Deich

See also: deich

German

Etymology

Originally the same word as Teich (“pond”). The sense “dike” spread via Low German, for which reason the form Deich is most often regarded as an artificial adaptation of Middle Low German dīk (“dike”) to the phonetic system of standard German. However, Deich is also the form natively developed in West Central German and it does mean “dike, dam, weir system” in most dialects of the Rhineland, particularly along the Lower Rhine. The supposition of an artificial adaptation is therefore possible but not inevitable. Cognate to Dutch dijk and West Frisian dyk.

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /daɪ̯ç/
  • Audio(file)
  • Rhymes: -aɪ̯ç

Noun

Deich m (strong, genitive Deiches or Deichs, plural Deiche)

  1. dyke, dike; permanent dam
    Wenn der Deich bricht, wird das ganze Tal überflutet.
    If the dike breaks, the whole valley will be flooded.
    Zwölf Boxkämpfer jagen Viktor quer über den großen Sylter Deich.
    Twelve boxers chase Viktor across the big Sylt dike.
    (a German pangram)

Declension
Declension of Deich [masculine, strong]
singular plural
indef. def. noun def. noun
nominative ein der Deich die Deiche
genitive eines des Deiches, Deichs der Deiche
dative einem dem Deich, Deiche1 den Deichen
accusative einen den Deich die Deiche

1Now rare, see notes.

Hyponyms
  • Flussdeich
  • Abschlussdeich
  • Nordseedeich
  • Seedeich
  • Sommerdeich
  • Winterdeich

Derived terms
  • Deichbau
  • Deichbruch
  • Deichfuß
  • Deichgraf
  • Deichkrone
  • Deichwacht

Further reading
  • “Deich” in Duden online
  • “Deich” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
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