fill v DC ~ v (1954) for sense 1; OED v 18 fill-dike, ~ ditch (1611, 1869), Weather Proverbs
   (1883), pp. 93-4 'January fill dyke ... February fill dike' for sense 4.
   1 See variant at FULL v.
   2 To weave strips of animal hide to form the webbing of a snowshoe.
   [1886] LLOYD 78 The spaces outside the bars [of the snowshoe] are filled with more finely cut skin than the
   middle space, the Indian term for which is tibeesh. C 75-136 Babich: long, narrow strips of cow skin used
   to fill home-made snowshoes. 1979 'Twas a way of life 27 Once the racquets are garnished, they have to be
   filled—a mesh has to be woven in.
   3 To wind twine on the implement used to knit a fish-net.
   T 43/8-64 Then you could knit [a net] as fast as you like. If there was somebody there to fill the needles for
   you, you could knit out a needle in ten minutes. 1979 'Twas a way of life 130 Filling the needle.
   4 Comb fill-dike: the month of February.
   C 68-16 Around the last of January you will often hear people saying, 'Filldyke will soon be here.' [It] is a term used to mean the month of February [or] up until the middle of February. Q 71-4 ~ cold harsh weather of February. 'February always fills the dykes,' i.e. ditches or hollows.

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