sike

¹ American  

[sahyk] / saɪk /

Or syke

noun

Scot. and North England.

1. a small stream.

2. a gully or ditch, especially one that fills with water after a heavy rain.

---

sike ² American  

[sahyk] / saɪk /

interjection

1. a less common spelling variant of psych.

---

Etymology

Origin of sike¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Old Norse sīk “small stream, ditch, pond”; cognate with Old English sīc “rill,” Middle Low German sīk “puddle”; akin to Old High German seih “urine,” Old English sicerian “to ooze”

Origin of sike²

First recorded in 2000–05

Example Sentences

"Sike, sike, sike, sike. Nah, you good. I guess I can be seen with you now."

From "Look Both Ways" by Jason Reynolds

Syck, sicke, and to-towe sike, And sicke and like to die; The sikest nighte that ever I abode, God lord have mercy on me!

From Ballads of Scottish Tradition and Romance Popular Ballads of the Olden Times - Third Series by Sidgwick, Frank

We needn’t te wonder they mack sike a fuss, Ther craft is i’ danger fra’ rebels like us:— For God can mack preeachers—hoo feearful the thowght— Fra’ cobblers, or meeasons, or blacksmiths, or owght!

From Awd Isaac, The Steeple Chase, and other Poems With a glossary of the Yorkshire Dialect by Castillo, John

“There’s nowt to make sike a pother about,” he growled.

From The Great Mogul by Tracy, Louis

John.—’At sike a meetin’ sud be held i’ t’ church, By men ’at scarce wur fit te stand i’ t’ porch, Wur sike a stain upon its consecration, As roused his reverence’s indignation.

From Awd Isaac, The Steeple Chase, and other Poems With a glossary of the Yorkshire Dialect by Castillo, John