ditch/creek/brook
In oral tradition where there can be long intervals between learning and repeating a song, near synonyms are often substituted. Had this ballad been written in the north of England dyke/dike would more probably have been the chosen word. Post enclosure most ditches were man-made for drainage. More modern equivalent is drain. At the end of our road in Yorkshire is Endyke Lane and just up the road is Barmston Drain. Incidentally Endyke is spelt thus at one end and Endike at the other.

For explanation of inheritance see 30 April post 01.01.