Otter Sike

Place-name:Otter Sike
Suggested Meaning:‘otter sluggish stream’
1st elementScots otter
2nd elementScots 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

Laird of Logan “Colin Dulap”

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.

Map 1: Otter Sike | Reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland

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