History, Wonder Tales, Fairy Tales, Myths and Legends The Flemish | Page 190

O.E.D. states that with the existing evidence it is difficult to establish the chronology of
the senses and suggests that perhaps the sense ‘flood-water’ is the original, in which
case the immediate source may be MLG. and M.Du. sudde or M.Du. sudse (Kilian
zudse), marsh, bog.
Scut (1561), of doubtful meaning, but probably an embankment; perhaps ad.
e.mod.Du. schut, schutte, an embankment.
There are two terms for drainage officials.
Dike-grave (1563), in Holland, an officer whose function it is to take charge of the
dikes or sea-walls; in England (esp. in Lincs.), an officer who has charge of the drains,
sluices, and sea-banks of a district under the Court of Sewers; ad. M.Du. dijcgrave
(Du. dijkgraaf), from dijk, dike, and grave, count.
Dike-reeve, Dyke-reeve (1665), of similar meaning; from dike and reeve, but perhaps
an alteration of dike-grave, -greave by identifying its final part with Eng. reeve as in
port-reeve.
Put-gally (1584-5), a bascule or lever fixed on a high fulcrum and having a
counterpoise on the handle, by means of which water is lifted from a pit or well; ad.
Du. and Flem. putgalg, a bascule to raise water from a well; in Hexham put-galge, ‘a
swipe to drawe up water out of a well’, in Kilian put-galghe, from put, well, pit, and
galge, gallows, post of a draw-well.
Rode (1616, in W.H. Wheeler, Hist. Fens), to clear a dike or stream from weeds;
probably ad. e.mod.Du. roden, roeden (Kilian, LG. roden, raden), to root out, extirpate.
Sasse (1642, Sir C. Vermuyden, Disc. Draining Fens), a lock; ad. Du. sas, which is
probably also the source of F. sas, of the same meaning.
Rode (1662, Dugdale, Imbanking and Draining