also 7 -greave, 8– digrave.
[a. MDu. dijcgrave, mod.Du. dijkgraaf, f. dijk dike + graaf count, earl.]
a. In Holland, an officer whose function it is to take charge of the dikes or sea-walls. b. In England (esp. Lincolnshire), an officer who has charge of the drains, sluices, and sea-banks of a district under the Court of Sewers; = dike-reeve. Now only dial. (di'grave).
| 1563 Court-roll Settrington in Yorksh. Archæol. Jrnl. X. 75 Milo Herkey et Johannes Holden electi sunt in officiis le dyke graues de anno sequente. 1637 Kirton-in-Lindsey Fine Roll in N.W. Linc. Gloss., Of Iohn Slater and William Ellys, dikegreaues, for not executing their office, viij{supd}. c 1645 Howell Lett. i. i. 5 The chief Dike-Grave here, is one of the greatest Officers of Trust in all the Province. 1672 Marvell Poems, Char. Holland 49 Some small dyke-grave, unperceiv'd, invades The pow'r. 1721 New Gen. Atlas 119 The Dykegrave and his Assistants meet to take care of the Dykes, Sluices, Banks, and Channels..in the Rhineland. 1721 Bailey, Digrave, Dike-grave, an Officer who takes care of Banks and Ditches. 1889 N.W. Linc. Gloss., Dykegrave, Dykereve, a manorial or parochial officer, whose duty it is to superintend the dykes. |