local. [Derivation unknown.] Local name of a kind of stony or gravelly soil: see quots.
1610. [see CREECHY below].
1798. Young, Ann. Agric., XXXI. 201. Much creech lime from near Matlock. Ibid. (1801), XXXVII. 533. The soil is creach upon limestone.
1851. Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., XII. I. 266. A good red deep loam with fragments of stone (locally [Lincolnshire] termed ‘creech’ land). Ibid., 267. The soil varies from clay to creech and sand; the creech making good arable land.
Hence Creechy, creachy a., of the nature of creech; gravelly.
1610. W. Folkingham, Art of Survey, I. ii. 3. Either Simple, as Clay, Moulde, Moore, Grauell, Sande: Or Commixt; as Creachie, Chaulkie, Clayie, Sandie Earth. Ibid., xi. 35. Vetches are fruitfull in Creachie Countries. Ibid., xi. 43. Best fitted with a glareous soyle, viz. dry, leane and creachy.
