delf

Definitions


[], (Noun)

Definitions:
- A hole or pit dug in the ground; a trench or ditch, such as for irrigation or drainage; (in the Fens of eastern England) specifically a drainage channel. Also in figurative contexts. In later use English regional (East Anglian and Lincolnshire regional).

- A quarry or mine; especially (in later use) a small quarry. In later use chiefly English regional.

- A square device or bearing representing a square-cut turf, apparently used as an abatement.


Phrases:

Origin:
Old English; earliest use found in Orosius' History. In some forms cognate with or formed similarly to Middle Dutch ghedelf, gedelf ditch, pit, canal, act of digging or delving from the Germanic base of y- + the Germanic base of Old Dutch delf (only in place names, apparently always with reference to canals or drainage ditches; Middle Dutch delf, delve (also dilf, dilve) ditch, canal; Dutch † delf, Dutch regional (Zeeland) dulve), Middle Low German delf (inflected form delv-) ditch from the same Germanic base as delve; compare Old Frisian delfta, delft digging, damage done by digging (in legal contexts)




definition by Oxford Dictionaries