Wiktionary
alt. a running waterway that links a ditch or stream to a river. n. a running waterway that links a ditch or stream to a river.
Wikipedia
A rhyne ( Somerset), rhine/rhyne ( Gloucestershire), or reen ( South Wales) (all pronounced "reen"; from Old English ryne or Welsh rhewyn or rhewin "ditch") is a drainage ditch, or canal, used to turn areas of wetland at around sea level into useful pasture.
Water levels (and hence the level of the water table) will usually be controlled by a system of sluice gates and pumps, allowing the land to become wetter at times of the year when this will improve grass growth. Rhynes represent an early method of swamp or marsh drainage. Large sections of swampland were surrounded by trenches deep enough to drain the water from the encircled mound and leave the land relatively dry. Regular clearing and dredging is necessary to keep the rhynes clear of debris so that they flow freely.
Rhynes have been used extensively in the United Kingdom, especially on marshy coastal areas such as the Somerset Levels, and the North Somerset Levels. Other examples in England still exist in the Framilode and Saul area of Gloucestershire, where they drain into either the River Severn or Sharpness Canal, and around Easter Compton, South Gloucestershire. In southeast Wales, they can be found on the Caldicot and Wentloog Levels. Many of them are still in use today.
A large number of rhynes in England and Wales are maintained as part of the water resource management operations of internal drainage boards. The rhynes near Wembdon village have some early references, including Fichet's rhyne in 1579 and the Great or Wildmarsh rhyne in 1705.
Some sources claim that rhyne is derived from the Irish word rathin, a diminutive of rath —a circular mound or entrenchment.
Usage examples of "rhyne".
Joseph Hetton, late owner of Rhyne House, near the village of Sandburrows?
Her parents had moved from Rhyne House nearly eleven years ago, but she had not forgotten how strangely flat the country was, with small, isolated hills rising like islands from a calm, green sea.
Caroline stared out at the bleak landscape: they had passed Crowsham now, and as the coach swung round another of the innumerable bends she caught sight of her old home, Rhyne House, set back from the road, and sheltered from the sea winds by a belt of trees to the south and west.
Another few minutes and her journey would be over, for she remembered it was but a short distance from Rhyne House to Lagallan House.
You may be interested to know that she resides with her brother, who now owns Rhyne House.
Arriving at Rhyne House, he was shown into the morning room where he found Mrs Cley, alone.
Hardly had Rhyne gotten started when he was interrupted by Frankfurter.
Littell, Janelle Lohr, Curtis Mitchell, Lyda Morehouse, Fillard Rhyne, Bill Scherer, Corinne Staggs, and Karen Swanberg.
Michelle Herder, Rowan Littell, Catherine McCubbin, Curtis Mitchell, Fillard Rhyne, Bill Scherer, Blake Scherer, and Karen Swanberg.
John Rowan Littell, Curtis Mitchell, Fillard Rhyne, Bill Scherer, and Karen Swanberg.