Place-name: | Otter Sike |
Suggested Meaning: | ‘otter sluggish stream’ |
1st element | Scots otter |
2nd element | Scots sike, syke ‘sluggish stream’ |
Blaeu Coila (1654): | No Entry |
OS Name Books (1855-57): | Otter Sike |
Location: | Otter Sike |
Otter
Named no doubt at a time otters were prevalent here
Sike
A Sike or Syke is described as –
A small stream, rill or water-course, especially one that meanders through a hollow or across flat or boggy ground and is freqently dry in summer
Dictionary of the Scots Language
the sheughs and the sykes
In Otter Sike flows into Black Water in the north-east of the parish to the west of Martyr’s Moss. Also in this vicinity is Palmsike Burn and Stot Sike.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
References |
[1] Dictionaries of the Scots Language | sike, syke |
[2] The Laird of Logan, Or, Anecdotes and Tales Illustrative of the Wit and Humour of Scotland |
Maps |
Reproduced with the Permission of National Library of Scotland |
https://maps.nls.uk/ |
Map 1: Ordnance Survey 6 inch (1892-1960) | Otter Sike |
Ordnance Survey Name Books |
By Permission of Scotland’s Places |
scotlandsplaces.gov.uk |
Ayrshire OS Name Books (1855-57) Vol. 49|Otter Sike |