Dry-stane Dykes

In many ways, Scotland is not much different than the United States.  The majority of people are above the poverty line, we share western clothing and music, English as a first language, most foods and daily life routines.  There are, of course, subtle differences within each of these similarities, but they are certainly more similar than say the cultures of China or India.  And yet, it’s the subtle differences that I find fascinating here – differences that I can thoroughly enjoy because they are not so different that they become uncomfortable.  Some of the differences are claimed by the entire United Kingdom, some only between England and Scotland, or Scotland and Ireland.  And many are particular to Scotland.  These are the differences that Scottish people never think twice about, but which make life as a fellow westerner here, well… fun. 

I want to introduce a series of Scotticisms – words or phrases that I encounter regularly, whether verbally or visually.  Each Scotticism will feature its own post, so that pictures can be attached and you can literally “see what I mean.” 



For this first Scotticism, let me introduce you to 'dry-stane dyking.’  You know what a dyke is, a wall built out of stone either to serve usually as a fence in a field (as you might see in New England) or even more popular here in the coastal communities of Scotland, as an actual water dyke, constructed to create a calm harbor on the sea.  Here in Scotland though, it’s dry-stane (i.e. dry stone) dykes – stones placed in a jigsaw pattern and held together without mortar of any kind.  These certainly are not found only here in Scotland, but are certainly more popular here than in the majority of western countries.
  


In a Scots quotation from 1861 we read: ‘O Lord, Thoo is like a moose (mouse) in a dry-stane dyke – aye keekin oot (always peeping out) at us frae (from) holes … and we canna see Thee.’

As a verb, to dyke means to build or repair a dyke, and a man doing such work is a dyker. In 1921 someone was recognized as ‘the best dry-stane dyker in the shire o’Dumfries.’

According to some local Scots, creating dry-stane dykes is not just a practical necessity, but also a hobby.   Or perhaps the hobby isn’t creating, but enjoying.