February fill-dike

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English

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Alternative forms

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Proper noun

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February fill-dike

  1. A rural appellation for the month of February, when rain or melting snow fills dykes with water.
    • 1837, William Hone, The every-day book and table-book; or, Everlasting calendar of popular amusements:
      Regarding the season, there is an old proverb worthy noticing: February fill dike, be it black or be it white.
    • 1851, Thomas Sternberg, The Dialect and Folk-lore of Northamptonshire:
      January white, February fill-dike.
    • 1997, Marion Kelsey, Victory Harvest: Diary of a Canadian in the Women's Land Army[1], page 174:
      Doris, in her terror, had forgotten that February fill-dike is upon us

Translations

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References

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  • OED 2nd edition 1989