A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1400-1529, 1595-1689
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Hed(e)-dyk, Heid-dyke, n. Also: heide-dike, heiddyck; hedge dyke (? erroneous form). [Hede n.1 7; Dyke n. 2.] The outer wall of a field or holding; the boundary wall.The heid-dyke was the wall built on the heid-rowm (Hede-rowm n.), as distinct from those built on the front and the sides of the holding. 14.. Acts I. 363/2.
Giff ony burges will nocht mak his hed dyk or other placis that are opyn, [etc.] 1498 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 74.
That na … persoun presume … to cum within the toune at bak postrouns or heid dykis 1514 Ib. 150.
That thai … big vp thair heid dykis of thair said waistlands 1529 Dundee B. Laws 546.
The stane dyke … to be biggit … ewyn vp north … to the hed dyk 1595 Breadalbane Ct. Bk. 189 b.
The wrangus vnbigging of his part of the heid dyke 1621 Black Bk. Taymouth 353.
That all heiddykis and faulddykis … be yeirly beittit 1667 Stitchill Baron Ct. 50.
That ilke tenant … make ther heid dycks sufficient a1689 Cleland Poems 87.
To drive out holes in our hedge dykes When Babel's foxes. .Are endeavouring them to scaleattrib. 1488 Reg. Paisley 407.
We fynd the marchez … betuix the saidis landis clere fra the Knok dike to the heide dike nuke
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"Hed-dyk n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/hede_dyk>
