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LOCAL 


ETYMOLOGY: 


A  DERIVATIVE   DICTIONARY 


GEOGRAPHICAL  NAMES. 


RICHARD   STEPHEN  CHARNOCK,  F.S.A. 


LONDON : 

IIOULSTON    AND     WRIGHT, 

(')'>,  Paternoster  Row. 

1S59. 


PRINTED    BY 
SUMFIELD    AND    JONES,    WEST    HARDING    STREET,    FETTER    LANE. 


IDS' 


LIST     OF     SUBSCRIBERS. 


Adams,  Mr.  W.  J.,  Fleet  Street,  two  copies. 
Angus,  Mr.  Wm.,  68,  Lord  Street,  Liverpool. 
Ashley,  H.,  Esq.,  Charles  Square,  Hoxton. 

Bakth,    Heinrich,    Esq.,    Ph.D.,    F.R.G.S.,   39,  Alpha   Koad,    St. 

John's  Wood,  London. 
Bathgate,  James,  Esq.,  Entield. 

Beetham,  a.  W.,  Esq.,  F.R.S.,  10,  Crown  Office  Row,  Temple. 
Berry,  H.,  Esq.,  5,  Verulara  Buildings,  Gray's  Inn. 
Blackie,  W.  Graham,  Esq.,  Ph.D.,  F.R.G.S.,  Glasgow. 
BoswoOD,  Mr.  Daniel,  Gray's  Inn. 
BoswoRTH,  Rev.  Joseph,  D.D.,  F.R.S.,  &c.,  Islip,  Oxon. 
Bkacebridge,  C.  H.,  Esq.,  Atherstone  Hall,  Warwickshire. 
Brougham,  The  Right  Honourable  Lord,  Grafton  Street. 
Browne,  Rev.  J.  W.,  Soutligate  House,  Winchester, 

Canney,  Rev.  A.  S.,  Princes  Street,  Upper  Stamford  Street. 
Cannon,  Thos.,  Esq.,  Henrietta  Street,  Covent  Garden. 
Chapman,  Fred.,  Esq.,  New  Cross  Road,  Kent. 
Charnock,    Richard,   Esq.,    5,   King's    Bench    Walk,    Temple,   six 

copies. 
(Jharnock,  W.  Whytehead,  Esq.,  Camberwell,  two  copies. 
Chauntler,  Thomas,  Esq.,  Gray's  Inn  Square. 
Child,  C,  Esq.,  Universal  Life  Assurance,  King  William  Street, 

City. 
Cole,  Charles  A.,  Em|.,  Public  Record  Office,  Fetter  Lane. 

A  2 

G5i030 


IV  LIST    OF    SUBSCRIBERS. 

CORNKORTII,  John,  Esq.,  Birmiugluim. 

Cox,  William,  Esq.,  M.F.,  Caiionbury  Square,  Islington. 

Crowdy,  Eev.  Anthony,  Winchester. 

Curtis,  J.  Lewelyn,  Esq.,  Merchant,  Aldermanbury. 

Dales,  John,  Esq.,  Warwick  Square. 

Daniel,  Peter  Austin,  Esq.,  Gray's  Inn  Square,  two  copies. 

Devenish,  S.  W.,  Esq.,  i\l.D.,  Billiter  Square. 

DuBOSC,  J.  B.,  Esq.,  Spring  Grove,  near  Hounslow. 

Elderton,  E.  M.,  Esq.,  Hare  Court,  Inner  Temple. 

Fenton,  E.  W.,  Esq.,  Walsall,  Stafifordshire. 

GoFF,  Henry  Lindon  B.,  Esq.,  7,  Frederick's  Place,  Old  Jewry, 
GOUGH,  Edward,  Esq.,  11,  South  Square,  Gray's  Inn. 
Gray's  Inn,  The  Honourable  Society  of. 
Griffith,  Thomas,  Esq.,  Steward's  Office,  Gray's  Inn. 

Haddan,  C.  W.,  Esq.,  Hertford  Ruad,  Kingsland. 

Hall,  Robert  Coleman,  Esq.,  70,  Wardour  Street,  Soho. 

Harbridge,  R.  H.,  Esq.,  Alcester. 

Harrison,  Rev.  M.,  M.A.,  Oakley  Rectory,  Basingstoke. 

Harrison,  William,  Esq.,  F.G.S.,  Galligreaves  House,  Blackburn^ 

Lancashire. 
HiGGS,  Samuel,  Esq..  Penzance. 
Howes,  Henry,  Esq.,  Adjutant  General's  Office,  Horse  Guards,  two 

copies. 
Hunter,  Mr.  W.  H.,  Cursitor  Street,  Chancery  Lane. 

Isaacs,  I.,  Esq.,  Lancaster. 

Isaacs,  L.  H.,  Esq.,  Verulam  Buildings,  Gray's  Inn. 

Jarvis,  R.  T.  Esq.,  23,  Chancery  Lane. 

Johnston,  Alex.  Keith,  Esq.,  F.R.S.E.,  F.R.G.S.,  Edinburgh, 

Jones,  J.,  Esq.,  Dinorben,  St.  Asaph. 

Joyce,  Samuel,  Esq.,  Middle  Temple,  two  copies. 

Joyce,  William,  Esq.,  56,  Chancery  Lane. 

Kain,  G.  J.,  Esq.,  Basinghall  Street. 
KerSLAKE,  Thomas,  Esq.,  Bristol,  two  copies. 

Labrow,  Valentine  H.,  Esq.,  F.S.A.,  Chancery  Lane. 
Laxton,  Henry,  Esq.,  Arundel  Street,  Strand. 


LIST    OF    SUBSCRIBEJtS.  1 

Levy,  Jonas,  Esq.,  Tavistock  Square. 

Lewis,  James,  Esq.,  4,  St.  John's  Wood  Terrace. 

Lewis,  Thomas,  Esq.,  25,  Clement's  Lane,  Lombard  Street. 

M.  B.,  Lmcohi's  Inn,  two  copies. 

Mansfield,  W.  C.  Esq.,  Ampton  Place,  Gray's  Inn  Road. 

Maech,  R.  a.,  Esq.,  Great  James  Street,  Bedford  Row. 

Mayer,  Joseph,  Esq.,  F.S.A.,  F.R.A.S.,  M.R.S.N.A.,  Lord  Street, 

Liverpool. 
Mercier,  Rev.  Lewis  P.,  M.A.,  Waltharastow. 
Meredith,  George,  Esq.,  Lower  Halliford,  Chertsey. 
Mollwo,  March,  &  Co.,  Merchants,  St.  Mary-at-Hill. 
Morgan,  Thomas  Vaughan,  Esq.,  Battersea  Works,  Battersea. 
Morris,  Mr.  Edward,  Ludgate  Hill. 
Morris,  Mr.  Richard,  339,  Strand. 
MoxoN,  J.,  Esq.,  63,  George  Street,  Edinburgh,  two  copies. 

NiCHOLLS,  Mr.  H.,  52,  Regent  Street,  St.  James's. 
Nicholson,  John,  Esq.,  Denbigh  Villas,  Bayswater. 
Nicholson,  William,  Esq.,  Elgin  Road,  Kensington  Park. 
NuTT,  D.,  Esq.,  270,  Strand,  three  copies. 

Oram,  Mr,  G.  J.,  19,  Wilmington  Square. 

Paris,  T.  J.,  Esq.,  68,  Lord  Street,  Liverpool. 

Peacock,  E.  G.,  Esq.,  St.  Leonard's  Terrace,  Paddington,  two  copies. 

Peckham,  Robt.,  Esq.,  Ludgate  Street,  St.  Paul's. 

Phippen,  Thomas,  Esq.,  St.  Mary's  Road,  Peckham,  two  copies. 

Poland,  H.  B.,  Esq.,  King's  Beach  Walk,  Temple. 

Price,  Charles,  Esq.,  Stock  Exchange. 

Quaritch,  Bernard,  Esq.,  Castle  Street,  Leicester  Square. 

Rathbone,  John,  Esq.,  Upper  Baker  Street. 
Reed,  E.  H.,  Esq.,  1,  Church  Yard  Court,  Temple. 
Richardson,  R.,  Esq.,  Newton  Heath,  near  Manchester. 
Robins,  E.  C,  Esq.,  Arundel  Street,  Strand. 

Satchell,  John,  Esq.,  Queen  Street,  Cheapside. 

Shekidan,  H.  B.,  Esq.,  M.P.,  Bellefield  House,  Fulham. 

Simmons,  Edward,  Esq.,  Canterbury. 

Simpson,  Mr.  John,  Eldon  Chambers,  Inner  Temple. 

Slipper,  James,  Esq.,  St.  Augustine's  Road,  Camden  Road  Villas. 

Sleioh,  W.  Campbell,  Esq.,  Middle  Temple. 


VI  LTST    OF    SUBSCRIBERS. 

Snell,  Blagrave,  Esq.,  Acton  Street,  Gray's  Inn  Road. 

Sparrow,  Mr.  Thomas  J.,  New  North  Street,  Red  Lion  Square. 

Steel,  Mr.,  Holborn. 

Steinmetz,  Andrew,  Esq.,  Wellington  Road,  Kentish  Town. 

Stevenson,  Mr.  William,  High  Street,  Croydon. 

Sullivan,  Jas.,  Esq.,  Onslow  House,  Brompton. 

Tanswell,  John,  Esq.,  Inner  Temple. 
Turner,  Samuel,  Esq.,  Gray's  Inn  Square. 

Vacher,  G.,  Esq.,  F.R.G.S.,  Parliament  Street,  London. 

Wallis,  Henry,  Esq.,  8,  Gray's  Iini  Square,  London. 

White,  George,  Esq.,  Epsom. 

Wilce,  Jas.,  Esq.,  Park  Street,  Caraberwell. 

Williams,  Edward,  Esq.,  Morninf]  Post. 

Williams,  L.,  Esq.,  Holborn. 

Wilson,  Rev.  W.,  D.D.,  Canon  of  Winchester,  Southampton. 

Wolff,  Rev.  Joseph,  D.D,,  F.R.G.S.,  He  Brewers,  Somerset. 

Wood,  J.  T.,  Esq.,  Adam  Street,  Adelphi. 

Wyld,  James,  Esq.,  M.P.,  F.R.G.S.,  Charing  Cross. 


PREFACE. 


Ix  tracing  the  derivation  of  Geographical  Names,  the 
Author  has  confined  himself  principally  to  those  of  most 
interest  to  the  general  reader. 

The  volume  contains  the  etymology  of  about  3000 
names. 

In  addition  to  researches  in  the  principal  known  lan- 
guages, the  works  of  Camden,  Spelman,  Selden,  Bochart, 
Baxter,  Lambarde,  Ihre,  Wachter,  and  most  of  the  his- 
tories in  the  British  Museum,  have  been  consulted.  The 
Author  is  also  indebted  for  much  useful  information  to 
the  following  works :  —  Dr.  Bosworth's  Anglo-Saxon 
Dictionary  ;  Chalmers'  Caledonia ;  Professor  Wilson's 
Glossary  of  Indian  Terms  ;  Shakespear's  Hindustani 
Dictionary ;  The  Statistical  Account  of  Scotland ;  La- 
martiniere's  Grande  Dictionnaire  Geographiquc  et  Cri- 
tique; Canes'  Dictionary  in   Spanish,  Arabic,  and   Latin; 


PREFACE. 


Armstrong's  Gaelic  Dictionary;  and  Pryce's  Cornish 
Archceology. 

In  derivations  from  the  Oriental  languages,  the  Author 
has  deemed  it  advisable  to  give  not  only  the  Oriental 
character,  but  also  the  Italic  equivalents. 

The  reader  is  invited  to  compare  the  Additions  and 
Corrections  at  page  307,  et  seq.,  with  the  body  of  the 
work. 

The  Index  of  Grouped  Names  refers  to  such  as  do  not 
occur  in  their  alphabetical  order,  but  are  explained  inci- 
dentally under  other  heads. 


8,  Gray's  Inn  Square, 
December,  1858. 


ABBREVIATIONS. 


A.  S Anglo-Saxon. 

Anc.  Brit Ancient  British. 

Arab Arabic. 

Armen Armenian. 

Arm Armoric. 

Barb.  Gr Barbaric  Greek. 

Bas  Bret Bas  Breton. 

Basq Basque. 

Belg Belgic. 

Beng Bengah'. 

Boh Bohemian. 

C.  Chin Cochin  Chinese. 

Celt Celtic. 

Chal Chaldee. 

Chin Chinese. 

Copt Coptic. 

Corn Cornish. 

D Dutch. 

Dan Danish. 

Eng English. 

Eth Ethiopic. 

Flem Flemish. 

Fr French. 

Fries Friesic. 

G German. 

Gael Gaelic. 

Gotli (iothic. 

(•V (;reek. 

ll'b [f(;I)r(;\V. 


Hind Hindustani. 

Hung Hungarian. 

Ice Icelandic. 

Illyr Illyrian. 

Ir Irish  or  Erse. 

It Italian. 

Kara Karnata. 

L Latin. 

Low  L Low  Latin. 

M.  Goth Mseso-Gothic. 

Mai Malay. 

Mex Mexican. 

N.  &  Q Notes  &  Queries. 

Norm Norman. 

0 Old. 

P Prussian. 

P.  Cyc Penny  Cyclopae- 
dia. 

Per.s Persic. 

Plicen Phoenician. 

Plat Plat-Deutsch. 

Pol Polish. 

Port Portuguese. 

priv privative. 

pron pronounced. 

Pun Punic,  i.e.  Car- 
thaginian. 

Kii.s.s Russian. 

Sans Sanskrit. 


ABBREVIATIONS. 


Sax Saxon. 

Slav Slavonic. 

Sco Scotch. 

Sp Spanish. 

Stat.  Ace.  Scot.  The  New  Statis- 
tical Account 
of  Scotland. 

Styr Styrian. 

Sw Swedish. 


Syr Syriac. 

Tarn Tamil. 

Tart Tartar  or  Tatar, 

Tel Telugu. 

Teut Teutonic. 

Turc Turcic. 

Tyr Tyrolese. 

W Welsh. 

Walach Walachiau. 


LOCAL  ETYMOLOGY. 


AALBORG,  a  town  in  Jutland,  famous  for  eels ;  from  Dan. 
aal  an  eel,  borg  a  town. 

AB,  in  local  names  in  England,  is  sometimes  an  abbreviation 
of  abbey  or  abbot,  as  Abton,  i.e.  abbey-town,  or  abbot-town. 

AB,  AUB,  in  local  names  in  India,  as  Punjab,  Doab,  is  the 
Pers.  < i\  db  water,  from  Sans.  dpah. 

ABAD,  in  local  names  in  India,  is  the  Pers.  ubdd  a  city,  as 
Akbarabad,  Aurangabad.  It  means  literally,  populous,  cultivated, 
as  a  village  or  tract  of  country.  In  revenue  phrase,  abad  denotes 
a  village  or  tract  from  which  revenue  may  be  levied ;  in  military 
topography,  a  place  where  suppUes  may  be  expected.  (See  Wilson.) 

ABEK,  a  Celtic  prefix  of  several  names  of  places  in  Great 
Britain,  particularly  in  Wales.  It  generally  means  the  mouth  or 
embouchure  of  a  river,  whether  it  falls  into  a  greater  river  or  into 
the  sea,  and  by  metaphor  a  port  or  harbour ;  as  Abergavenny, 
Aberdale,  Aberdour,  Aberdeen,  Aberbroath  (Arbroath),  Aber- 
fraw,  Aberystwith,  Aberayron,  Abergele,  The  W.  and  Corn. 
aber  may  come  from  Heb.  habar,  to  join  together ;  Chal.  Syr. 
and  Eth.  id.     Boxhom  considers  aber  a  Phoenician  word. 

ABERDEEN,  NEW;  named  from  its  situation  near  the 
mouth  (aber)  of  the  river  Dee. 

ABERDEEN,  OLD ;  formerly  and  correctly  Aberdon,  named 
from  its  situation  on  the  south  bank  of  the  Don,  near  its  moutli. 
It  is  sometimes  called  Old  Machar,  from  the  cathedral  of  St. 
Machar,  part  of  which  has  been  converted  into  the  parish  church, 
and  the  rest  nearly  demolished. 

ABERDOUR,  co.  Aberdeen ;  named  from  its  situation  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Dour. 


to 


2  LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY. 

ABERFRAW,  named  from  its  situation  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Fraw. 

ABERGAVENNY  {abergan'ny),  co.  Monmouth,  named  from 
its  situation  at  the  confluence  of  the  rivers  Usk  and  Gavenny. 
See  Aber. 

ABERYST'WYTH,  co.  Cardigan,  named  from  its  situation 
near  the  outlet  (aber)  of  the  Ystwith.  It  stands  on  a  kind  of 
peninsula  between  the  river  Rheidiol  and  the  sea.  The  Ystwith 
enters  the  sea  about  half  a  mile  from  the  embouchure  of  the 
Rheidiol,  but  there  is  a  tradition  that  the  sea  has  here  encroached 
on  the  land,  and  there  may  have  been  formerly  a  town  at  the 
outlet  of  the  Ystwith. 

ABINGDON,  from  A.  S.  abban  abbot's,  dun  a  hill. 

'  ABYSSINIA,  Arab.  ^1^=^  habshdn,  Abyssinians, Ethiopians ; 
from  habasha,  to  congregate,  collect.  Hubdshatun  denotes  a 
mixed  body  of  men  not  of  one  race. 

ACH  {ak).  Kohl,  speaking  of  Loch  Achray,  says,  "in  whose 
name  I  again  found  the  ach  {aqua)  which  so  often  occurs  in 
names  of  places  in  Scotland."  In  the  neighbourhood  of  Loch 
Achray  he  gives  Ach,  Acharn,  Achoan,  Achirgarn,  Achepan, 
Achinver,  Achaltic,  Achnagillin,  Acheuboni,  Achnacrieve,  Acha- 
nellan,  Veuachar,  Trosachs,  &c.  Here,  however,  ach  is  not  a 
prefix  in  the  sense  suggested ;  it  is  neither  the  O.  G.  ach  a 
brook,  nor  the  L.  aqua  water.  It  is  found  in  composition  in  at 
least  100  local  names  in  Scotland,  and  generally  means  a  field, 
from  Gael,  ach  a  field  {achadh  a  field,  plain,  meadow,  cornfield). 
In  some  names  it  may  be  acha  a  mound  or  bank,  or  ach,  acha,  a 
skirmish. 

ACHAR  {ak'ar),  the  obelisk  of,  Argyle,  from  Gael,  acha  a  field, 
curragh  a  pillar — the  field  of  the  pillar. 

ACKERMAN,  Bessarabia.     See  Ak  and  Inkerman. 

ACRE.  The  ruins  of  Ptolemais  or  St.  Jean  d'Acre  or 
Acra,  from  its  ancient  Hebrew  name  Acco  or  Accho.  This 
town,  among  several  others  mentioned  in  the  Book  of  Judges  as 
being  in  the  tribe  of  Ashur,  was  so  strong,  that  that  tribe  could 
not  drive  out  the  old  inhabitants  ;  so  that  it  retained  its  name 


LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY.  6 

among  the  natives,  seeing  the  Arahs  still  call  it  Akka.  The 
name  of  Ptolemais  was  since  given  it  from  one  of  the  Ptolemies 
of  Egypt,  and  that  of  Acra  probably  from  its  fortifications  and 
importance  ;  whence  the  knights  of  St.  John  of  Jerusalem  after- 
wards gave  it  that  of  St.  Jean  d'Acre.  Univ.  Hist.  See  also 
Pococ/c, 

ACTON,  Middlesex,  from  A.  S.  ac  an  oak,  tun  a  town  ;  the 
neighbourhood  having,  in  former  times,  abounded  with  oak-trees, 
and  some  land  in  the  parish  having,  from  time  immemorial,  been 
called  Old  Oak  Common. 

ADEN,  Arabia ;  qu.  Arab.  sz  'adan  a  permanent  dwelling, 
also  the  Garden  of  Eden.  Aden  is  called  in  the  Periplus 
Eudaimon,  (Gr.)  or  The  Prosperous. 

ADDERBOURN,  a  river  in  Wilts,  so  called  from  its  crooked 
windings,  like  a  snake.   {Bailey.) 

ADRIANOPLE,  Turkey,  from  the  Emperor  Adrian  or 
Hadrian,  by  whom  it  was  built ;   Gr.  tfoAfg  a  city. 

ADUR,  a  river  in  Sussex ;  qu.  Anc,  Brit,  dwr  water.  There 
is  also  a  river  called  the  Adour  in  France.     See  Durum. 

AFFGHANIS'TAN,  the  stnn  or  country  of  the  Affghans,  who 
claim  to  be  descendants  of  the  Jews  of  the  Babylonish  captivity. 

AFRICA.  Dr.  Hyde  derives  Africa  from  Phoen.  or  Punic 
Havarca,  or  Avreea,  i.e.  the  Barca,  or  country  of  Barca,  which 
was  one  of  the  most  remarkable  parts  of  this  continent.  Serenius 
says  from  Gr.  ccvsv^piKriQ  without  cold,  an  appellation  expressing 
the  heat  of  the  climate.  Scrvius  and  Isidorus  say  Africa  is  as 
though  aprica,  sunny,  warmed  with  the  sun,  because  greatly  ex- 
jjosed  thereto  ;  or  from  a^pi-nriv,  because  void  of  cold.  Cleodenus 
derives  it  from  Afra  and  Afer,  the  two  sons  of  Abraha ;  Solinus 
and  Cedrenus  from  Afrus,  either  the  son  of  Hercules  or  of  Saturn  ; 
others  from  Ifricus,  king  of  the  Arabs  ;  Suidas,  from  Africa,  the 
ancient  name  of  Carthage ;  others  again  from  Heb.  1Q«  ep)hor 
dust,  because  Africa  is  a  sandy  country.  Leo  says  from  Heb. 
P"iQ  pharaka  to  separate,  tear  asunder,  because  the  Nile  divides  it 
from  Asia,  and  Gadcs  from  Europe.     Bochart  ridicules  this,  for, 

u  2 


4  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

says  he,  neither  is  Africa  any  more  divided  from  Europe,  than 
Europe  from  Africa,  or  Asia  from  either  ;  and  he  derives  it  from 
a  Punic  word  signifying  an  ear  of  corn,  referring  it  to  the  fer- 
tiUty  of  the  country.  He  says  that  in  the  Syr.  perac  (in  Arab. 
pharaca)  is  to  rub,  and  peruc  (in  Arab,  pheric)  is  an  ear  of  corn. 
Warburton  also  derives  Africa  from  a  Pimic  word  signifying  corn, 
apphed  by  the  Romans  to  the  northern  districts,  now  called 
Tripoli  and  Tunis,  which  constituted  their  granary.  Salmon 
derives  Africa  from  a,  priv.,  and  piyouj  to  shiver  with  cold, 
because  it  is  not  cold  in  Africa. 

AG'ORA,  Athens  ;  from  Gr.  ayopa.,  a  place  where  men  meet 
to  transact  business  ;  market,  forum,  council,  assembly  ;  from 
aysipca  to  collect,  assemble,  meet ;  allied  to  Heb.  ager  to  gather. 

AG'RA,  Hindustan;  corruption  of  Akbar,  i.e.  Akbar-abad,  the 
city  of  Akbar,  which  he  made  his  capital.     See  Abad. 

AK,  in  names  of  places,  &c.,  in  Turkey,  is  the  Turc.  -A  ak  white, 
as  ak  dengiz,  the  Mediterranean  Sea  ;  lit.  the  White  Sea ;  Jk- 
kerman,  Ackerman  (Bielograd),  a  town  of  Bessarabia. 

ALAND.  The  Aland  Isles,  at  the  entrance  of  the  Gulf  of 
Bothnia,  in  one  of  which  was  the  fortress  of  Bomarsund.  The 
word  is  usually  pronounced  Awaland,  water-land,  from  Goth. 
ahwa  water  (from  L.  aqnci),  and  Imid.  A  northern  traveller  says, 
"  the  name  *  water-land  '  is  well  suited  to  the  place,  so  intricately 
are  land  and  water,  sea  and  tarn,  rock  and  island,  twisted  and 
jumbled  together."     See  Oeland. 

ALAUNA,  a  town  of  the  Damnii,  who  anciently  inhabited  a 
tract  of  country  in  Scotland.  Chalmers  derives  Alauna  from 
Brit.  Allan,  the  river  on  which  it  stood,  from  al-wen  the  clear  or 
white  stream.  There  is  a  village  in  Perth  named  Allan,  and 
Allen  is  the  name  of  a  bog  in  Ireland,  and  of  a  river  and  of  a  parish 
— St.  Allen — in  Cornwall. 

ALBACETE  {albathey'te),  in  Spain,  from  Arab,  al  the,  and 
ku*.t^c  mabasat  plain,  level,  extended.  Canes  says,  "En  el 
reyno  de  Murcia  hay  una  villa  que  se  llama  Albacete,  nombre 
que  le  impusieron  los  Arabes,  por  lo  llano  y  extendido  del  terri- 


LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY.  5 

torio  donde  esta  fuadada,  y  asi  lo  mismo  es  deck  Albacete,  que 
lugar  llano,  6  fundado  en  un  terreno  llano  y  extenso." 

ALBION,  the  oldest  name  by  which  Great  Britain  was  known 
to  the  Greeks  and  Romans.  Albion  is  usually  derived  from 
L.  (dbns  white.  It  is  more  probably  from  the  O.  Gael,  alb, 
an  eminence,  height,  and  inn,  in,  from  innis  a  country,  island — 
"  the  high  country  or  island."  Alba,  Albaian  or  Albuin  (Corn. 
Alban)  is  still  the  only  name  by  which  the  Highlanders  call  Scot- 
land. Caesar  calls  England  Britannia  ;  Pliny  Albion  ;  the  whole 
set  of  islands  being  called  Britannic.  "  The  name  of  Albion  was 
probably  given  to  England  by  the  Gaels  of  the  opposite  coast, 
who  could  not  fail  to  be  struck  with  the  chalky  cliffs  that  cha- 
racterize the  nearest  part  of  Kent."  (P.  Cyc.)  The  Breton  bards 
identify  Albion  with  the  isle  of  Alwon,  or  of  Gwion.  x\n  old 
Gallic  poet  calls  Britain  <•  Le  pays  de  Mercure,"  and,  says  Ville- 
marque,  it  is  admitted  that  the  Celtic  Hermes  was  the  greatest 
divinity  of  the  insular  Britons.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Skinner  says 
Al-by-on  means  the  residence  beyond  the  passage  of  the  water, 
which  also  corroborates  the  etymology  of  Dr.  Borlase.  See 
Barbaz-Breiz,  Chants  Pop.  de  la  Bretagne,  par  Villemarque,  Paris, 
1846,  quoting  Myvyrian  t.  i.  p.  158  ;  Eustate's  Com.  in  Dion, 
p.  5GG  ;  and  Agathemerus  Geog.  ii.  c.  ix.  ;  also  Grant's  Orig. 
of  the  Gael,  and  Armstrong,  Gael.  Diet. 

ALBUFERA  {alboofair'a),  the  name  of  several  lagunes  on 
the  southern  coast  of  Spain  and  Portugal,  generally  supposed  to 
be  formed  by  the  sea  :  from  Arab,  al  the,  buheira  dim,  of  ^snj 
bahr,  a  great  quantity  of  water,  the  sea. 

ALBUQUERQUE  {albookej^ke),  in  Spanish  Estremadura,  from 
L.  alba  white,  hoary,  quercus  an  oak. 

ALCANTARA,  in  Spanish  Estremadura.  Under  the  Romans 
it  bore  the  name  of  Norba  Caesarea,  and  was  distinguished  by  a 
beautiful  bridge  of  six  arches  over  the  river  Tagus,  built  in  the 
reign  of  Trajan  by  the  celebrated  architect  Lacer.  When  the 
Arabs  became  masters  of  this  yjart  of  the  peninsula,  the  name 
was  exchanged  for  Al-Cantarat-al-Seif,  i.e.  the  bridge  of  the  sword, 


6  LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY. 

of  which  its  present  name  is  an  abbreviation — from  Arab,  al,  the 
^  I2JJ  kantarat  a  bridge.  Canes  says,  "  En  Toledo  hay  un 
famoso  puente  que  le  llaman  el  puente  de  Alcantara,  y  es  lo 
mismo  que  decir  el  puente  del  piiente" 

ALCAZAR,  or  ALCACER  (ff/^«Mar'),  "the  name  given  by 
the  Moors  to  their  royal  palaces.  It  is  used  in  Portugal  for  any 
fortress,  castle,  or  palace.  The  capital  city  of  the  province  of 
Asgar,  upon  the  coast  of  Barbary.  A  village  in  Portugal,  where 
the  famous  mathematician,  Peter  Nunnes,  was  born."  {Vieyra.) 
From  same  root  as  Luxor. 

ALCESTER,  co.  Warwick,  found  written  Aulcester,  Alencester, 
Alnacester,  Alceter,  Awseter,  commonly  pronounced  Auhter  and 
Aiistei;  and  by  some  of  the  inhabitants  in  Camden's  time, 
Ouldcester.  It  is  situated  at  the  confluence  of  the  Arrow 
and  Alne,  from  which  last  river  it  derives  the  first  part  of  its 
name.  It  is  a  place  of  great  antiquit}^  and  was  probably  a 
Roman  station.  Bailey  gives  also  Alncester  in  Cumberland, 
famous  for  a  synod  of  English  Saxons,  from  the  river  Aln,  which 
runs  by  it ;  also  Ancaster  (co.  Lincoln),  from  An  (qu.  Aln)  and 
Sax.  ceaster,  a  castle.  Alchester,  or  Alcester  (Oxon),  is  said  to 
be  the  JElia  Castra  of  Richard  of  Cirencester. 

ALCHURCH.     See  Alton. 

ALCOBxV(j!A,  a  town  in  Portuguese  Estremadura,  situate 
between  the  rivers  Coa  and  Ba^a,  whence,  with  the  addition  of 
the  Arab,  article  al  the,  its  name — Al-Coa-Baca. 

ALDEA  {aldaya),  in  local  names  in  Spain  and  Portugal,  is  the 
Sp.  and  Port,  aldea,  a  village,  from  Arab,  al  the,  ^JJovJ  dai  ^at 
afield,  plain,  farm  ;   "  lugar  corto,  L.  pagus,  vicus,"  say  others. 

ALENTEJO  {cdentayho) ,  a  province  in  Portugal,  on  the  S.  side 
of  the  river  Tagus  ;  from  Port.  AlemUjo  ;  alem  beyond,  on  the 
farther  side,  Tejo  the  Tagus. 

ALEPPO  (called  by  the  Turks  e^J^  haleb),  in  Syria.  Golius 
and  others  deduce  this  name  from  the  Arab,  haleb,  a  variegated  gray 
and  white  coloiir,  from  the  colour  of  the  soil  and  the  buildings. 


LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY.  7 

The  Arab  writers  assert  that  when  the  patriarch  Abraham 
migrated  into  the  land  of  Canaan,  he  rested  for  some  time 
on  the  hill  where  the  castle  of  Aleppo  now  stands,  and  that 
the  name  Haleb  is  derived  from  the  circumstance  of  his  dis- 
tributing milk  {halah)  to  the  poor  of  a  neighbouring  village. 
Their  frequent  repetition  of  the  words  Ibraheem  haleb,  or 
"  Abraham  has  milked,"  gave  occasion,  it  is  said,  to  the  name 
Haleb,  which  was  conferred  on  the  town  afterwards  built  on  this 
spot.     (Eees.) 

ALEUTIAN  ISLANDS,  called  also  Aleutan,  Aleutic,  or 
Aleutsky  Islands.  A  group  of  islands  in  the  North  Pacific 
Ocean  :  from  Russ.  aleut,  a  bald  rock. 

ALEXANDRIA,  so  called  from  Alexander  the  Great,  who 
either  founded  this  city  or  one  in  its  neighbourhood.     See  Scan- 

DEROON. 

ALGAR'VE,  a  province  of  Portugal,  called  also  the  kingdom 
of  Algarva  :  from  Arab,  algarve  a  level  and  fruitful  country,  or 
a  country  lying  towards  the  west.     {Fieyra.)     The  Arab,  has 

'  i.  gharbi  western,  gharb  the  west. 

ALGEZIRAS  {alghethe'ras),  an  ancient  town  of  Andalusia. 
Here  the  Moors  are  said  to  have  made  their  first  landing  in  Spain, 
and  they  held  this  place  nearly  700  years.  The  name  is  derived 
from  Arab,  alihe,  i  <  'j>-  jazira  an  island,  peninsula  ;  the  harbour 

being  formed  by  two  islands.  The  Spaniards  have  added  the  Sp. 
plural. 

ALGIERS,  found  written  Argel,  from  Arab,  it  i^j!]  Aljasira, 
i.e.  The  Island,  to  which  was  formerly  added  the  epithet  Al  Ghazi, 
The  Warlike.  The  oldest  Arabian  writers,  however,  call  it  Jezira 
Beni  Mazighanan,  the  Island  of  the  Sons  of  Mazigh,  whose  race, 
it  is  believed,  at  one  time  extended  all  over  North  Africa,  from 
the  borders  of  Egypt  to  the  Canary  Islands.  Algiers  does  not, 
however,  appear  to  be  an  island.  Its  shape  is  that  of  an  irregular 
triangle,  of  which  one  side  is  formed  by  the  sea-coast,  and  the 
other  two  run  up  the  declivity  of  a  stcci)  hill.  It  may  have  taken 
its  name  from  the  island  on  which  the  light-house  is  built,  which 


8  LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY. 

Ammianus  Marcellinus  calls  Insula  Mazucana.     The  Turks  write 

ALHAMA  {alya'^na),  in  Granada,  Spain,  takes  its  name  from 
the  baths  in  the  neighbourhood  ;  from  Arab,  al  the,  hammumdt, 
pi.  of  Jiammdm  a  bath;    hamim  hot  water.     See  Hummums. 

ALHAMBRA,  an  ancient  castle  and  palace  of  the  Muham- 
madan  kings  of  Granada,  built  by  Muhammad  II.  about  a.d. 
1273.  Some  derive  its  name  from  the  tribe  of  Muhammad 
Alhamar,  i.e.  the  Red  ;  others  say,  Muhammad  gave  it  the  name 
of  Madmat  Alhambra,  or  the  Red  City,  from  being  built  of  a 
kind  of  red  clay  :  from  Arab,  al  the,  -^«3>-l  ahmar,  red.  Others 
derive  the  name  from  1  y*Jb  hembera  care-free,  sans-souci. 

ALHUCEN  {alhoo'then)  a  tovpn  in  Spain  ;  from  Arab. 
^^mjS^\  alhasan,  lit.  good,  beautiful.  It  here  means  beautiful, 
or  pleasant  to  the  sight:  "lugar  hermoso  6  agradable  a  la  vista." 
Compare  It.  Belvedere,  Fr.  Bellevue. 

ALLAHABAD,  i.  e.  the  abode  of  Allah  or  God,  it  being  the 
capital  of  Agra,  the  chief  abode  of  the  Brahmins,  and  much 
resorted  to  by  pilgrims.     Allah  and  abad,  q.  v. 

ALLAN.     See  Alauna. 

ALLEMxlGNE,  Fr.  for  Germany.  This  name  is  properly 
applicable  to  that  part  of  Germany  which  was  inhabited  by  the 
Alemanni,  who  are  said  to  take  their  name  from  Celt,  all  other, 
man  place  :  one  of  another  place,  a  stranger. 

ALLEN.     See  Alauna 

ALMADEN  {al'madayn),  in  Cordova,  Spain ;  from  Arab. 
j^A*^l  alma  'aden,  the  mine.  "  Al  fin  de  la  Sierra  de  Cordoba 
hay  uno  lugar  que  se  llama  Almaden,  nombre  que  se  le  impuso 
por  estar  junto  a  la  mina  azogue  [quicksilver]."     See  Canes. 

ALMANZA  {alman'tha),  a  town  in  New  Castile,  Spain, 
famous  for  a  victory  which  placed  PhiHp  II.  firmly  on  the  throne. 
From  Arab,  al  the,  r   'j^  manza  foundation,  level,  plain. 

ALMAZAN  {almathan'),  a  town  in  Spain.  This  name  is 
j)Vobably  synonymous  with  Almacen,  from  Arab,  al  the,      -p^^ 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  y 

makhzan  a  storehouse,  a  magazine.  The  Spanish  has  ahnazai, 
ahnacen,  ahnagacen,  storehouse,  warehouse,  magazine  of  miHtary 
or  warHke  stores.    From  makhzan  comes  also  our  word  magazine. 

ALMERIA,  a  maritime  city  in  Granada,  Spain,  from  'Sj  ^\ 
almariyyat,  i.  e.  a  clear  place,  a  place  where  a  great  deal  of 
country  may  be  seen. 

ALNWICK  {an'nick),  found  written  Anwick ;  a  town  in 
Northumberland,  remarkable  for  the  captivity  of  "William,  and 
for  the  death  of  Malcolm  III.,  kings  of  Scotland  ;  from  A.  S. 
Ealnwick,  from  the  river  Alne  and  wic  village,  castle,  &c. 

ALP,  ALPS,  some  derive  from  L.  albus,  Gr.  aXipog,  white ; 
others  from  O.  Gael,  alb,  an  eminence,  or  alb,  white,  or  from 
Gael,  ailj),  mountain,  or  ailp,  white  ;  as  being  always  white  with 
snow,  says  Armstrong.  The  Celts  called  the  high  mountains 
Alpes  or  Olbe.  (Cluver.)  Another  writer  says,  the  name  is  sup- 
posed to  be  derived  from  Celt,  alp,  signifying  verdant  heights  or 
mountains  ;  and,  amongst  the  ancient  Scythians,  the  spirit  of  a 
mountain  ;  or  from  L.  albus,  aljms,  white  with  snow.  {Lond. 
Encyc.)  The  Chal.  has  alban  to  be  white,  Syr.  albeji  to  whiten, 
Teut.  alp  a  swan.  See  also  Isid.  in  Orig.  lib.  iii.  and  Servius  in 
Virg.  Mn.  lib.  iii. 

ALSACE  (alsass'),  a  province  of  France.  In  L.  it  is  found 
written  Elisatia,  Alisatia,  and  Alsatia.  According  to  some  vsriters 
its  ancient  name  was  Elsas,  i.e.  the  Country  of  the  Elsassin, 
a  tribe  who  are  supposed  to  have  derived  their  name  from  the 
river  III,  on  the  banks  of  which  they  dwelt.  Menage  says  the 
111,  EUus,  or  Illus  was  anciently  called  the  Alsa,  as  appears  by 
old  title-deeds  at  Strasburg  ;  hence  Alsa-tia,  Alsace. 

ALSATIA,  Blackfriars,  London.  Sheridan  thinks  Alsatia 
may  have  been  the  habitation  of  the  Ancient  Saxons.  Qu.  A.  S. 
Eald  Seaxen,  Old  Saxons.     See  Alsace. 

ALSTON,  in  Cornwall.  Als-ton  in  Corn,  means  the  high- 
clifif  hill. 

ALTA'I.  The  Altai  are  a  vast  ridge  of  mountains  extending, 
in  an  easterly  direction,  through  a  considerable  part  of  Asia,  and 
forming  a  boundary  between  the  Russian  and  Chinese  dominions. 


10  LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY. 

(JPinkerton.)  Tooke,  i.  121,  derives  Altai  from  Tart,  alatau, 
perhaps  al-tag,  high  mountain.  Altai  may,  however,  come  from 
Turc.  altun  gold.  The  Chinese  call  these  mountains  kin-chan, 
or  mountains  of  gold. 

ALTEN  {alt'n)  a  town  in  N.  of  Norway,  situated  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Alten  Elv,  or  river. 

ALTON,  ALVETON,  the  parish  of  Alton,  Alveton,  Alchurch, 
or  Alvechurch,  co.  Stafford.  Alve  may  be  another  orthography 
of  the  O.  Eng.  alne  (Fr.  aune,  aulne ;  A.  S.  air)  an  alder-tree; 
from  L.  ainiis.  Cowel  says,  alvetum  is  the  same  as  alnetum, 
which  he  translates,  "  a  place  where  alder-trees  grow."  Bailey 
gives  alvetum  same  as  alnetum,  an  alder-grove.  Nash  says, 
'•  Doubtless  the  place  Alvechurch  took  its  name  from  the  Saxon 
founder  of  the  church  here,  one  iElfgyth  ;  which,  with  Alfwith, 
Alluuith,  and  the  like,  were  common  appellations  of  our  Saxon 
ancestors ;  that  in  the  most  ancient  writings  Alvechurch  was 
called  jElfgythe  Circea ;  in  Domesday  survey,  Alvieve  Church ; 
and  in  the  later  records,  Alviuechurch,  Alvieth-church,  Alvechurch 
or  Allchurch,  as  it  is  at  this  day."  Alton  is  a  contraction  of 
Alveton. 

ALVERTHORPE,  co.  York.     See  Thorpe. 

ALVERTON,  a  village  in  Cornwall.  Al-ver-ton  in  Corn, 
means  the  high  green  hill. 

AMAZONIA,  AMAZON,  S.  America.  Amazonia  was  first 
traversed  in  1.580  by  Francisco  Orellana,  who,  coming  from  Peru, 
sailed  down  the  great  river  to  the  Atlantic.  Observing  companies 
of  women  in  arms  on  its  banks,  he  called  the  country  Amazonia, 
and  the  river  yhnazon.  Oriedo  and  Condamine  both  speak  of  these 
Amazon  women.  When  the  Abbe  Gilii,  who  lived  in  S.  America 
many  years,  asked  of  the  Quaquis,  on  the  borders  of  the  Cuccivere, 
which  discharges  itself  into  the  Orinoco,  the  names  of  the  dif- 
ferent tribes  in  the  vicinity  of  this  river,  they  replied  that  there 
were  the  Acherecottes,  Payures,  Aicheam,  and  Benano,  which 
latter  word,  in  the  language  of  the  Quaquis,  the  Abbe  translates, 
"  a  nation  composed  solely  of  women." 

AMERICA,  from  Amerigo  Vespucci,   a  Florentine,  who,  in 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  11 

1497,  landed  on  that  part  of  the  continent  to  the  south  of  the 
Equator.  The  continent  was,  however,  first  discovered  by 
Columbus,  a  Genoese,  in  1492.  Webster  says,  "first  discovered 
by  Sebastian  Cabot,  June  11,  o,  s.,  1498,  and  by  Columbus,  or 
Christoval  Colon,  August  1,  in  the  same  year."  Vespucci's  real 
Christian  name  was  Emmericus  (the  German  St.  Emmerich), 
afterwards  Italianized  into  Amerigo. 

AMIENS,  {a'mimig')  in  France,  from  L.  ambianum,  from 
ambientibus  aquis,  because  surrounded  by  water.     (Did.  Nat.) 

AINISTERDAM  has  its  name  from  the  river  Amstel,  on  the 
confluence  of  which,  with  an  arm  of  the  Zuider  Zee,  called  the  Y, 
it  is  situated,  and  dam,  a  dam,  bank  to  confine  water. 

ANATOLIA,  or  NATOLIA,  a  geographical  term  now  gene- 
rally considered  as  synonymous  in  extent  with  Asia  Minor ;  from 
Gr.  avaroAYj  the  east,  the  part  where  the  sun  rises ;  lit.  a  coming 
forth  ;  the  rising  of  the  sun  or  moon  ;  from  avccraXXw,  of  ccva  up, 
rsXXuj  to  bring  to  an  end ;  mid.  to  be,  arise,  &c.  AvaroA/j  may 
be  compared  with  the  Fr.  Levant  and  the  Arab,  shark,  the  rising 
of  the  sun,  the  place  where  the  sun  rises,  the  east. 

ANCONA,  Italy,  named  from  its  angular  shape,  from  Gr. 
ayxuiy  angle,  corner,  valley,  anything  angular,  from  ayKrj  any- 
thing curved ;  perhaps  from  Sans,  ak,  ay  ;  to  bend.  Thus,  ah, 
ag,  ay  xt;,  ayKcuv,  ancon,  Ancona,  See  also  Procoji.  Goth,  war, 
lib.  2,  c.  13. 

ANDALUSIA,  a  province  of  Spain.  Some  authors  assert  that 
Andalusia  is  a  corruption  of  Vandalusia,  i.  e.  the  country  of  the 
Vandals.  R.  P.  Hardouin  says,  if  this  word  was  derived  from 
Vandal,  it  would  have  been  Vandalia.  Others  say  Spain  was  first 
peopled  by  Andalous,  son  of  Japhet.  llerbelot  says,  Andalous 
is  the  name  the  Arabs  gave  to  Spain  in  general,  from  the  name  of 
one  of  its  provinces,  Andalusia  ;  that  this  province  was  the  first 
known  to  the  Moors,  and  the  first  conquered  by  them  ;  and  that  it 
is  not  to  be  wondered  at,  that  the  Arabs,  knowing  nothing  of  the 
Vandals,  who  were  ancient  in  comparison  with  the  Moors,  should 
have  imagined  that  Andalous  was  the  grandson  of  Noah  ;  and  that 
Oriental  nations  believed   liiut  Spaiii^,  was  one  of  the  isles  which, 


12  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

accordiug  to  Sacred  Writ,  were  bequeathed  to  tlie  posterity  of 
Japhet. 

ANDARTON,  a  village  in  Cornwall.  An-dar-ton,  in  Corn, 
means  the  oak  hill. 

ANDES  {aa'deez),  the  general  name  given  to  the  great  range 
of  mountains  which  runs  along  the  western  side  of  S.  America. 
Considering  that  in  the  language  of  the  Incas  these  mountains 
are  called  Antis,  and  as  they  abound  iu  copper  and  other  metals, 
Humboldt  is  of  opinion  that  the  name  is  derived  from  the  Peruvian 
word  anta,  signifying  copper,  and  metal  iu  general. 

ANGLESEA,  from  A.  S.  <sge  island,  Angles  of  the  Angles. 
It  was  anciently  called  ]Mona,  and  Anglesea  after  it  was  conquered 
by  the  English.     (Bosivorth.) 

ANT,  ANTON,  a  river  in  Hants.     See  Southampton. 

ANTARCTIC  OCEAN.     See  Arctic. 

ANTILLES  {antW leez),  a  general  name  for  those  islands  which 
lie  beyond  the  Bermudas,  towards  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  Arm- 
strong says,  according  to  a  great  antiquary,  Antilles  means  water- 
land,  and  he  derives  it  from  Gael,  an  water,  and  tealla  land. 
In  the  language  of  the  natives  Antilles  may  mean  water-land,  but 
how  the  word  can  be  connected  with  the  Gaelic  it  is  difficult  to 
conceive. 

ANTWERP  (Fr.  Auvers,  Flem.  Antwerpen,  0.  G.  Antarff, 
Sp.  Enveres,  Amberes,  Anveres,  and  Anversa ;  Low  L.  Antwerpia 
and  Handoverpia.  The  Germans  have  called  it  in  L.  Antorpia, 
and  the  authors  of  the  chronicles  write  Antwerpha  and  Andover- 
pum).  Some  derive  the  name  from  Flem.  handt  hand,  werpen  to 
throw,  because  Silvius  Brubon  cut  off  the  hand  of  the  giant 
Antigone  (who  lived  upon  the  banks  of  the  Scheldt)  and  threw  it 
into  that  river !  What  may  have  contributed  to  strengthen  the 
story,  is  a  tooth  that  is  shown,  greater  even  than  the  hand,  and 
weighing  6oz.  ;  as  also  the  custom,  in  certain  f^tes,  of  exhibiting 
representations  of  castles  with  the  figure  of  a  giant ;  and  still 
further  from  the  fact  that  the  arms  of  the  town  are  a  castle  and 
two  hands.  The  most  judicious  historians,  however,  agree  that 
the  true  etymology  is  from  the  Flem.  Aenwerp,  added — not,  as 


LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY.  13 

some  have  thought,  because  three  different  inclosurcs  have  been 
made  round  the  town,  as  by  degrees  it  increased  to  its  present 
size,  but  because  in  ancient  times  the  waters  of  the  Scheldt,  not 
being  restrained  by  any  dyke,  flowed  over  the  plain,  carrying  with 
them  a  foreign  deposit,  which  finally  raised  this  place  high  enough 
to  enable  the  present  city  to  be  built,  to  which  was  given  a  name 
derived  from  such  successive  deposits;  so  that  from  Aemverj) 
came  Aenwerpen,  Latinized  into  Antwerpum,  and  lastly  into  Ant- 
werpen.     (Trans,  from  Lamar tiniere.) 

APENNINE,  from  L.  apennimis  :  ad,  and  penninus,  an  epithet 
applied  to  a  peak  or  ridge  of  the  Alps,  from  Celt,  pen  or  ben,  the 
peak  of  a  mountain.     (See  Liiy.) 

APPLEBY,  CO.  Westmoreland,  found  written  Apleby  and 
Apulby,  and  called  by  the  Romans  Aballaba,  whence  perhaps  its 
present  name,  with  the  addition  of  Dan.  5y  city,  town.  Baxter 
derives  Aballaba  from  "  ab  vel  av,  quod  est  furca  (vel  sinus)  undse 
vel  amnis  ;"  i.  e.  the  fork  or  separation  of  the  wave  or  stream. 
The  historian  doubts  this,  and  thinks  it  may  come  from  apple, 
and  says  there  is  a  place  of  this  name  in  Derby  ;  another  in 
Lincoln  ;  also  Appleby  ^Magna  and  Parva  in  Leicester,  &c. ;  also 
Applethwaite,  Applegarth,  Appleton,  derived  in  like  manner. 

APPLEDORE,  Kent.  "  Apuldre,  Appledore,  near  Tenterden  ; 
a  harbour  on  the  coast  of  Devon  ;  Apuldre  Comb,  Appledore 
Comb,  Isle  of  Wight."  (Bosworth.)  From  A.  S.  apulder, 
apuldur,  apuldre,  cepuldre,  ceppiddre,  ceppel-treow ,  apple-treoxv, 
an  apple-tree  ;  fspl,  apl,  apple,  treoiv,  tree.  "  The  apple-tree 
villa  or  village." 

APPLEDRAM,  formerly  Apuldram,  co.  Sussex.  Dallaway 
says  Apuldram,  or  Apuldre-ham  is  a  Saxon  name  descriptive  of 
its  situation,  viz.  a  house  or  village  upon  an  estuary  or  sea-marsh. 
He  refers  to  Lye,  who,  however,  is  speaking  of  Appledore  in 
Kent.  "  Apuldre,  villa  in  agro  Cantiano  hodie  Appledoore  dicta." 
From  same  root  as  Appledore. 

ARANJUEZ  {aran'hoo-eth),  a  town  in  Spain,  said  to  be  cor- 
rupted from  L.  Ara  Jovis,  the  altar  of  Jove. 

ARABIA,  anciently  called  Arabah,  which  some  derive   from 


14  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

Heb.  arab  or  ereb,  signifying  tiie  west ;  also  merchandise,  traffic, 
&c.;  others  from  Jarah,  son  of  Joktan  ;  or  from  Arabah,  or 
Arbah,  a  district  of  Tehama,  which  was  inhabited  by  Ishmael. 
By  the  Syrians  and  many  of  the  Orientals  it  was  called  Arabistan. 
Moses  styles  western  Arabia,  Arabah,  which  affords  a  strong 
presumption  that  its  original  name  was  derived  from  its  situation. 
(Rees.)  The  Arab,  has  c—?^  'urb,  or  'arab,  "  The  Arab  nation," 
peculiarly  those  who  inhabit  cities. 

ARARiVT,  the  mountain  on  which  the  Ark  is  said  to  have 
rested.  The  name,  according  to  some  writers,  is  properly  that 
of  a  region,  not  of  a  mountain.  See  Moses  Chorenensis,  Hist. 
Arm.  ed.  Whiston,  pp.  289 — 361.  This  region  is  nearly  in  the 
middle  of  Armenia,  between  the  iVraxes  and  Lake  Van,  and  is  still 
called  by  the  Armenians  Ararat.  It  is  sometimes  used  in  a 
wider  sense  for  the  whole  of  Armenia  itself.  Some  derive  the 
Heb.  toilt*  ararat  from  Sans,  arjawarta,  holy  ground.  See 
"Wahl,  Asien,  518,  806,  seq. ;  Morier,  Second  Journey,  312; 
Schroeder,  Thes.  Ling.  Arm.  55  ;  Ker  Porter,  Travels,  vol.  i.  178, 
seq.;  Smith  &  Dwight's  Res.  in  Armen.  vol.  ii.  7^y  and  Gesen. 
Tregelles,  Lond.  1846. 

ARBROATH,  sometimes  Aberbrothwick,  more  correctly  ^6er- 
brothock,  a  town  in  Forfar,  Scotland,  named  from  its  situation  at 
the  mouth  of  the  small  river  Brothock.     See  Aber. 

ARCHANGEL,  Russia,  named  after  Michael  the  archangel. 

ARCHES  COURT,  an  Ecclesiastical  Court  in  England,  so 
called  from  the  Church  of  St.  Mary-le-£ow  (de  arcubus), 
whose  top  is  raised  of  stone  pillars,  built  bow  or  archwise, 
where  it  was  anciently  held.  (B  lac /est  one.)  From  L.  arcus 
abow,  arch,  vault.  Court  from  A.  S.  curt  (Arm.  court;  It. 
Sp,  and  Port,  corte  ;  Fr.  cour),  from  Gr.  '/jip'toc,  an  enclosure, 
court-yard. 

ARCHIPELAGO,  properly  the  sea  which  separates  Greece 
from  Asia  Minor,  otherwise  called  the  ^gean  Sea  ;  but  also 
applied  to  a  sea  interspersed  with  many  isles,  or  a  group  of  isles. 
Some  say  from  Gr.  a/5%oc  chief,  others  from  kiya.i(iz  iEgean,  and 
TtsKa.yoc  sea,  from  or  allied  to  Heb.  ^9e/e</  stream. 


LOCAL   ETTHNIOLOGY.  15 

ARCTIC  OCEAN,  i.e.  the  Northern  Ocean,  whence  the  Ant- 
arctic Ocean,  i.e.  the  ocean  opposite  to  the  Arctic  Ocean — from 
Gr.  apxriMc,  id.,  from  apKro;  a  bear,  also  a  northern  constella- 
tion (the  Bear). 

ARDENNES  (arden'),  a  tract  of  country  in  France  and 
Belgium,  from  the  0.  Gaul,  word  arden  a  wood  ;  others  say  from 
ar  great,  den  a  forest.  Menage,  quoting  Camden,  says,  "whence 
Arden,  now  called  Woodland,  co.  Warwick,  which  was  the  greatest 
forest  in  England;"  further,  "  that  in  Sweden,  pres  de  I'Ostro- 
gothie,  is  a  forest  named  Com-Arden."  Csesar  calls  Ardennes 
Arduenna  ;   Fortunatus,  Ardenna. 

ARGH,  ERGH  (which  form  the  last  syllable  of  many  local 
names  in  Lancashire,  Westmoreland,  and  the  adjoining  parts  of 
Yorkshire,  as  in  Strasergh,  Mansergh,  Sizergh,  Frisergh,  Britergh, 
Grimsargh),  Whitaker  derives  from  Sw.  arf,  ploughed  land. 
Ar/  may  be  from  L.  arvum  a  field,  literally  arable  land,  from 
arvus  ploughed,  for  aruus,  from  aro  to  plough. 

ARGYLL,  found  written  Argyle,  a  county  in  Scotland ;  from 
Gael.  Argail,  said  to  be  contracted  from  Arre-Gaidhel,  i.e.  the 
frontier  of  the  Gaels  ;  some  say  Earra-Ghaidheal,  the  country 
of  the  West  Gael. 

ARLBERG,  in  Tyrol  ;  properly  Adler's  berg,  i.e.  eagle's 
mountain.     See  Vorarlberg. 

ARLON,  Belgium,  said  to  be  the  Roman  Orolanum. 

AR:MENIA.  The  Greeks  derive  the  name  of  this  tract  of 
country  from  one  Armenus,  who,  after  accompanying  Jason  in 
the  Argonautic  expedition,  settled  here.  Others,  transforming 
Armenia  into  Aramia,  derive  it  from  Aram,  son  of  Shem,  or  from 
a  king  of  Armenia  of  that  name.  Bochart  thinks  Armenia  may 
come  from  Ileb.  aar  mountain,  and  Mini,  the  name  of  a  province 
in  this  country,  mentioned  by  Jeremiah,  and  placed  by  that 
prophet  between  Ararat  and  Ashchenaz.  This  opinion  is  sup- 
ported by  Chaldee  interpreters,  who  on  this  and  a  like  passage  in 
Amos,  instead  of  Mini  read  Armeina,  so  that  Armenia  may  mean 
the  mountain  or  mountainous  part  of  Mini  or  Mynias,  as  Nicolas 
of  Damascus  calls  it.     The  name  Mini,  Meani,  and  Mynias,  or 


16  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

Mylias,  was  at  first  peculiar  to  one  province,  but  in  time  became 
common  to  the  whole  country.  Miiii  or  Menni  is  supposed  to 
be  derived  from  a  Ileb.  word  signifying  metal;  Armenia,  according 
to  Procopius,  abounding  with  mines.  See  Moses  Choren.  Hist. 
Armen.  p.  49 ;  Boch.  Phaleg.  lib.  i.  c.  3  ;  Jerem.  li.  27  ; 
Amos,  iv.  3  ;  Procop.  lib.  i.  De  Bell.  Pers. 

ARMORICA,  the  ancient  appellation  of  that  part  of  France 
now  called  Bretagne  ;  from  Celt,  ar  upon,  mor  the  sea,  i.  e. 
maritime. 

ARRAS,  a  town  of  France — "a  corruption  of  Origiacum,  its 
ancient  name,  said  to  be  from  Celt,  or  mouth,  embouchure, 
rigid  cut,  divided,  ac  river." 

ARRO,  a  river  in  co.  Radnor,  properly  ariv,  from  W.  garw 
rough.     Bryn  Arw  is  the  name  of  a  mountain  in  co.  Monmouth. 

ARUN,  a  river  in  Sussex  ;  qu.  W.  arwyn  very  white,  bright, 
from  prefix  ar,  and  gwyn  white  ;  or  Arun  may  be  an  extension  of 
the  Celt.  ar.     See  Ayrshire. 

ARUNDEL,  Sussex.  The  earliest  conjectural  accounts  ascribe 
the  name  of  this  place  to  hirondelle,  a  swallow,  which  is  still  the 
arms  of  the  town,  though  the  origin  of  the  bearing  is  not  known. 
Some  assert  that  the  celebrated  Bevis  of  Hampton  (South),  the 
conqueror  of  the  giant  Ascapart,  and  hero  of  ancient  romances, 
who  is  supposed  to  have  been  keeper  of  the  castle  here,  had  a 
favourite  horse,  which  for  its  swiftness  he  not  only  termed 
Hirondelle,  or  Orundele  in  Norman-French,  but  also  the  demesne 
after  its  name.  There  is  still  a  tradition  among  the  Norwegians, 
which  asserts  that  their  countrymen,  in  the  course  of  their 
descents  on  these  coasts,  established  themselves  here,  and  gave 
the  name  of  their  own  Arendal  to  this  place.  The  etymology  of 
Arundel  seems  simple  enough,  i.e.  Dell  of  the  Arun,  on  which 
river  this  town  is  situated.  King  Alfred  left  Enmdele  to  his 
brother  Athelm.  But  see  Tierney,  Hist.  Arundel.  See  also 
Arun. 

ASCENSION  ISLE,  one  of  the  African  islands  in  the  South 
Atlantic  Ocean.  It  was  first  discovered  in  1501  by  Galego, 
a  Porttiguese  navigator,  who  called  it  Ilha  de  Nossa  Senhora  de 


LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY.  17 

Concei9ao  ;  Isle  of  Our  Lady  of  Conception.  It  was  seen  a 
second  time  by  Albuquerque,  on  his  voyage  to  India  in  1503, 
probably  on  Ascension  Day,  when  it  received  its  present  name. 
{Rees.)  There  is  also  another  isle  of  this  name,  lying  about 
100  leagues  E.  from  the  coast  of  Brazil. 

ASKBY-DE-LA-ZOUCH,  co.  Leicester.  Its  original  de 
signatiou  was  simply  Ashby ;  it  received  the  addition  "  De-la- 
Zouch "  from  the  Zouches,  who  were  lords  of  it.  Ashby,  in 
ancient  writings  is  called  Ascebi  and  Esseby — perhaps  the  by  or 
town  of  the  Asci  or  ^.s**.  Zouch  was  formerly  written  Zuche 
(Low  L.  Zucheus)  and  Souch,  which  signifies  a  withered  or  dry 
stock  ;   from  Fr.  souche,  a  corruption  of  G.  stock. 

ASIA.  A  name  originally  given  to  Asia  Minor,  or  some  part  of 
it ;  perhaps  from  the  Asses,  Ases,  or  Osses  about  Mount  Taurus. 
Mallet,  North.  Antiq.  i.  60.  Qu.  Gr.  a^w  to  dry,  make  dry,  a^x 
drought,  allied  to  Heb.  «^  to  burn.  Bochart's  etymology  is 
very  reasonable.  He  says  the  term  Asia  was  first  applied  to  the 
great  peninsula — now  commonly  called  Asia  Minor — which  occu- 
pies a  middle  place  between  Europe  and  Africa,  and  he  derives 
it  from  the  Phoen.  ''Vn  asi,  which  signifies  not  only  half,  but 
middle;  and  he  quotes  Pliny,  who  says,  " Hinc,  id  est  k 
Gadibus,  intranti  dextrd  Africa  est,  IcBvd  Europa.  Inter  has 
Asia  est."  Also  Mela  de  Asia,  lib.  i.  cap.  2  :  "  Media  nostris 
fequoribus  excipitur."  Others  derive  Asia  from  Sans,  asioa  a 
horse. 

ASSYNT,  CO.  Sutherland.  Assynt  or  Assint  is  said  to  be  a 
contraction  of  the  Gael,  as  agus  innte,  signifying  "out  and  in," 
evidently  referring  to  and  descriptive  of  the  general  outline  of 
this  parish.  A  glance  at  the  map  of  Assynt  makes  it  extremely 
probable  that  this  derivation  is  correct.   {Stat.  Jcc.  Scot.) 

ASTO,  ASTA,  ASTI,  in  names  of  places  in  the  Basque  pro- 
vinces of  Spain,  as  in  Astobeza,  Astorga,  and  in  Sp.  names  men- 
tioned by  Roman  writers,  as  in  Asta,  Astige,  Astapa,  Astura, 
Asturica,  is  a  corruption  of  the  Basq.  acha,  aitza,  a  rock ;  thus 
Asta-pa,  a  dwelling  at  the  foot  of  a  rock  ;  Ast-ura,  the  river 
Astura,  literally  rock-water  (urd  water).     See  Asturias. 

c 


18  LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY. 

AST'ORGA,  in  Spain,  corrupted  from  Asturica  (Augusta)  its 
ancient  name  ;  but  see  Asto. 

ASTRAKHAN,  found  written  Astrakan,  Astracan,  and  Astra- 
clian ;  name  of  a  pi'ovince  of  the  Russian  Empire,  and  formerly 
of  a  Khannate — i.e.  the  dominion  or  district  of  a  Khan — which 
extended  northward  from  the  river  Terek  to  the  sources  of  the 
Ufa  in  the  Ural  Mountains.  Astrakhan  is  also  the  name  of  the 
capital  of  the  province.  Some  assert  that  this  city  was  built  by 
a  Tartar  king  named  Astra  Khan,  who  gave  it  his  name.  M.  de 
ITsle,  in  his  Carte  d'Asie  for  his  Hist,  of  Jangiz  Khan,  names 
this  city  Hadji  Tercan  or  Astracan,  and  the  historians  of  Jangiz 
Khan  and  Timur  Bee  speak  of  a  title  giving  great  privileges,  and 
called  a  tercan. 

ASTU'RIAS,  a  province  of  Spain  lying  near  the  Bay  of  Biscay ; 
the  country  inhabited  by  the  Astures,  i.e.  those  who  dwelt  on 
the  banks  of  the  Astura.  Silius  Italicus  says  the  Astures  take 
their  name  from  Astur  or  Astyr,  Memnon's  charioteer  !  There 
is  a  village  called  Astura,  39  miles  S.  E.  of  Rome,  at  the  mouth 
of  a  little  river  of  the  same  name.  Strabo  calls  it  Y.ropaQ  -rroTaij.os  ; 
Pliny,  Astura  ;  Festus,  Stura.  Laniartinifere  thinks  the  Astures 
of  Spain  may  have  originally  dwelt  on  the  banks  of  this  river. 
But  see  Asto. 

ATCHAFALAYA,  a  river  of  the  United  States,  one  of  the 
western  arms  of  the  Mississippi  at  its  delta.  The  name  means 
the  "lost  water."  (Johnston.) 

ATHENS  (Fr.  Athhies,  L.  Athence,  Sp.  Atenas,  It.  Atene), 
from  Gr.  Aflijvat,  AQr^vij,  from  ASijv^,  A9>jvaia,  Minerva  or  Pallas, 
soddess  of  Wisdom.  At  Athens  was  a  tribunal  famous  for  the 
justice  and  impartiality  of  its  decisions,  called  Areopagus,  Labbe 
derives  the  name  from  KpsoQ  itayoc,  the  hill  of  Mars.  AprjQ  may 
come  from  Sans,  arah  the  planet  Mars. 

ATHERSTONE,  a  market  town,  co.  Warwick,  a  corruption  of 
Arden's-town,  it  being  situated  on  the  confines  of  the  great 
forest.     See  Ardennes. 

ATLANTIC.  This  ocean  was  called  Atlanticus,  either  from 
its  washing  the  coast  not  far  from  Mount  Atlas,  on  the  western 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  19 

side  of  Africa,  or  from  its  being  the  great  sea  bej'ond  Mount 
Atlas.  "  Atlas  is  sayed  to  support  the  heavens  near  where  the 
Hesperides  are  situated.  iVtlas  might  possibly  have  been  the 
founder  of  the  people  who  possessed  the  extreraest  parts  of 
Africa  about  Mount  Atlas,  which  on  account  of  its  extraordinary 
height,  seemed  to  prop  up  heaven,  and  because  it  was  far  in  the 
west,  where  they  imagined  heaven  almost  met  the  earth.  This 
mountain  might  have  had  the  name  from  the  first  ruler  of  the 
people."  (Cooke,  notes  on  Hesiod.)  From  L.  Atlanticus,  from 
Gr.  ArAavrixoe,  from  ArXac,  one  who  carries  burdens ;  not  sup- 
porting pain  or  toil,  a,  priv.,  rXr^jM,  r\ocu>,  to  bear,  endure,  suffer. 
Some  of  the  Arabic  lexicons  give  ^^J^]  atlas,  bare,  smooth, 
satin,  sphere,  &c. 

ATLANTIC  A  or  ATLANTIS,  an  isle  mentioned  by  the 
ancients  as  situated  W.  of  Cadiz,  on  the  strait  of  Gibraltar, 
and  which  they  allege  to  have  been  sunk  and  overwhelmed 
by  the  ocean.  Atlas,  Atlantis,  Atlanticus,  Atlantica.  See  At- 
lantic. 

ATTOCK,  a  fort  and  small  town  in  the  Panjab.  Its  name 
signifies  "  obstacle,"  which  is  supposed  to  have  been  given  to  it 
under  the  presumption  that  no  scrupulous  Hindoo  would  pro- 
ceed westward  of  it.  Some  assert  that  the  name  was  given  to 
it  by  the  Emperor  Akbar,  because  he  here  found  much  difficulty 
in  crossing  the  river.  The  river  itself  is  at  this  place  frequently 
by  the  natives  called  Attock.  (Thornton.)  From  Hind.  tjj^i\ 
atdk,  prevention,  stop,  hindrance,  obstruction,  bar,  obstacle ; 
ataJi-nd,  to  be  stopped,  prevented. 

AU,  as  a  termination  of  names  of  places  in  Germany,  is  the 
G.  aue  a  pasture,  meadow. 

AUDLEY,  from  A.  S.  aid,  old,  leag,  a  field — the  old  field. 

AL'DLEY  END,  Essex,  takes  its  name  from  a  magnificent 
palace  built  there  by  Thomas  Audley,  Chancellor  of  England. 

AUGSBURG  (owffs'burff)  in  Bavaria,  situated  near  the  junction 
of  the  rivers  Wertach  and  Lech ;  called  by  the  Romans  Vindo 
and  Licus ;  whence  the  original  city  founded  by  tlicin  was  named 

c  2 


20  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

Augusta  Vindelicorum  ;  and  from  Augusta  comes  the  first  syllable 
in  Augsburg.     Thus,  Augusta-burg,  Augstburg,  Augsburg. 

AUNE,  or  Avon,  name  of  a  river  in  Devon,  and  of  several 
rivers  in  England.     See  Avon. 

AURANGABAD,  a  city  in  Hindustan ;  the  city  of  Aurang- 
zeb.     See  Abad. 

AUSTIN  FRIARS,  contraction  of  Augustine  Friars. 

AUSTRALIA,  contraction  of  Austral  Asia,  i.e.  Southern  Asia, 
from  L.  australis,  from  mister  the  South. 

AUSTRIA,  Latinized  from  G.  Oesterreich ;  oster  Eastern, 
reich  kingdom  ;  the  Eastern  Empire,  so  called  in  reference  to  the 
Western  dominions  of  Charlemagne.  "  Ostirrichi  "  {ost-reich  or 
'oster-reich,  the  eastern  realm)  first  occurs  in  a  diploma  of  Otho  III. 

AUTUN  {otun').     See  Dunum. 

AUVERGNE  (ovairn'),  a  province  of  France  ;  from  Low  L. 
Jrvernia,  said  to  be  from  Celt,  ar  excellence,  bern,  contraction 
of  haran  soldiers,  because  the  Auvergnats  were  very  warlike. 

AVA,  capital  of  Birma.  Its  native  name  is  Angwa,  which 
means  a  fish-pond  ;  and  it  is  said  to  have  been  so  called  because 
erected  where  such  a  pond  had  formerly  been.  Angwa  was  cor- 
rupted by  the  Hindus  and  Malays  into  Awa,  and  by  the  Eu- 
ropeans into  Ava.  Its  official  name  is  Ratnapura  (City  of  the 
Pearl) .  The  capital  is  not  confined  to  Ava,  but  embraces  Sagaing 
and  Amarapura  (Town  of  Immortality). 

AVE  MARIA  LANE.     See  Paternoster  Row. 

AVERNUS,  The  Lake  of,  Campania,  Italy,  so  called  because 
the  vapours  that  exhaled  from  it  were  so  poisonous,  that  they 
struck  dead  the  birds  that  flew  over  it.  The  name  was  not 
peculiar  to  Italy.  One  of  these  Averni  was  near  the  Temple  of 
Minerva  at  Athens,  and  another  in  Syria,  Avernus  is  from  Gr. 
aopvQc,  a,  priv.,  opvig  a  bird.  See  Cic,  also  Liv.,  Plin.  lib.  4  ; 
Virg.  Mn.  lib.  iv.  512,  vi.  242 ;  Lucret.  vi.  738  et  seq.,  also  818. 

AVON,  found  written  Aune,  Afene,  and  Afon ;  a  river  in 
Somerset ;  also  the  name  of  four  other  rivers  in  England ;  from 
W,  afon,  avon,  Arm.  a/on,  Corn,  auan,  Ir.  abhan,  Manx  aon 
a  river,  from  Gael,  amhainn,  which  Armstrong  derives  from  amh 


LOCAL    ETYMOLUGY.  21 

water,  ocean,  ain  water.     "  Avon  "  is  found  in  names  of  places 
in  Wales,  as  Aberavon,  S.  Wales.     See  Aber. 

AXHOLM  {ax' home),  co.  Lincoln  ;  from  Sax.  Eaxanholm,  from 
the  town  Axel,  and  holm  an  isle  having  many  rivers  in  it. 
{Bailey.)     But  see  Isca. 

AXMINSTER,  from  A.  S.  Eaxanminster.     See  Isca. 

AXMOUTH.     See  Isca. 

AYLESBURY,  co.  Bucks.  The  British  name  is  said  to  be 
lost.  The  Saxons  called  this  city  Aeglesburge.  In  Domesday 
it  is  mentioned  under  Eilesberia  and  Elesberie.  Leland  writes 
Alesbury,  Camden,  Ailesbury,  which  mode  of  spelling  is  retained 
in  the  title  of  the  Marquis  of  Ailesbury  {Eng.  Ency.).  The 
name  is  also  found  written  Ailesburie  and  Aylesburie.  "  Ailsbury 
derived  great  fame  from  Eadburg  or  Edburg  and  her  sister 
Eaditha,  two  holy  virgins,  the  daughters  of  Frewald  or  Fredewall, 
a  king  or  Mercian  prince,  who  was  lord  of  this  country." 
(Kennett,  Paroch.  Antiq.)  Speed  affirms  that  Aylesbury  "  be- 
came much  frequented  on  account  of  the  holiness  of  St.  Edith, 
and  that  the  town  was  allotted  to  her  for  her  dowry,"  &c.  &c. 
Elfleda,  Duchess  of  Mercia,  daughter  of  King  Alfred,  is  said  to 
have  induced  her  brother  Edward,  called  the  Elder,  to  repair 
Edsbury,  after  the  town  had  been  laid  waste  by  the  Danes. 
Leland  also  speaks  of  "  Ellesburowe,  in  Chiltern  Ililles,  three 
miles  from  Alesbury  by  south."  Eadburg,  Eadsburg,  Eadsbury, 
Ealsbury,  Alesbury,  Ailsbury,  Aylesbury. 

AYRSLIIRE.  The  river  Ayr  is  said  to  give  its  name  not  only 
to  the  town  of  Ayr,  at  whose  mouth  it  stands,  but  also  to  the 
parish  and  county.  In  royal  charters,  and  in  all  ancient  records, 
the  name  of  the  burgh  is  written  Are,  subsequently  changed  to 
Air,  and  since  the  end  of  the  last  century  it  has  been  written  Ayr. 
The  name  of  the  river  may  be  from  Celt,  ar  clear,  "  said  to  be 
sufficiently  characteristic  of  this  stream,  which,  flowing  above  a 
gravelly  bed,  continues  clear  and  limpid  through  the  wliole  of  its 
course.  There  arc  other  rivers  bearing  the  same  name,  and 
doubtless  having  a  common  etymology,  not  only  in  England, 
France,  and  Switzerland,  but  in  almost  every  country  in  Europe." 


22  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

AZO'RES,  or  Western  Isles,  a  series  of  islaiids  in  the  N.  Atlan- 
tic, belonging  to  Portugal,  were  so  called  from  the  great  number 
of  hawks  found  there  ;   from  Port,  arores,  pi.  of  u^-or  a  hawk. 

AZ'OV,  the  Sea  of,  hi  Russia,  takes  its  name  from  the  town  of 
Azov,  on  the  mainland.  Azov  is  found  written  Azoph,  Azapb, 
Azov,  Azach,  AzoflP,  Assoff,  and  Asoph.  In  ancient  history  there 
were  several  rivers  and  towns  named  respectively  Asopie,  Asopo, 
Asopus,  and  Asopa.  Josephus  mentions  Asoph  or  Asophon  as 
the  name  of  a  village  in  Palestine,  near  the  Jordan.  Ortelius, 
referring  to  Josephus,  says  that  by  Asophos  is  meant  the  village 
of  Asochis.  Some  assert  that  the  river  in  Boeotia  was  so  called 
on  account  of  its  extreme  muddiness  ;  others  that  Asophus,  son 
of  Neptune,  gave  his  name  to  this  river. 


B. 


BAALBEC,  BALBEC.  Mr.  Francis  Crossley  thinks  Baalbec 
is  the  Phcen.-Ir.  baal-beact,  i.e.  the  sun-circle  ;  and  he  says  it  was 
no  doubt  originally  one  of  those  vast  circular  earthen  embankments 
with  upright  stones,  and  an  altar  in  the  centre,  such  as  the 
Phoenicians  erected  at  Amesbury  ;  at  the  Giant's  Ring,  near 
Belfast ;  and  at  Greenan  Mountain,  co.  Donegal ;  and  that  the 
name  of  the  latter  particularly  carries  us  back  to  remote  antiquity  : 
Grian,  i.e.  Grynoeus ;  an,  i.e.  ain  a  circle.  In  Arab,  it  is  pro- 
nounced Ba'albak,  and  was  called  by  the  Greeks  Heliopolis,  i.e. 
City  of  the  Sun.  Some  assert  that  Baalbec  is  the  Baalath  of 
Scripture. 

BABEL,  from  Arab.  J,>b  bdb  bel,  the  gate  or  court  (city)  of 
Bel,  or  Belus,  in  allusion  to  the  Tower  or  Temple  of  Belus, 
commonly  called  Tower  of  Babel.  Some  say  Babel  is  for  Heb. 
!?n!jl  bilbel  confusion  ;  balal,  to  mix  or  confuse.     See  Babel- 

MANDEL. 

BABELMANDEL,  properly  Babelmandeb,  a  strait  which 
joins  the  Red  Sea  to  the  Ocean,  called  by  some  Latin  geographers 


LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY.  23 

Ostium  Luctus :  from  Arab.  Bcihu  7  mandab,  i.e.  the  funeral  gate, 
passage  of  mourning,  the  gate  of  tears,  from  c__>lj  hub  a  gate, 
\\  al  the,  t__>Ai  nadaba  to  bewail  (a  death).  It  received  its 
name  from  the  old  Arabians,  from  the  danger  of  the  navigation, 
and  the  number  of  shipwrecks  by  which  it  was  distinguished  ; 
which  induced  them  to  consider  as  dead,  and  to  wear  mourning 
for  all  who  had  the  boldness  to  hazard  the  passage  through  it 
into  the  Ethiopic  Ocean. 

BABYLON,  supposed  to  have  stood  on  the  spot  where  the 
Tower  of  Babel  was  built ;  from  Babel. 

BACH  (6a/.),  in  names  of  places  in  Wales,  is  the  W.  bach 
small. 

BACHARACH  (bak'arak),  on  the  Rhine,  a  contraction  of 
L.  Bacchi  ara,  the  altar  of  Bacchus,  a  name  conferred  upon  a 
rock  in  the  bed  of  the  river,  usually  covered  with  water,  but  in 
very  dry  seasons  appearing  above  the  surface.  The  sight  of  it  is 
hailed  with  joy  by  the  owner  of  the  vineyard,  who  regards  this 
as  a  sure  sign  of  a  fine  vintage.  (^Murray.) 

BADAJOZ  (bad'ahoth)),  "from  iirab.  beled  aix,  land  of  life." 
{Vieyra.)     Perhaps  jj,,!  balad  province,   city,  town,  /jilxc  *aish 

life. 

BADEN  {bah'd'n),  the  name  of  many  places  in  Germany,  &c. 
The  word  Baden  is  simply  the  pi.  of  G.  bud  a  bath,  most  of  the 
places  in  question  being,  or  having  once  been,  famous  for  their 
baths.  Baden-Baden  is  so  called  to  distinguish  it  from  the 
others. 

BAFFA,  in  Cyprus,  corrupted  from  Gr.  ITaipoe,  a  city  which 
was  sacred  to  Venus. 

BAGDAD  (in  Arab.  S\sk.i  bughddd).  It  is  said  that  the  city 
of  Seleuca  (built  by  Seleucus)  was  reduced  to  such  a  state  of 
desolation,  as  to  have  nothing  remaining  on  the  spot  where  it 
formerly  stood  but  the  cell  of  a  monk  called  Dud,  and  a  garden 
adjoining,  whence  it  was  called  Bagdad,  i.e.  the  Garden  of  Dad. 
cL«  bdyh  in  I'crs.  is  a  garden,  I'aradise. 


24  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

BAGH,  or  BAG,  in  local  names  iu  India,  is  the  Pers.  cb  bdgh 
a  garden,  orchard,  plantation  ;  as  Kudsiya  bdgh,  the  name  of  a 
garden  outside  the  walls  of  Delhi. 

BAIIAR',  or  BIHAR',  capital  of  a  province  of  the  same  name 
in  Hindustan,  and  which,  though  distinct  from,  is  sometimes 
identified  with  Bengal  ;  corrupted  from  Sans,  vihdr,  a  Buddhist 
monastery. 

BAKTSCHISERA'I,  a  town  in  the  Crimea,  hidden  in  a  valley. 

The  name  means  "the  palace  of  the  gardens,"  from  Turc.  ii^jsi^Xi 
bdgtche  a  garden,  ^^ -j  serdi  palace. 

BALA,  in  names  of  places  in  Wales  and  Ireland,  means  the 
exit  of  a  river  out  of  a  lake.     (W.  and  Ir.) 

BALA  HISSAR,  of  the  city  of  Cabul,  AflFghanistan,  signifies 
the  upper  town  or  castle,  "as  Bala-Khanen  means  the  upper 
room  of  the  royal  palace,  which  commanded  the  lower  and  more 
extensive  portion,  divided  into  two  by  the  Cabul  river."  {Black- 
wood.) The  Pers.  bdld  signifies  above,  high ;  the  Arab  his&r  is 
a  fortified  town,  a  castle. 

BALAKLA'VA  (Crimea).  The  Genoese  founded  the  Uttle 
town  at  the  bottom  of  the  haven,  and  built  the  fort  on  the 
adjoining  cliff.  The  name  is  corrupted  from  It.  bella  chiave 
beautiful  quay  ;  an  appellation  which  it  well  deserves. 

BALEARIC  ISLES.  Majorca  and  Minorca  were  anciently 
called  Baleares.  The  most  western,  being  the  greatest,  was  named 
Balearis  Major,  whence  Majorca ;  the  most  eastern,  for  same 
reason,  was  called  Balearis  Minor,  whence  Minorca.  Some  derive 
Baleares  from  Gr.  /SaAAw  to  throw,  because  the  inhabitants  were 
good  slingers.  Bochart  agrees  with  Strabo  and  others,  who 
consider  the  name  to  be  of  native  origin,  and  he  derives  it  from 
Phcen.  baal  lord,  also  skilful,  and  yarah  to  throw,  i.e.  skilful  in 
the  art  of  throwing. 

BALKH,  one  of  the  capitals  of  Khurasan,  supposed  to  be  the 
ancient  Bactra,  whence  the  name  may  have  been  corrupted.  The 
historians  of  Persia  attribute  the  foundation  of  this  town  to 
Kajumarath,  first  king  of  this  country,  and  say  that  he  named  it 


LOCAL    ErYMOLOGY.  25 

Balkhe,  from  halkideu  or  balgiden,  to  welcome  a  friend,  because, 
having  for  a  long  time  lost  his  brother,  he  at  last  found  him  at 
this  place.     ^a/M  in  Arab,  means  "proud." 

BALKAN,  from  Turc.  ^^UlU  bdlkdn,  meaning  chains  of 
mountains  in  general ;  particularly  the  Balkan,  or  Mount  Hsemus, 
which  separates  Bulgaria  from  Roumelia. 

BALLANGLEICH,  a  pathway  leading  down  from  the  brow  of 
the  castle  hill  at  Stirling.  The  name  is  Gael.,  and  signifies 
"  the  winding  pass." 

BALLY  or  BAL,  BALLYROBE,  BALLYSHANNON.  Bally 
or  Bal  in  local  names  in  Ireland  is  the  Ir.  baile  a  town,  village, 
townland — thus,  Ballymony,  town  on  the  bog ;  Ballintra,  town 
on  the  strand  ;  Ballymore,  the  great  town  ;  Ballinahinch,  town  on 
the  island ;  Ballyrobe,  Bally  shannon,  towns  on  the  rivers  Robe 
and.  Shannon. 

BALSCOTE  {hahcut),  Oxon.     See  Cote. 

BALTA  LIMAN',  on  the  European  shore  of  the  Bosphorus, 
celebrated  for  a  treaty  between  the  Turks  and  Russians  which 
was  signed  there.     The  Turc.   ^^UjJ  Umdn  is  a  port,  from  Gr. 

BALTIC  SEA.  This  sea  has  either  been  named  from  its 
having  the  shape  or  appearance  of  a  belt,  or  from  certain  straits 
or  channels  surrounding  its  isles,  called  belts  ;  as  the  Greater  and 
Lesser  Belt  on  the  coast  of  Denmark.  Bailey  says,  "the  sea 
belonging  to  Baltia,  an  island  in  the  German  Ocean" — from  L. 
Balticum  (mare),  from  bulteum  (A.  S.  belt,  Sw.  bait,  Dan.  bcelte) 
a  belt,  which  some  derive  from  the  Gael,  beilt. 

BALTIMORE,  one  of  the  chief  cities  in  Maryland,  U.S., 
takes  its  name  from  Lord  Baltimore,  who  settled  the  province  of 
Maryland  in  1035. 

BAL'UCIIAR.  Under  "  Bdlu-char,  or  chur,  land  covered  by 
a  deposit  of  sand,  a  sand-bank  formed  by  a  deposit  of  sand  from 
the  waters  of  a  river,"  Wilson  says,  "  name  of  a  village  near 
Murshidabad,  perhaps  originally  so  formed  from  the  river" — 
from  Hind.  l\j_  bdlu  sand  (from  Sans.  b/Uukd),  ■:>.  char,  choory 
a  shoal,  bank. 


26  LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY. 

BAM,  BEAM,  found  as  initials  in  names  of  places  in  England, 
are  said  to  denote  tliat  they  received  their  names  from  being 
situated  in  woody  places,  or  near  a  grove.  The  A.  S.  heam  is  a 
tree.     See  Bampton  and  Beamfleet. 

BAMBERG,  a  town  of  Germany,  in  Franconia,  anciently 
Babenberg,  the  name  supposed  to  have  been  given  to  it  by  Babe, 
(daughter  of  the  Emperor  Otho  II.),  who  enlarged  it. 

BAMPTON.  Many  places  in  England  have  been  so  named, 
from  their  elevated  situation  and  being  covered  with  wood,  from 
A.  S.  beam-dune  ;  beam  a  tree,  dune  a  hill. 

BiVNBURY,  Oxen,  means,  according  to  some,  "high  fastness." 
(See  Bury.)  Bailey  says,  "  of  Sax.  bana  manslaughter,  byrigh 
a  city,  perhaps  so  called  from  some  great  slaughter  there." 
Bailey  probably  refers  to  the  great  battle  between  King  Cynric 
and  the  Britons,  a.d.  556  ;  but  Banbury  in  Wilts  also  lays  claim 
to  being  the  site  of  the  same  event.  Camden  says  the  Saxon 
name  of  this  place  was  Banesbyrig ;  in  Domesday  it  is  called 
Banesberie.     The  A.  S.  buna  is  destruction  ;  the  W.  ban  is  high. 

BANGOR,  found  written  Banchor,  N.  Wales.  De  Barri, 
speaking  of  the  cathedral  church  of  Bangor,  says,  "  it  must  not 
be  confounded  with  the  celebrated  college  of  the  same  name  in 
Flintshire.  Bangor  (i.e.  the  college  in  Caermarthen)  is  properly 
called  Bangor  Deiniol,  Bangor  Vawr  yn  Arllechwdh."  The 
historian  Cressy  places  the  date  of  its  foundation  in  a.d.  516,  and 
adds,  "  Malgo  Conan  not  long  after  built  a  city,  which  for  the 
beauty  of  its  situation  he  called  Ban-cur,  i.e.  the  high  or  con- 
spicuous choir ;"  and  in  a  note  De  Barri  adds,  "When  Christianity 
was  first  established  in  Britain,  it  was  only  in  particular  societies, 
which  went  by  the  appellation  of  Cur,  i.e.  circle,  society,  or  con- 
gregation, distinguished  after  by  the  names  of  those  teachers  who 
established  them.  When  these  Curau  began  to  have  authority, 
they  came  to  be  called  by  the  name  of  Bangor,  from  ban  high, 
and  cur,  i.e.  the  supreme  society  or  college."  Somner  derives 
the  A.  S.  Bancorena-burh,  Bancorna-byrig  (Bangor)  from  banc 
a  bank,  an  elevation,  chor  a  choir,  and  burh  or  byrig,  a  burg  or 
city. 


LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY.  27 

BARBARY,  a  large  tract  of  country  in  the  N.  of  Africa,  so 
called  by  the  Arabs,  and  said  to  be  from  ^_c  <  barriyyun  an 
uncultivated  country,  or  harriyyat  a  desert,  because  it  was  very 
little  populated  before  the  Arabs  inhabited  it.  See  Lamartiniere, 
quoting  Dapper,  p.  116. 

BARBICAN.  Pennant  says,  "the  Barbican  which  I  men- 
tioned as  originally  a  Roman  specula  or  watch-tower,  lay  a  little 
to  the  north  of  this  street  (Noble  Street) .  It  was  an  appendage 
to  most  fortified  places.  The  Saxons  gave  them  the  title  of 
Burgh-kenning.  They  were  esteemed  so  important,  that  the 
custody  was  always  committed  to  some  man  of  rank."  "  There 
was  of  old  a  manor-house  of  the  king's,  called  Base-court,  or 
Barbican,  destroyed  in  125]  ;  but  it  was  restored,  as  appears 
above."     See  Pennant,  pp.  12,  331,  Lond.  1813. 

BARCELONA,  Spain,  corrupted  from  L.  Barcino-onis  ;  thus, 
Barcinone,  Barcelone,  Barcelona.  Pineda  says,  "  anciently 
Barcimdne,  a  name  given  it  by  Amilcar  Barcinus." 

BAR'DAWAN,  a  district  and  a  city  in  Bengal ;  from  Pers. 
.jLl>j  hardawdn,  from  Sans,  vardhamdna  thriving. 

BARDNEY,  co.  Lincoln,  from  A.  S.  (Pge  island,  beordana  of 
birds.     It  is  found  written  Beordan-ige.     See  Bosworth. 

BARDSEY,  an  island  off  the  coast  of  Caernarvon,  so  called  from 
having  been  the  last  retreat  of  the  "Welsh  bards  ;  from  W.  bardd 
a  bard,  ey  from  A.  S.  ig,  an  isle. 

BARLOW.     See  Low. 

BARMOUTH,  N.  Wales  ;  named  from  its  situation  near  the 
conflux  (aber)  of  the  Maw — usually  called  Avon  Vawr,  i.  e.  the 
Great  River — from  aber  maw;  thus,  Aber  Maw,  Bermaw,  Bar- 
mouth. 

BAR'NAGORE.     See  Nagore. 

BARTON.     See  Berwick. 

BASING,  OLD,  a  town  and  castle  near  Basingstoke,  Hants  ; 
Bailey  says,  from  Sax.  basing,  a  coat  of  mail,  because  of  the  re- 
semblance it  has  thereto.     But  sec  Ing. 

BASINGIIALL  STREET,  a  corrujition  of  Basiug-haugh,  i.  c. 


28  LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY. 

the  haugh  belonging  to  the  Basing  family.  Haugh  or  haw  is  a 
small  piece  of  ground  adjoining  a  house,  a  small  field  ;  literally 
an  inclosed  piece  of  land,  from  A.  S.  haga.  The  Sco.  havgh  is  a 
low-lying  meadow.  Bailey  says,  "  Basing-hall  or  Bassishaw  Street, 
once  called  Basingis-hawe,  from  Sax.  basing  a  cloak,  awe  a  hall, 
q.  d.  a  place  for  cloth  of  which  cloaks,  &c.,  are  made." 

BASLE,  Basel,  Basil,  or  Bale,  a  town  in  Switzerland,  built  upon 
the  site  of  the  ancient  Basilia ;  from  Gr.  (Sa(TiKBicc  queen, 
princess  ;  also  kingdom,  sovereignty.  The  French  pronounce  it 
bahl ;  the  Germans  laz'l. 

BASQUE  PROVINCES.  The  Basques  call  themselves  Viz- 
cainos and  Bascos.  Some  derive  Basque  from  the  Basq.  bassoco 
a  mountaineer,  a  highlauder.  Humboldt  says  from  bascoa  a 
forest,  whence  baso-coa,  belongnig  to  a  forest,  ph  Basocoac.  The 
Basques  have  been  also  called  Vasques,  Vascones,  and  Vascons. 
The  general  opinion  seems  to  be  that  Gascony  was  peopled, 
towards  the  end  of  the  sixth  century,  by  a  Spanish  tribe  that 
crossed  the  Pyrenees,  and  took  possession  of  Novempopulani. 
Gascon  is  therefore  most  probably  merely  another  orthography  of 
Vascon.  The  Gascons,  like  the  Basques,  confound  the  letters  v 
and  b,  which  gave  rise  to  Scaliger's  pleasantry — "  Felices  populi 
quibus  bibere  est  viverer  According  to  some  writers,  the  Basques 
call  themselves  Euscaldunac,  their  country  Euscalerria,  and  their 
language  Eascara,  or  Escuara.  Larramendi  derives  Escuara  from 
escuco  free,  era  mode,  or  manner.  It  is  more  than  probable  that 
the  only  etymological  part  of  Escuara  is  esc,  and  that  esc  and 
eusc  may  be  synonymous  with  the  first  syllable  'va.Basq-ue,  Vasq-ue, 
Bisq-ue,  and  Gasc-ony  ;  and  perhaps  with  vesc  and  osc  in  some 
names  of  places,  as  Vesci,  Vescia,  Vescovato,  and  Osca. 

BASSO'RAH,  or  Basra,  Balsorah,  Turkey  ;  in  Arab.  "  a  mar- 
gin." It  is  situated  on  the  Sliat-al-Arab,  "  river  of  the  Arabs." 
See  Johnston. 

BASTIA,  chief  town  of  the  island  of  Corsica.  Qu.  It.  bastia 
rampart,  trench,  fence,  from  Low  L.  bastuni. 

BATAVIA  (Betuwe),  an  isle  in  Holland  between  the  Rhine 
and  the  Waal.     The  word  is  thought  by  many  to  be  contracted 


LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY.  29 

from  bat-ainvers,  "  inhabitants  of  good  or  fruitful  land,"  from 
bat,  bety  good,  axnoe  ground,  country.  It  is  tlionglit  that  the 
name  is  preserved  in  part  of  Gelderland,  the  Betuive,  fruitful 
country,  in  opposition  to  Veluice,  bad  land  from  vale  falling, 
defective,  &c.  (Hist.  Dutch  Lang,  by  Ypey.)  Others  say  this 
isle  occupies  part  of  the  country  of  the  ancient  Batavi  or  Insula 
Batavorum,  and  that  the  name  Betuwe  is  derived  from  that  of 
Batavia.  It  seems  more  reasonable  to  presume  that  Betuwe  is 
the  original  of  Batavia. 

BATCH,  BACH,  a  termination  of  local  names  in  England,  as 
in  Comberbatch  and  Sandbach  (Cheshire),  Woodbatch  (Salop), 
may  be  the  G.  bach  a  stream,  rivulet.  The  A.  S.  beclt  is  still 
common  in  the  northern  counties. 

BATH.  So  called  on  account  of  the  celebrity  of  its  hot  baths, 
from  A.  S.  bceth,  batho,  a  bath  (W.  badh,  or  baz,  G.  D.  Sw.  and 
Dan.  bad),  bathian  to  bathe.  "It  was  called  by  Antoninus  the 
Waters  of  the  Sun  (Aqute  Solis)  ;  and  from  the  great  concourse  of 
diseased  people  Acemanni  Civitas,  in  A.  S.  Acmanceaster,  i.  e. 
the  sick  folks'  town."  The  Britons  named  it  Badiza,  and  the 
Saxons  Bathan-cester. 

BATTLE,  Sussex.  "  Battle  Abbey,  so  called  by  WiUiam  the 
Conqueror,  in  token  of  a  signal  victory  obtained  over  Harold,  the 
last  Danish  king  ;  which  was  the  first  step  to  his  reducing  the 
whole  kingdom  to  obedience."     (^Bailey.) 

BATTERSEA.  Bailey  writes  Batersea,  "  once  called  Patric's 
Ea,  i.  e.  Patrick's  Isle."  According  to  Lysons  it  is  called  in  the 
Conqueror's  survey  Patricesy,  and  has  since  been  written  Bat- 
trichsey,  Battersey.  Aubrey  derives  its  name  from  St.  Patrick. 
Lambarde  says,  "  Battersey  quasi  Botersey  ;  because  it  was  near 
the  water-side,  and  was  the  removing-house  of  the  archbisliops  of 
York."  But,  as  Lysons  observes,  to  confute  so  absurd  an  ety- 
mology, it  is  scarcely  necessary  to  say  tliat  the  archbishops  of 
York  had  no  property  in  Battersea  till  the  reign  of  Edward  IV.  ; 
that  Patricesy  in  the  Saxon  is  "  Peter's  water  "  or  river  ;  and  as 
the  same  record  which  calls  it  Patricesy  mentions  that  it  was 
given  to  St.  Peter,  it  might  then  first   assume   that  appellation  ; 


30  LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY. 

but  this,  he  owns,  is  conjecture.  Petersham,  which  is  written 
precisely  the  same  in  Domesdaj',  viz.,  Patriceham,  belonged  to 
St.  Peter's  Abbey,  Chertsey,  and  retains  its  original  name,  a  little 
modernized. 

BAVARIA  (L.),  anciently  Boioaria,  i.  e.  the  country  of  the 
Boii,  or  Boioarii. 

BAYONNE  {bayon'),  Sp.  Bayuna,  a  city  in  the  S.  W.  of  France, 
near  the  frontiers  of  Spain,  from  Basq.  Bayon,  from  baiya,  bayona, 
a  port,  i.e.  a  good  port. 

BEALACHNAM-BO,  Loch  Katrine  :  "  the  pass  of  cattle." 
(Gael.) 

BEAMFLEET,  Beamfled  (Hunts)  Bamfleet,  Benfled  (Essex)  ; 
from  A.  S.  Beam-fleot ;  beam  a  tree  (see  Bam),  fleot  an  arm  of 
the  sea,  an  estuary.     See  Chron.  897,  and  Bosworth. 

BEAUMARIS  (bo'morris),  in  the  Isle  of  Anglesey  ;  from  Fr. 
beau,  fine,  and  marais  a  fen  or  marsh.     {Bailey.) 

BEAUNE  {bone),  in  France  ;  from  Celt,  hel  sources,  na  from, 
maou  two  {Bid.  Nat.)  :  perhaps  watered  by  two  streams  having 
their  source  near  the  town.  Beaune  was  anciently  written  Beaulne 
(in  L.  Pagus  Belnisus). 

BEAUVAIS  {bo'vay),  in  France,  in  L.  Bellovacum,  from  Celt. 
beloo  valour,  ffwys  man.  The  inhabitants  were  anciently  re- 
nowned for  their  courage.     {Diet.  Nat.) 

BECC,  BEC,  BECK,  in  names  of  places,  or  as  a  termination 
of  names  of  places,  in  England,  &c.,  denotes  their  situation  to  be 
near  a  brook  or  river  ;  from  A.  S.  becc  a  brook,  rivulet,  from  root 
of  Ice.  beck,  D.  beck,  G.  bach.  Beck  is  still  used  in  the  N.  of 
England,  particularly  in  Westmoreland,  Cumberland,  and  north 
Lancashire  for  a  mountain  stream,  or  rivulet.  See  also  Bosworth, 
and  Chr.  1140  ;  Ing.  p.  370,  4. 

BEDDGELERr  {beth'gelert),  Caernarvon,  N.  Wales,  properly 
Bedd  Celert.  Its  name,  says  Carlisle,  according  to  tradition 
implies  "  the  grave  of  Celert,"  a  greyhound  which  belonged  to 
Lly  welyn,  the  last  Prince  of  Wales ;  and  a  large  rock  is  still 
pointed  out  as  the  monument  of  this  celebrated  dog,  being  on  the 
spot  where  it  was  found  dead,  together  with  the  stag  which  it  had 


LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY.  31 

pursued   from    Caernarvon.     In   W.   becld  is  a  grave.     For  the 
tradition  see  Bingley  (Excurs.  in  N.  Wales). 

BEDFORD,  formerly  Bedanford,  a  contraction  of  Bedicanford, 
from  A.  S.  bedican  to  bedike,  fortify  with  a  mound,  and/o?-(/,  id. 
"The  fortress  of  the  ford."  The  battle  between  Cuthwulf  and 
the  Britons,  in  a.d.  572,  is  said  to  have  been  fought  here. 

BEDFORD  ROW,  Holborn,  "took  its  name  from  the  uses 
to  which  these  lands,  and  others  adjacent,  were  bequeathed  by 
Sir  William  Harpur  of  Bedford  ;  viz.,  to  found  a  free  and  per- 
petual school  in  that,  his  native  place — for  portioning  poor 
maidens  ;  supporting  poor  children  ;  and  maintaining  the  poor 
with  the  surplus  ;  all  of  them  inhabitants  of  the  said  town." 
{Pennaiit.) 

BEDLA]\I,  a  corruption  of  Bethlehem  (q.  v.)  ;  the  name  of  a 
reUgious  house  in  London,  afterwards  converted  into  a  lunatic 
asylum. 

BEER,  in  names  of  places  in  the  Holy  Land,  is  the  Heb.  '^t*! 
(Arab,  i «  beer)  a  well ;  thus.  Beer,  name  of  a  city  near  Jeru- 
salem ;  Beer-elim,  the  well  of  heroes  ;  Beer-sheba,  the  well  or 
fountain  of  an  oath  {shahah  an  oath). 

BEER  ALSTON,  BEER  FERRIS.  Beer  Alston  is  a  small 
market  town  in  the  parish  of  Beer  Ferris,  Devon.  Risdon  says 
it  was  given  by  William  the  Conqueror  to  the  French  family  of 
Allenson,  soon  after  the  conquest,  from  whom  it  took  its  name  ; 
and  that  in  the  reign  of  Henry  II.  this  honour,  as  well  as 
Beer  Ferrers,  erroneously  called  Bere  Ferris,  was  held  by  Henry 
Ferrers  ;  and  Martin  Ferrers,  the  last  of  that  ancient  house,  was 
put  in  special  trust  to  defend  the  sea-coast  against  the  invasion 
of  the  French  in  Edward  III.'s  time.  (See  P.  Cyc.)  Beer  may 
come  from  A.  S.  beorh  a  hill,  rampart,  citadel,  fortification,  heap. 
The  A.  S.  has  also  beora,  bearu,  a  grove,  bearw,  bearo,  a  barrow, 
high  or  hilly  r)lace,  wood,  grove,  hill  covered  with  wood. 
BEERSHEBA.     See  Bekii. 

BEIIRING'S  STRAITS  (written  also  Beering  and  Bering). 
Captain  Cook,  who  explored  these  straits,  gave  them  this  name, 
after  Behring,  an  eminent  navigator,  who  first  discovered  thcni. 


32  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

BELGIUM.  The  Belgse  were  most  probably  the  same  people 
as  the  Volkes.  Strabo  and  Titus  Livius  call  them  Volcse,  Csesar, 
Volgse,  Ausouius,  Bolgse,  Cicero,  Belgae,  and  in  Greek  they  are 
called  OvoKkoci.  One  of  their  chiefs  is  named  by  historians 
indiflFerently  Bolgius  and  Belgius.  Thierry  and  others  assert  that 
the  Bolg  or  Fir-bolg  were  originally  from  Asia,  and  that,  on 
quitting  that  continent,  they  for  a  long  time  dwelt  on  the  borders 
of  the  Euxine,  where  the  Greeks  reduced  them  to  servitude. 
From  Thrace  they  emigrated  to  Ireland,  and,  having  conquered 
the  inhabitants,  remained  in  the  country  for  some  time.  They 
were,  however,  subsequently  expelled  by  the  inhabitants  after  a 
bloody  battle,  when  they  retired  to  the  Isle  of  Man  and  the 
Hebrides,  where  several  names  of  places  still  recall  their  passage. 
The  traditions  of  Ireland  also  make  mention  of  an  emigration 
into  that  isle  of  Belgse  (Fir-bolg)  from  the  embouchure  of  the 
Rhine  in  Gaul.  Fir-Bholg  means  the  ancient  Irish,  the  ancient 
Belgse.  Fir  in  Irish  means  men.  Keating  observes  that  there 
are  still  three  families  in  Ireland  descended  from  the  Belgse, 
viz.  the  Gabhruighe  of  Connaught,  the  Fairsigh  of  Failghe,  and 
the  Galliuns  of  Leinster.  The  Belgse  doubtless  took  their  name 
from  the  Volga  or  Bolga,  on  the  banks  of  which  they  dwelt.  (See 
Bulgaria.)     Volga,  Bolga,  Bolgse,  Belgse,  Belgseum,  Belgium. 

BELGRADE,  formerly  the  capital  of  Servia ;  from  lUyr.  bel 
white,  grad  a  castle,  town.  The  Turks  call  it  Beligrad.  In 
Slav,  it  is  Bjelohrad,  in  G.  Griechisch-Weissenburg,  and 
Belgrad,  and  in  Hung.  Nandor-Fej^rvar,  all  signifying  white 
town.     But  see  Bolgrad  and  Gorod. 

BEN,  in  names  of  places  in  Scotland,  is  the  Gael,  beann,  beinn, 
beinne,  a  hill,  mountain,  summit,  pinnacle.  (Ir.  beann,  W.  bann 
and  pen,  G.  bann  high,  pinn  a  summit.) 

BEN  LEDI,  a  river  flowing  out  of  Loch  Venachoir,  Perth  ;  also 
the  name  of  the  most  conspicuous  mountain  in  Callender — said  to 
be  a  contraction  of  Gael.  beinn-le-Dia,  "  the  hill  of  God."  Some 
think  it  was  named  by  the  Druids,  who  had  a  temple  on  the 
summit  of  this  hill,  where  the  inhabitants  in  the  vicinity  assembled 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  33 

for  devotion  once  a  year ;  and  it  is  said  that  this  meeting  con- 
tinued three  days. 

BEN  LOMOND  denotes,  according  to  some,  a  bare  green  hill  ; 
others  say  it  is  a  contraction  of  Ben-loch-lomin,  "the  hill  of  the 
lake  full  of  islands."  Ben-more  means  the  grent  mountain ; 
Benvenue,  the  small  mountain  ;  Beindeirg,  the  red  mountain  ; 
Beucleughs,  the  rock  mountain.  The  Gael,  lorn  is  bare,  naked, 
open  or  exposed  ;  beagan  is  little  (whence  venue)  ;  dearg  red  ; 
clach,  doich,  stone,  pebble,  rock. 

BEN  NEVIS,  the  highest  mountain  in  Britain,  co.  Inverness, 
Scotland.  The  name  is  generally  derived  from  Gael,  beinn 
a  mountain,  and  L.  nivis  of  snow.  The  better  opinion  seems  to  be 
that  Benevis  is  for  Benevis,  contracted  from  beinn-neamh-bhathais, 
i.e.  "the  mountain  with  its  summit  in  the  clouds,"  or,  as  in 
Pope's  Homer,  "cloud-kissing  hill."  Beinn  a  hill,  neam  the 
heavens  or  clouds ;  bathais,  the  part  of  the  human  head  between 
the  forehead  and  the  crown.  The  name  may  have  come  thus  : 
Beinn-nfeamh-bhathais,  Beinnambathais,  Bennamvathais,  Benna- 
vatais,  Bennavais,  Bennevais,  Ben  Nevis. 

BENARES,  a  city  of  Hindustan,  on  the  Ganges,  from  Pers. 
(>«  lUu  Banaris,  also  Bandras,  from  Sans.  Vai-andsi,  from  the 
two  streams  Vara  and  Nasi,  as  some  say.  Others  derive  Benares 
from  Sans.  Varanashi  or  Kasi,  the  splendid. 

BENDER,  a  town  in  Russia  (formerly  in  Turkey),  on  the 
Dniester.  It  was  anciently  called  Teckin  or  Tegine.  This  place 
is  rendered  famous  from  the  sojourn  here  of  Charles  XII.,  after 
having  been  defeated  by  Peter  the  Great  at  Pultwa.  The  name 
is  said  to  signify  a  tomb,  and  on  that  account,  and  in  conse- 
quence of  the  length  of  the  king's  absence,  many  thought  him 
dead.  Bender  in  Turc  signifies  a  place  of  passage,  a  jilace 
of  commerce  upon  the  frontiers  ;  port  de  mer,  echelle  du 
Levant. 

BENT,  CHOW-BENT.  (Jhowbent  is  a  village  in  Lanca- 
shire ;  the  name  means  the  bent  or  common  of  Chow  or  Cbew. 
(See    Baines'    Hist.    Lane.)      Bent,    a    coarse    kind    of    grass 

D 


o4  LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY. 

growing  on  hilly  ground  {Lightfoot)  ;  the  open  field,  the  plain 
{S.  DoMi/Ias).  Bintz,  bins,  is  a  rush,  juncus,  scirpus.  (Jarnieson, 
Sco.  Diet.) 

BERDIANSK,  in  South  Russia,  named  from  its  situation  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Berda. 

BERE  REGIS.     See  Regis. 

BERGEX,  capital  of  the  province  of  Bergenhuys,  Norway. 
The  name  is  found  written  Berghen  and  Bjorgin,  and  in  Low  L. 
Berga.  Pliny  calls  it  Bergio.  Some  derive  the  name  from  G. 
bergen,  to  hide,  conceal.  It  is  more  probably  from  berg,  Dan. 
bierg,  a  mountain,  from  being  surrounded  on  the  land  side  by 
seven  high  mountains. 

BERIA,  BERRA,  BERIE,  BERRY,  found  in  names  of  places, 
is  an  O.  Eng.  word  denoting  a  plain  open  heath  or  wide  flat 
champaign  ;  as  in  Mix-berie,  Corn-berrie,  Beria  Sancti  Edmundi — 
mentioned  by  Matthew  Paris — which  does  not  refer  to  the  town, 
but  to  the  adjoining  plain.  Cowel  says,  "that  many  flat  and 
wide  meads,  and  other  open  grounds,  are  still  called  by  the  name 
of  bevies  and  6e;7"e-fields.  So  the  spacious  mead  between  Oxford 
and  Isley  was  in  the  reign  of  King  Athelstan  called  Bery,  as  now 
the  largest  pasture-ground  in  Quarendon,  Bucks,  is  known  by  the 
name  Berry-field.  And  such,  indeed,  were  the  berie  meadow^s, 
which,  though  Sir  H.  Spelman  interprets  them  to  be  the 
demesne  meadows,  or  manor  meadows,  yet  were  truly  any  flat 
open  meadows  that  lay  adjoining  to  any  vill  or  firm."  See  Cowel, 
Law  Diet.  ;  Dufresne,  Glos. 

BERKELEY  {barldy),  co.  Gloucester,  from  A.  S.  beoree 
a  beech-tree,  leag  a  field  ;  on  account  of  the  number  of  beech- 
trees  originally  growing  there. 

BERK'HAMPSTEAD,  Herts,  formerly  Berkharasted.  Bailey 
derives  Bergamsted  in  Kent,  from  Sax.  beorg  a  fort,  ham  a  house, 
stedda  a  place  :  but  berk  may  be  from  A.  S.  birce  birch. 

BERKSHIRE,  "the  bare  oak  shire,"  so  called  from  a  polled 
(lopped)  oak  in  Windsor  Forest,  where  public  meetings  were  held. 
(Brompt.  p.  801.)  It  was  written  most  commonly  by  the  Anglo- 
Saxons    Barruc,    Bearruc,    and     Bearwucscire.     Bailey    writes 


LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY.  35 

"Barkshire,  so  called  from  the  abundance  of  box  growing  there." 
From  Sax.  berroc  a  wood,  and  scire  shire. 

BERLIN.  Some  assert  that  Albert,  surnamed  the  Bear 
{der  Bur),  Count  of  Anhalt,  built  this  city.  Werdenhagen 
(de  Reb.  Ansea.  part  3,  c.  23,  fol.  338)  says  that  Albert  (who 
was  IMargrave  of  Brandenburg)  only  enlarged  this  city  and  sur- 
rounded it  with  walls,  on  which  account  it  took  its  name  from 
him,  like  Beernaw,  Beerwald,  Beernstein,  and  other  places  which 
he  also  built ;  and  in  corroboration  it  is  said  that  it  has  for  its 
arms  a  bear.  The  later  opinion  seems  to  be  that  the  name  is 
derived  from  berle,  signifying  uncultivated  land,  in  the  language 
of  the  Slavonian  Vends,  who  were  the  earliest  settlers  in  this 
part  of  the  country.  See  Zeyler,  Brandenb.  Topog.,  p.  26  ; 
and  Zedler,  Lex, 

BERjNIONDSEY,  formerly  Bermundsey,  and  in  the  Conqueror's 
survey  Bermundesye  ;  from  Bermund's  ige,  i,e,  Bermund's  Isle, 
formerly  (says  Bailey)  famous  for  an  abbey  erected  by  Bermund, 
either  lord  or  abbot  of  that  place.  Bermund  from  A.  S,  beran 
to  bear,  mund  peace. 

BERISIUDA,  The  Bermudas,  which  consist  of  five  small 
islands  in  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  were  named  from  Juan  Bermudez, 
their  Spanish  discoverer.  They  are  also  called  Somers'  Isles, 
from  Sir  Geo.  Somers,  who  was  shipwrecked  there  in  1609, 

BERNICIA,  name  of  a  tract  of  country  which  formerly 
reached  from  the  Tyne  to  the  Frith  of  Forth.  Some  derive 
the  name  from  Anc.  Brit,  brynaich,  i.e.  mountain  land.  Bailey 
says  q,  d.  the  province  of  Berwick,  from  Sax.  beam  a  man-child, 
Gr,  viHv;  victory,  so  called  from  the  warlike  disposition  of  the 
inhabitants ;  but  Bernicia  is  more  probably  from  Berenice,  from 
Gr.  ^spviy.Yj  one  that  brings  victor}^  from  <^£pcv  to  bring,  vixvj 
victory. 

BERWICK-UPON-TWEED  {berrick),  from  A.  S.  beor,  beer, 
or  bere,  barley,  corn,  wic  a  village  ;  "  a  corn  village."  Bailey 
gives  also  "  Aberivick,  i.e.  a  town  at  the  mouth  of  a  river."  In 
Domesday  Berwica  is  a  village,  Dr,  Bosworth  derives  Barton  from 
beor  or  bere,  and  tun  an  enclosure,  court-vard,  corn-farm,  grange. 

D   2 


36  LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY. 

BESAN'QON,  a  town  of  France  ;  from  Low  L.  Vesontio, 
Visontium,  Besantio.  Some  historians  have  called  it  Chrysopolis, 
"  the  golden  city."  See  Lamartmiere  ;  also  Piganiol,  Desc.  de  la 
France,  t.  6,  p.  397 ;  Chiflet,  Vesont.  part  1,  p.  44. 

BETH,  BETHEL,  BETHLEHEM.  Beth,  in  names  of  places 
in  Palestine,  is  the  Heb,  n'l  beth  (Arab,  i^-  ^  >.i  bayt)  a  house; 
thus,  Beth-el,  "  house  of  God,"  a  very  ancient  city  of  the 
Canaanites  ;  Beth-seda,  "house  of  mercy;"  Beth-saida,  "place 
of  hunting  and  fishing  ;"  Beth-aven  (same  with  Bethel),  "  house 
of  vanity  or  idols  ;"  Beth-lehem,  "  house  of  bread,"  the  birth- 
place of  our  Saviour,  near  Jerusalem. 

BETTWS-Y-COED  (bett'oos-Aoid),  N.  Wales.  Bettws  is 
frequently  found  in  local  names  in  Wales.  Carlisle  says  bettws 
is  a  station  or  place  of  moderate  temperature,  between  hill 
and  vale.  Others  say  it  appertained  at  first  to  a  monastery, 
from  L.  abbatis  {abbas,  abbatis,  an  abbot).  The  W.  coed  is  a 
wood.  Bettws  Garmon  was  named  from  its  church,  which  is 
dedicated  to  St.  Germanus,  who  led  on  the  Britons  to  the  famous 
"Alleluia"  victory,  obtained  over  the  Saxons  at  Maes-Garmon, 
near  Mold. 

BEVER,  a  castle  in  Leicestershire.  There  are  several  places 
named  Bever  in  England.  There  is  Bever  in  the  neighbour- 
hood of  Colchester.  From  Fr.  belvoir,  a  fine  prospect,  bel,  and 
voir,  from  L.  videre  to  see. 

BEYROUT  {beeroot')  found  written  Beyrut,  Bairout,  Berout, 
and  Beirut,  a  town  in  Syria.  Some  say  from  Heb.  beroth  wells 
(pi.  of  -»^n  bee)-),  on  account  of  the  springs  of  water  there. 
Others  say  the  name  originated  from  the  Phoenician  deity  Baal 
Beerith,  "lord  of  wells."  Periegetes  tells  us  it  was  a  Phoenician 
city  of  great  antiquity,  and  was  called  Berytus,  or  Bery'tus  ; 
that  Augustus,  who  made  it  a  colony,  called  it  after  his  daughter, 
Colonia  Julia  Augusta  Felix  Berytus  ;  and  that  medals  were 
afterwards  struck  in  honour  of  the  Roman  emperors,  bearing  the 
legend  "  Colonia  Felix  Berytus."   (Plin.  v.  20.) 

BHAR,  in  the  names  of  places  in  Scotland,  is  the  Gael,  bhhrr. 


LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY.  37 

aspirated  form  of  ban;  bar,  bair  (Corn.  W.  and  Arm.  bar),  top, 
summit,  height,  or  hill ;  perhaps  from  or  allied  to  Heb.  barhh 
high,  O.  Pers.  and  Chald.  bar  above. 

BHURTPORE,  or  BHARATPOOR,  Hindustan  ;  "  the  town 
of  Bharata."     See  Poor. 

BICESTER  (bister),  Oxon,  found  written  Bisetter  and  Bur- 
chester  ;  corruption  of  Birincester,  "  Birin's  fortress,"  because 
built,  by  his  advice  and  assistance,  out  of  the  ruins  of  Alchester 
and  Chesterton,  or  because  a  church  was  built  and  endowed  by 
him.  Birin  or  Birinus  was  bishop  of  Caer  Dor,  or  Dorcliester, 
Oxon,  about  the  middle  of  the  seventh  century. 

BICETRE  (besay'tr),  Paris,  an  hospital,  lunatic  asylum,  and 
penitentiary,  formerly  called  La  Grange  aux  Gueux.  It  is  said 
to  take  its  name  from  Wincestre  (Winchester),  from  occupying 
the  site  of  a  country  house  built  in  1290  by  John,  bishop  of  Win- 
chester. Thus,  Wincestre,  Yincestre,  Vicestre,  Bicestre,  Bicetre. 
Others  say  the  name  is  derived  from  its  owner,  in  the  loth  century 
(1410),  John,  Due de  Berry  (in  h.Dux  Bitiiricensis).  SeeFauchet, 
Antiq.  ;  Du  Cliesne,  sur  Alain  Chartier,  p.  817  ;  and  ^linage. 

BID'EFORD,  Devon,  has  its  name  from  its  situation  near  an 
ancient  ford,  i.e.  "  bij  t/ieford."  It  is  built  on  both  sides  of  the 
river  Torridge,  near  its  confluence  with  the  Taw. 

BIGGIN,  BYGGYN,  a  common  termination  of  local  names  in 
the  northern  counties  and  in  Scotland  ;  as  Newbiggin,  Northum- 
berland and  Westmoreland  ;  Dowbiggin,  Lancashire.  It  means 
a  house  of  a  large  size  as  opposed  to  a  cottage ;  a  building.  It 
may  come  from  A.  S.  byyyan  a  building ;  New-biggin,  the  new 
building  ;  Dow-biggin,  the  old  building.  Bow  is  here  a  corruption 
of  "Old  ;"  thus,  old,  d'old,  d'owd,  Dow.  In  Scotland  biygin 
is  sometimes  used  to  designate  certain  small  buildings  on  the 
banks  of  rivers,  &c.,  in  which  night  lights  are  placed  to  prevent 
vessels  from  mistaking  their  course. 

BIJANAGORE,  a  celebrated  city  in  Hindustan,  now  decayed 
and  deserted,  from  I'ijnyaiuigar,  "  The  City  of  Triumph," 
from  Hind,   hijui  or  c'l-jaya,   triumph  (from   Sans,  vi,   and  jitya 


38  LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY. 

victory,     from   ji    to    conquer),     nagar,    nugur,    a   town,    city. 
See  Nagore. 

BIL'LERICAY,  Essex.  In  ancient  records  the  name  is  found 
written  Beleuca.  Its  most  ancient  name  is  said  to  have  been 
Baleuga,  or  Banleuga  (in  Fr.  banlieii,  Low  L.  hannum  leuca), 
denoting  the  territory  or  precinct  round  a  manor  or  borough. 

BILLINGSGATE,  or,  says  Pennant— "to  adapt  the  speUing 
to  the  conjectures  of  antiquaries,  who  go  beyond  the  reahns  of 
Chaos  and  old  Night — Belin's-gate,  or  the  gate  of  Behnus,  king 
of  Britain,  fellow-adventurer  with  Brennus,  king  of  the  Gauls,  at 
the  sacking  of  Rome,  360  years  before  the  Christian  sera  :  and 
the  Beli  Mawr,  who  graces  the  pedigreed  of  numbers  of  us 
ancient  Britons.  For  fear  of  falling  on  some  inglorious  name, 
I  submit  to  the  etymology,  but  must  confess  there  does  not  appear 
any  record  of  a  gate  at  this  place.  His  son  Lud  was  more 
fortunate,  for  Ludgate  preserves  his  memory  to  every  citizen  who 
knows  the  just  value  of  antiquity.  '  Gate '  here  signifies  only  a 
place  where  there  was  a  concourse  of  people — a  common  quay  or 
wharf,  where  there  is  a  free  going  in  and  out  of  the  same." 

BILLOCKBY  {billo'b^j).     See  Runham. 

BINGLEY,  York  (in  Domesday  Bingheleia),  a  market-town, 
CO.  York.  The  name  is  said  to  signify  the  field  of  Bing,  the 
original  proprietor  in  Saxon  times.     A.  S.  leag  a  field. 

BIR'BHOOM,  a  district  in  Bengal ;  corrupted  from  Vira- 
bhumi,  "  the  land  of  heroes."  (Sans,  vira  a  hero,  bhumi  land, 
earth,  the  earth.) 

BIRDTVVISLE.     See  Twistle. 

BIRMINGHAM;  found  written  Bermyngham,  Bermingham  ; 
in  the  Letters  Patent  of  Edw.  VI.,  Brymymcham,  and  in  other 
old  writings  Brumwycheham.  Dugdale  says  the  general  opinion 
seems  to  be  that  the  "  appellation  Berming  was  originally  taken 
from  some  ancient  owner  or  planter  there  in  the  Saxons'  time." 
Others  assert  that  the  original  spelling  was  "  Brum-wich-ham" 
(A.  S.)  i.  e.  "  the  broom-place  dwelling,"  in  allusion  to  the  natural 
growth  of  the  shrub  termed  broom  on  its  site  ;   and,  indeed,  there 


LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY. 


39 


are  two  places  in  the  neighbourhood  called  Broniwich.  This 
latter  etymology  agrees  with  the  vulgar  pronouueiation,  "  Brum- 
micham"     See  Smith,  Hist.  Warw. 

BISCAY,  the  Bay  of,  which  washes  the  western  shore  of  France 
and  the  northern  shore  of  Spain,  i.e.  the  Biscaya  or  Vizcaya,  one  of 
the  Basque  provinces.  Biscay,  Basque,  and  Gascony  are  merely 
different  orthographies  of  the  Sp.  word.  Some  derive  Biscaya 
from  the  Greek,  others  from  an  African  word.  Larramendi  says 
Bizcarja  is  from  Basq.  bitshitsa  foamy,  caya  a  port  ;  or  that 
it  means  "  Let  it  be  a  port,"  from  biz,  and  caya !  Vyxt  see 
Basque. 

BIS'HAM,  or  Bisham  Montague,  co.  Berks  ;  corrupted  from 
Bustleham,  its  ancient  name  ;   "  Bustle's  ham  or  dwelUng." 

BLACKHEATH.     See  Jack  Straw's  Castle. 

BLACK  SEA.  "  The  reason  for  calling  this  sea  '  Black'  may 
have  been  the  frequent  recurrence  of  storms  and  fogs  ;  but  it 
might  also  have  been  the  abounding  black  rocks  in  the  extensive 
coal-fields  between  the  Bosphorus  and  Heraclea."  (Timbs.)  More 
probably  from  the  dark  appearance  which  this  sea  sometimes  has 
from  the  shadows  of  these  rocks.  The  Turks  call  the  Black  Sea 
Karah  Dengiz ;  in  Russ.  it  is  Tshernoe  More,  in  G.  Schwarzes 
Meer,  in  Fr.  La  Mer  Noire,  in  Sp.  Mar  Negro,  in  L.  Pontus 
Euxinus,  and  Pontus,  and  in  Gr.  flovroe  and  Ev^eivog. 

BLENHEIM,  in  Germany.     See  Hochst. 

BLOUS,  BOLOUS,  BOL,  BOLI,  a  termination  in  Oriental 
names  of  places,  as  in  Istambol  (Constantinople),  Gueleboh' 
(Gallipoli),  Tirubolous  (Tripoli),  Nablous  (Asia  Minor),  is  a  cor- 
ruption of  Gr.  7roA<c  a  city.     See  Stamboul. 

BODEN-SEE  (say).     See  Bregenz. 

BODMIN,  in  Cornwall  ;  Corn,  "stone-house."  Bodmyn,  the 
"  kite's  abode  ;"  also  "  the  dwellings  on  the  ridge  of  a  hill." 
(Lhrnjd.)  Bailey  says,  "  from  W.  bod  a  kite,  inin  the  bank  of  a 
river,  by  reason  of  the  great  number  of  kites  that  frequent  it." 

BOHEMIA,  L.,  said  to  be  from  Bojhemum,  from  Bojes,  the 
name  (jf  the  people.      In  ancient  ma|)s  it  is  named  Boiohemum. 


40  LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY. 

BOLGRAD,  Bessarabia,  found  written  Beloigorod,  Bialogorod, 
Bialogrod,  tind  Biellogrod  ;  from  beloi  white,  gorod  town.  But 
see  Belgrade,   Gorod,  and  Ackerman. 

BOLSENA  {bolsay'na),  near  Acquapendente,  in  the  Roman 
States  ;  a  corruption  of  Vulsinio,  its  ancient  name.  "The  per- 
fection and  elegance  of  workmanship  of  many  articles  lately  dis- 
covered there  confirm  what  writers  assert,  viz.,  that  Vulsinio  in 
Phoen.  signifies  *  the  city  of  the  arts.'  "  "  It  is  called  by 
Strabo  the  capital  of  Etruria,  by  Valerius  Maximus  caput  Etnirice, 
and  opnlentissima  by  writers  of  high  authority." 

BOLTON,  Lancashire,  found  written  Botltune,  Bodeltune  ; 
from  A.  S.  botl,  hold,  bolt,  an  abode,  dwelling,  hall,  mansion, 
house  ;  tun,  an  enclosure,  village,  &c.  Cynilic  botl,  a  kingly 
dwelling.  Hicks  translates  Wicanhottle,  Aula  Wicensis.  See 
Bosworth,  also  Whitaker  (Craven),  Qu.  Wolfenbuttel  in  N.  Ger- 
many. 

BOMBAY  was  first  taken  possession  of  by  the  Portuguese, 
soon  after  their  arrival  in  India,  and  called  by  them  B6m  Bahia, 
or  "good  bay,"  from  the  excellence  of  its  harbour.  Bum,  or 
bua,  is  from  L.  bonus  good. 

BOOTH,  a  frequent  adjunct  to  local  names  in  Lancashire,  as 
Hey  Booth,  Barrowford  Booth,  Laund  Booth,  Wheally  Carr  Booth, 
Rawtonstall  Booth,  Crawshaw  Booth,  Constable-le-Booth,  Oaken- 
head  Booth.  Camden  derives  Booth  from  D.  boed,  a  temporary 
house  built  of  boards.  It  may  be  from  the  Dan.  bod  (toldbod, 
Tolbooth).  The  W.  has  bwth,  Ir.  boith  or  both,  G.  bude.  The 
root  of  all  may  be  the  Heb.  beth  (Chal.  bith,  Arab,  bayt)  a  house. 

BORDEAUX  {bordd),  in  France,  sometimes  Bourdeaux,  named 
from  its  situation  au  bord  des  eaux.  Some  writers  say  its  name 
is  derived  from  two  streams,  the  Bourde  and  the  Jalle,  not  far 
from  the  city,  whence  L.  Burdigala  ;  but,  say  others,  the  Bourde 
discharges  itself  into  the  Garonne  a  quarter  of  a  league  above  the 
city,  and  the  Jalle  more  than  a  league  Ijelow  the  city,  and  it  is  not 
likely  that  the  Bourde  gave  its  name  to  a  great  city  watered  by 
the  Garonne. 

BORMIO,  found  written  Bormeo  and  Vormeo,  a  little  town  at 


LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY.  41 

the  foot  of  Monte  Stelvio  in  Italy.  The  Germans  call  Bormio, 
Worms.  They  are  doubtless  the  same  word,  but  which  is  the 
original  seems  doubtful.  The  Germans  call  Monte  Stelvio  the 
"Wormser  Jocli,  and  also  Stilfser  Joch,  from  the  little  village 
of  Stilfs,  perched  up  on  a  height,  like  a  bird's  nest,  on  the 
Tyrolese  side  of  the  pass.  The  G.  Yeltlin  (Eng.  Valteline)  is  a 
corruption  of  the  It.  Val  Tellina,  one  of  the  four  valleys  which 
open  out  at  Bormio. 

BORN,  BOURN,  BOURNE,  BURN,  and  BONE,  in  names 
of  places  in  England  (as  in  Holborn,  Marylebone,  Tyburn,  i.  e. 
the  Old-bourn,  Mary-le-bourn,  the  Ty-burn),  is  the  A.  S.  burn  a 
brook.     The  A.  S.  word  is  still  in  use  in  Scotland. 

BORNEO.  xA  place  and  kingdom  in  the  island  of  the  same 
name,  in  the  Eastern  Archipelago  ;  from  Mai.  ^'  ,^>  burni,  some- 
times, but  incorrectly,  burni. 

B0RN'H0L:\I,  an  island  in  the  Baltic,  formerly  called  Burgen- 
daland,  or  land  of  Burgundians.  Burgenda  was  first  corrupted 
into  Barring,  and  then  into  Born  ;  find  land  has  been  changed 
into  Dan.  holm,  an  isle.  Thus,  Borringholm,  Bornholm.  See 
Bosworth. 

BOROUGH,  another  orthography  of  Burh,  q.  v. 
BORSTAL,  BURSTAL,  found  written  Burgstal,  and  Burgstol, 
from  A.  S.  beorg  a  hill,  stal  seat,  dwelling  ;   "  the  names  of  places 
built  on  a  hill."     See  Bosworth. 

BOSPHORUS.  Some  derive  this  word  from  G.  /Souc  an  ox, 
TTOioc  a  ford  (Ox-ford)  ;  from  being  an  ox-passage,  a  strait  over 
which  an  ox  may  swim.  Others  say  from  /Souc,  and  (^&puj  to  bear, 
because  lo,  changed  into  the  form  of  an  ox,  was  borne  over  this 
strait. 

B(JTANY  BAY'  was  discovered  by  Captain  Cook  in  1770,  and 
received  its  name  from  the  great  variety  of  herbs  which  abounded 
on  the  shore;  from  Gr.  ^otuvyi  a  licrb. 

BOril'AM,  in  names  of  places  in  Lancashire,  as  in  Rams- 
bothani,  now  Ilamsbottom,  is  the  0.  Eng.  word  hothna,  luthnu, 
liiilhcna,  a  park  where  cattle  are  enclosed  and  fed.  liofhrna  is  a 
liarony,  lordship,  a  sherift'-wick.      See  (Jowel. 


42  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

BOULOGNE  (boo-lon'),  a  sea-port  in  France,  from  L.  Bononia, 
by  change  of  n  into  l.  Thus,  Bononia,  Bolognia,  Bologna,  Bou- 
logne. 

BOWDEN  (baw'den),  a  place  in  Cornwall.  The  name  in 
Corn,  means  a  sorry  fellow,  a  bad  man,  a  nasty  place.  It  is  also 
a  family  name. 

BOYNE,  the  name  of  a  river  in  Ireland,  and  of  several  streams 
in  Scotland  ;  from  Ir.  buinne  a  stream,  rapid  river ;   Gael.  id. 

BRABANT  (brab'onff),  a  province  of  Belgium,  said  to  take 
its  name  from  Silvius  Brabon,  or  Brubon,  a  Roman,  who  slew  the 
giant  at  Antwerp !  Brabant  was  anciently  written  Brachbant. 
The  Dutch  write  Braband.     See  Antwerp. 

BRADFORD,  Wilts,  from  A.  S.  Bradan-ford,  from  brad 
broad,  yb?YZ  a  ford. 

BRANSCOMB,  perhaps  from  Abraham's  Comb,  i.  e.  Abra- 
ham's Httle  valley  or  low  piece  of  ground  ;  thus,  Abraham's 
Comb,  Abram's  Comb,  Bramscomb,  Branscomb. 

BRAY,  a  parish  and  village  near  Maidenhead,  Berks.  Some 
think  that  the  village  occupies  the  site  of  the  Roman  station 
Bibracte,  from  which  its  present  name  may  have  been  corrupted. 

BRAY,  the  name  of  a  place  in  Cornwall ;  from  Corn.  bi-e,  brea, 
a  hill.     It  is  also  a  family  name. 

BRxlZIL.  "  De  brasa,  en  Port,  braise,  a  cause  de  la  couleur 
rougeatre  du  hois  de  teinture  que  I'on  tire  de  ce  pays."  {Diet. 
Nat.)  The  Port.  Diet,  does  not  give  braise,  but  braza  is  a  live 
coal,  burning  coal.  The  Sp.  has  brasil,  brazil  wood  used  by 
dyers. 

BREADALBANE,  or  Braidalbin,  formerly  one  of  the  six  dis- 
tricts into  which  Perthshire  was  divided.  It  is  still  popularly 
applied  to  this  district,  and  is  retained  in  the  title  of  the  present 
marquis  ;  from  Gael,  braidh,  for  braigh,  the  top  of  a  mountain, 
an  upland  country,  the  upper  or  higher  part  of  any  country 
(as  Braigh  Raineach,  the  high  grounds  of  Rannoch),  and  Alba, 
Albainn,  Albidn,  the  Gael,  name  for  Scotland,  also  the  ancient 
name  for  England.  Chalmers  says  the  Scoto-Irish  people  gave 
to  the  south  part  of  the  Albani  country  [the  name  of  Braid-Alban, 


LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY.  43 

"  the  upper  part  of  Alban,"  and  to  a  ridge  of  mountains  in  the 
north,  that  of  Drum-alban,  "  the  ridge  of  Alban." 

BRECKNOCKSHIRE,  sometimes  Breconshire,  "called  in 
W.  Brechimen,  from  Brechianus,  a  prince  that  had  24  daughters, 
who  were  all  canonized,  in  the  Choir  of  Saints."  (Bailee/.)  "  From 
a  prince  of  that  country  of  the  name  of  Brychan,  who  ruled 
over  it  about  a.d.  400.  From  him  this  part  of  the  principality 
was  called  '  Land  of  Brychan,'  which  in  the  British  language 
at  difiPerent  periods  is  written  Brechiniauc,  Brechiniawg,  Bre- 
chiniog,  and  Brecheiniog.  Others  suggest  that,  as  wi'ekin  (per- 
haps from  crugyn  a  hillock,  or  gwrychin  a  bristle)  means  an 
abrupt  steep  mountain,  Brecheiniog  may  be  a  corruption  of 
wrekiniog,  or  rather  cruginiog  or  gwrychiniog,  full  of  mountains 
or  sharp  ridges  of  hills,  resembling  the  bristles  of  a  hog's 
back.  This  is  said  to  be  confirmed  by  the  neighbouring  comities 
being  called  !M6r-gan-wg,  the  maritime  country ;  Penfro,  the 
head  of  the  valley,  or  promontory,  on  the  western  extremity 
of  the  island.  Brecknockshire  was  anciently  called  Garth- 
marthrin  or  Madrin,  i.e.  'Fox-hill'  or  'Fox-hold,'  because 
perhaps  formerly  infested  with  that  animal ;  from  garth,  a  pre- 
cipitous or  abrupt  eminence  ;  madrin,  an  obsolete  word  for  a  fox. 
This  name  was  succeeded  by  Llwynog,  or  'the  inhabitants  of 
the  bushes,'  which  was  afterwards  changed  to  Cadno  (pron. 
canddo),  the  only  name  by  which  the  fox  is  at  present  known 
in  Wales."  (Jones,  Hist.  Breckn.)  Llwynog  means  also  a  fox 
in  Welsh.     See  Caermarthen. 

BREGENZ  (hreg'ntz),  a  town  in  Austria,  at  the  east  end  of 
Lake  Constance.  It  takes  its  name  from  a  small  river  which  falls 
into  this  lake  near  the  town.  The  Romans  called  Bregenz 
Brigantium  and  Brigantia,  and  the  lake,  Brigantinus  Venacus,  and 
Potamicus  Lacus.  Pliny  calls  it  the  Lake  of  Rhsetia.  Its  former 
German  name  was  Bregenzer-see.  The  modern  German  name  is 
Bodensee.  The  town  of  Constance  (in  G.  Constanz,  and  found 
written  Costantz  and  Costnitz),  situated  on  this  lake,  owes  its 
origin  to  Constantius,  father  of  the  Emperor  Constantine  the 
Great,  who  founded   it  and   built  a  strong  fort  lierc  to  j)rotcct 


44  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

the  frontier  from  the  Germans.  See  Strabo,  Ptolemy,  Pliny, 
Lamartiniei'c,  and  Zeyler,  Suevise  Topog.,  p.  23. 

BRENDON,  a  place  in  Cornwall,  from  Corn.  Brahan-diin, 
signifying  "  the  crow's  hill ;"  also  a  family  name. 

BRENTFORD,  jNIiddlesex,  found  written  Bregenford,  Brende- 
ford,  and  Brenford  ;  situated  on  the  spot  where  the  river  Brent 
falls  into  the  Thames  ;  Brent,  and  A.  S./ord  a  ford. 

BRENTWOOD,  Essex  ;  from  Burnt-wood. 

BREST,  a  sea-port  of  France  (Low  L.  Brestum).  Some  say 
from  Brivates  Partus  ;  others  from  Celt,  hras,  bres,  great  (port, 
understood).  M.  de  Longuerue  (Desc.  de  la  France,  part  1, 
p.  94),  doe.s  not  consider  it  to  be  an  ancient  town,  and  says  it  has 
only  become  important  since  the  reunion  of  Bretagne  with  the 
crown  of  France. 

BRIDEWELL,  a  house  of  correction  for  the  confinement  of 
disorderly  persons  ;  so  called  from  the  palace  built  near  St. 
Bride's,  i.  e.  St.  Bridget's  well,  in  London,  which  was  turned  into 
a  workhouse.     (Johnson.) 

BRIENTZ,  BRIENZ  {bree-ents),  a  town  and  lake  in  Switzer- 
land ;  from  Celt,  bri  a  town,  and  hen  embouchure  ;  "  ville  situee 
a  I'embouchure  d'une  riviere."     {Bict.  Nat.) 

BRIG'A  is  often  found  as  a  termination  of  ancient  names  of 
places  and  peoples  in  Spain,  &c.,  as  in  Augustobriga,  Flaviobriga, 
Juliobriga,  Lacobriga,  Deobriga,  Nertobriga,  Segobriga  (now 
Segorbe),  Veriobriga.  Larramendi  says  it  is  an  old  Sp.  word,  signi- 
fying population,  people,  land,  country,  city,  from  Basq.  uriga, 
id.  from  uri,  iri,  population,  and  the  termination  ga,  denoting 
place,  situation  ;  and  he  says  that  both  the  Greeks  and  the  Latins 
have  briga  from  the  same  root.  (P.  Cyc.)  Hnmboldt  thinks 
briga  is  not  a  Basq.  word,  and  says  it  is  found  more  frequently 
in  names  of  places  in  Gaul.  Astarloa  says  bri,  vri,  and  wn'mean 
peopled  places,  upon  which  a  learned  writer  observes,  that  ga  is  a 
negative,  and  that  therefore  briga  would  mean  a  place  without 
inhabitants,  or  a  wild  population  (whence  as  some  say  Sp.  ber- 
gante,  Fr.  brigunte) ;  but  as  briga  is  always  found  as  a  teruiina- 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  45 

tion  in  the  name  of  a  town  or  inhabited  place,  it  must  have  ac- 
quired a  meaning  contrary  to  its  previous  meaning. 

BRIGHTON  ;  found  written  Brighthelmston,  Brightehnston, 
Brightelmestone,  Brighthehnestone,  Brightehnyston,  Bright- 
helymvston,  Brighthelmyston,  Brighthelmstead.  It  is  said  to 
derive  its  name  from  Brighthehii,  a  Saxon  bishop,  who  Hved  either 
there  or  in  the  vicinity,  and  A.  S.  tun  a  town. 

BRISTOL,  formerly  Bricg-stow,  Bric-stow,  Bristow,  from  A.  S. 
brycg  a  bridge,  stoio  a  place,  or  stol  a  seat.  {Bosworth.)  Some 
assert  that  its  ancient  name  was  Caer  Brito  or  Briton,  i.e.  the 
British  city,  nigh  to  and  just  under  the  Roman  city,  or  station 
above,  at  Clifton.  Henry  of  Huntingdon,  in  1148,  copying  from 
Nennius,  gives  Caer  Bristow  for  Caer  Brito.  The  name  is  also 
found  written  Bryghsto,  Brightstoe,  Bricgstowe,  Brigestow, 
Brigston,  Bristowe,  Brigestou,  Bristallum,  and  in  Domesday, 
and  in  ancient  charters  of  Hen.  II.  and  Hen.  III.,  Bristold, 
Bristou,  and  Bristow  ;  and,  says  Barrett,  "  since  by  Leland  and  in 
most  of  the  old  manuscripts,  Brycghstowe.  But  the  Saxons,  who 
seem  to  have  imposed  this  name  of  Brycghstowe,  i.e.  a  bright 
illustrious  place,  we  may  reasonably  presume  found  it  in  that 
flourishing  condition,  or  the  name  could  have  been  applied  with 
no  sort  of  propriety,  unless  we  suppose  it  to  be  the  casual  varia- 
tion of  Caer  Brito,  its  original  name.  It  might,  indeed,  have  the 
name  of  Brigston  from  the  Sax.  bricg  a  bridge,  i.e.  a  town  with 
bridges,  as  Bishop  Gibson  has  derived  it,  which  seems  well  enough 
calculated  for  the  peninsular  situation  of  the  old  town,  surrounded 
almost  with  water,  which  had  great  need,  and  still  hath,  of  bridges, 
to  preserve  a  communication  with  different  places  about  it ; 
though  the  great  bridge  over  the  Avon  till  a  later  date  was  not  in 
being." 

BRITAIN.  Camden  thinks  that  Britain  may  have  its 
name  from  the  abimdance  of  tin  which  it  contains,  and  says 
that  in  the  Syriac  vurutanuc  means  "  land  of  tin,"  whence 
Britain.  Bochart  derives  the  Gr.  ^pEraviK-r)  from  the  Punic 
~\ZH    n~2   burat   anac,   the  land   of   tin    or   lead.      Sbaw    (Hist. 


46  LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY. 

Staff.)  says,   "  Dr.  Boerhaave,  fond  of  chymistry,  and  willing  to 
do  honour  to  England,  from  whence  he  had  received  not  a  few 
guineas,  asserts  that  in  dial,  and  Syr.  Brachmcmac  means  both 
the   kingdom  of  Jupiter  and  of  tin,  which  metal  the  chymists 
assigned  to  the  god  ;   and  that  Britain   may   easily  be  derived 
therefrom."    Borlase  says  it  may  come  from  Heb.  bara  to  create, 
which   (in   conjugation  "Pihel")   signifies  to    divide,    separate, 
cut  off;  for  the  word  brith  or   brit,  which  means  a  covenant, 
might  also  mean  an  island,  or  country  separated  from  the  con- 
tinent, as  Britain  really  is,  and  long  ago  was  described  by  the 
Roman  poet  "Et  penittis  toto  divisos  orbe  Britannos."     Most 
authors  derive  Briton  from  W.  brith,  brit,  divers  colours,  spotted, 
from  the  manner   in  which  the  ancient   Britons  used  to  paint 
their  bodies  ;   and   some   of  them  instance   the   Picts,  from  L. 
pictus,  painted ;  but  Pict  is  not  from  inctus,  but  from  a  Gaelic 
word.     Shaw,  quoting  the  latter  derivation,  says,  "other  nations 
as  well  as  the  Britons,  had  this  custom  of  painting  or  staining 
their  skins,  for  the  Arii,  Geloni,  and  Agathyrsi  all  did  so  ;  and 
yet  I  never  heard  that  any  of  these  words  signified  paint  in  any 
of  these  languages,  or  that  these  nations  were  so  called  from  this 
particular  circumstance."     Bosworth,  under  Bryt  a  Briton,  gives 
W.  h-ith,  brit,  of  divers  colours,  spotted ;  Heb.  "ni  brd,  hence 
the  pi.  anni  brdim,  spots,  spotted  with  colours.     The  A.  S.  has 
Bryt,  Brit,  Bret,  a  Briton  (applicable  both  to  Great  Britain  and 
Bretagne),    also    Bryten,    Bryton,    Brytene,   Breoten,   Bretene, 
Bryttene,  for  Britain.     The  Irish  call  Britain   Breatain,  and  a 
Welshman  Breathnach.     The  Gaels  call  a  Briton  Breatunnach, 
and  a  Welshman  Breathnach.     The  name  Brython  is  preserved 
among  the  populations  which  speak  the  Armoric  dialect.     They 
call  their  country  Breiz,  and  themselves  Breizaded,  or  Breiziz. 
The  Latins  called  the  Britons  Britanni  and  Bretanni.     Owen 
{Welsh  Diet.)  says,   "  Prydain  {jjryd),  exhibiting  presence,  or 
cognizance  ;  exhibiting  an  open  or   fair  aspect  ;  full  of  beauty, 
well-seeming,   beautiful  ;   pohshed   or  civilized,   with  respect  to 
morals.     Ynys  Prydain,  'the  fair  island,'  'the  isle  of  Britain.' 
Tri  enw  Ynys  Prydain :  cyn  ei  9yvannezu  y  Gal  Gre  ai  galwai 


LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY.  47 

Clas  merzin  ;  gwedi  ei  cafael,  y  Vel  Ynys  ;  a  gwedi  cafael  o 
Bi'vdyn  ab  Aez  Mawr  hi,  Ynys  Prydyn.  The  three  names  of 
the  isle  of  Britain :  before  it  was  inhabited,  the  Hord  GaU  used 
to  call  it  the  water  girt  Green  Plat ;  after  obtaining  it,  the  Honey 
Island  ;  and  after  Prydyn,  son  of  Aez  the  Great,  had  obtained 
it,  the  Isle  of  Prydyn."  (Trioz.)  Armstrong  {Gael.  Diet.), 
under  Breatunn,  prefers  Clark's  derivation  from  Braith-tonn, 
the  top  of  the  wave,  and  says,  "  to  perceive  the  force  of  this, 
one  has  merely  to  imagine  himself  viewing  Britain  across  the 
Channel  from  the  north  coast  of  France,  whence  came  our  Celtic 
ancestors  ;  that  our  island  from  that  quarter  seems  a  low  dark 
line  lying  along  the  surface  of  the  deep  ;  and  that  no  term  could 
have  been  found  more  descriptive  of  that  appearance  than  Bmifh- 
tonn,  or  Bruith-tuimi  (pronounced  hraitonn  or  hraituimi), 
the  land  on  the  top  of  the  waves.  Others  say  Breatunn  is 
a  corrnption  of  Bretinn,  a  high  island,  from  the  O.  Celt. 
bret  high,  inn  an  island.  Some  derive  Britain  from  Brutus,  a 
fabulous  king  of  it ;  others,  again,  from  W.  bri  honour,  tain  a 
river,  "  being  an  island  exceeding  all  others  in  Europe  for  the 
great  and  many  rivers  with  which  it  abounds."  One  of  the 
earliest  names  of  Britain  was  that  of  Fel-Ynys,  i.  e.  Isle  of  Honey, 
which  was  no  doubt  given  to  it  by  the  Gaels.  Some  think 
Fel-Ynys  is  another  orthography  of  Inis-Fal,  one  of  the  most 
celebrated  surnames  of  Ireland  ;  but  Inis-Fal  (Phail  or  Fait) 
means  Isle  of  Shepherds.  Thierry  {Hist,  des  Gaulois),  quoting 
O'Connor,  Rer.  Hib.  Scrip.  1.  ii.  25,  4,  says,  "  Inis-Fail, 
insula  fatidica,  ou  existait  la  fameuse  pierre  appelee  Lia-Fuil, 
si^ge  des  rois  d'lilande." 

BRIT'TOX,  The,  a  street  in  Devizes.  This  word  is  found 
written  La  Britasehe,  La  Brutusche,  and  La  Brutax,  and  is  pro- 
bably corrupted  from  O.  Fr.  bretesque,  which  Roquefort  trans- 
lates a  fortress,  castle,  strong  place,  paraj)et.  The  O.  Fr.  has  also 
hretcche,  an  embattled  fortress  ;  also  the  public  place  whence 
yjroclamations  were  made  ;  bretescher,  bretequer,  fortifier,  garnir 
de  creneaux.  Menage  derives  brelcehe  from  It.  bertesca,  "  qui 
se  dit  de  cettc  barriere  qu'on  met  d'ordinaire  devant  la  porte  des 


48  LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY. 

palais,"  and  he  says  the  breteches  were  made  of  wood,  and  derives 
bertesca  from  G.  bret,  board,  plank,  table.  Thus,  bret,  bert, 
bertiscus,  bertisca,  bertesca.  He  says,  however,  that  the  Fr. 
word  may  have  come  thus  :  bret,  bretiscus,  bretisca,  breteche. 
The  Norm,  has  bretayes  battlements,  and  britask  a  fortress  with 
battlements  ;  the  Low  L.  bretachia.  See  Menage,  Fr.  Etymol. 
Diet. ;  Menage,  Orig.  del.  Ling.  Ital. ;  Bouteiller,  Som.  Rur. 
Hv.  1,  tit.  3,  p.  13;  Giov.  Vallani,  ix.  46,  3,  x.  29,  7;  Gug. 
Britone,  de  Gest.  Phil.  Ang. ;  Jal.  Antiq.  Nav.  ii.  p.  260 ; 
Waylen,  Chron.  Deviz.  p.  323  ;  Roquefort,  Gloss.  Rom. ; 
Froissart,  Ann.  1390;  Devizes  Gaz.  16  and  23,  Ap.  185/";  and 
Dufresne. 

BRO,  in  names  of  places  in  Scandinavia,  as  in  Rote-bro,  Ore- 
bro,  in  Sweden,  may  be  the  Sw.  and  Dan.  bi^o ;  a  bridge.  See 
Carisbroke. 

BROUGHAM  {brew'am),  or  Burgham,  co.  Westmoreland ; 
the  ancient  Brovacum.     See  Camden,  Bxirhe,  and  Lodge. 

BRUSSELS  (Flem.  Bruxellas).  Some  derive  this  name  from 
Flem.  brvyge-senne,  bridge  on  the  Senne  ;  others  from  brugsel, 
hermitage  bridge,  or  from  broysell,  a  nest  of  swans,  on  account 
of  the  number  of  these  birds  found  in  the  adjacent  rivers  and 
marshes,  or  from  broussailles  bushes,  a  bushy  place,  this  place 
being  formerly  surrounded  by  woods.  Some  derive  brosse  and 
broussailles  from  bruscus  (whence  Sp.  brusco,  butcher's  broom 
or  prickly  pettigree),  from  L.  ruscus,  broom,  holm,  furze.  The 
Bas-Bretons  call  a  boscage  bruscoat. 

BRUTON,  Somerset ;  from  the  river  Brew  or  Brue,  on  which 
it  is  situated,  A.  S.  tun  an  enclosure,  &c. 

BRYN,  in  names  of  places  in  Wales,  is  the  W.  bryn  a  hill, 
mound. 

BUACHAILLE,  Staffa,  remarkable  for  its  arched  columns  of 
basalt ;  properly  Boo-cha-la,  "  the  herdsman's  isle." 

BUCKINGHAM,  from  A.  S.  bucen  or  becen  (sometimes  boccen 
and  buccen)  beechen,  ham  a  village  ;  so  called,  says  Camden,  from 
the  number  and  size  of  its  beech-trees.  {Chr.  918.)  Bucen  or 
becen  is  from  boc,  a  beech- tree.     Spelman  thinks  the  name  may 


LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY.  49 

be  derived  from  huccen,  bucks  or  deer.  Lysons  gives  the  pre- 
ference to  Spelman's  conjecture,  for,  says  he,  although  beech 
woods  abound  in  some  parts  of  Buckinghamshire,  they  are  remote 
from  the  county  town  (from  which,  no  doubt,  the  name  of  the 
county  has  been  derived)  ;  and  the  soil  of  its  neighbourhood  is 
not  favourable  to  their  growth  ;  that  it  is  well  known  that  charter 
lands  were  anciently  called  by  the  Saxons  boch-Iand,  in  contra- 
distinction to  copyholds,  which  were  called  folk-X^ndi  (whence 
Folkingliam).  That  in  Domesday  and  other  ancient  records  the 
county  town  is  called  Boch-ing-ham,  and  that  many  villages  of 
the  name  of  Buckland  occur  in  various  parts  of  the  kingdom,  all 
of  which  are  called  in  old  records  Boch-land,  lit.  charter-land, 
and  that  Boch-ing  would  be  charter  meadow,  Lipscomb  {Ilisf. 
Bucks)  prefers  Spelman's  derivation,  and  says  Lysons  should 
have  shown  some  reason  why  the  term  "  book  "  or  charter  land 
should  have  been  applied  to  places  where  the  nature  of  the 
tenure  does  not  accord  with  the  expression  ;  or  how  Buckenham, 
or  Bockingham,  could  have  been  an  appropriate  term  for  a  town 
in  which  the  tenures  do  not  appear  to  have  agreed  with  that 
significatiou.  That  if  the  town  imparts  its  name  to  the  county, 
and  if  that  town  were  anciently  situated  in  a  forest,  where  were 
vast  herds  of  deer,  where  no  remarkable  feature  of  the  country, 
besides  those  and  the  woods  they  inhabited,  presented  itself  to 
the  attention  of  those  who  gave  it  the  name,  the  term  boch  or 
buchen  would  be  more  likely  to  mean  "  bucks  "  in  a  place  where 
there  were  many,  than  beech  trees  were  there  were  few.  More- 
over, that  bocken  bucks,  and  hum  a  home,  agree  perfectly  well 
with  the  site  of  a  town  on  the  border  of  a  river,  and  a  forest, 
of  whatever  trees  that  forest  might  have  consisted  :  and  bucks, 
feeding  on  the  border  of  that  forest,  or  disporting  themselves  on 
the  banks  of  that  river,  would  suggest  an  appellation  which,  in 
the  simplicity  of  an  early  age,  might  have  been  readily  adoptei', 
as  descriptive  of  situation,  so  as  to  entitle  the  name  to  be  perma- 
nently annexed  to  the  district.  Others  think  Buckingham  may 
derive  its  name  from  Bocking,  the  Saxon  possessor  of  the  lands ; 
like  Walsingham,  from  Walsing. 

V. 


50  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

BUENOS  AYRES  {hoo-a'-nos  air'-ez),  so  called  on  account  of 
the  salubrity  of  the  air;    meaning  in  Sp.  good  air,  fine  climate. 

BUKHOVINE  {book'hoveen'),  a  province  of  Austria.  The 
name  is  said  to  come  from  Slav,  bukowina,  "the  land  of  beeches." 
The  Slav,  bukowina  is  beech  wood,  biik  a  beech  tree. 

BULGARIA,  The  Vclgarians  were  originally  Huns,  who 
settled  near  the  Volga.  About  the  end  of  the  seventh  century, 
they  made  irruptions  towards  the  Danube,  and  inundated  the 
Roman  empire.  After  passing  through  Moldavia  and  Wallachia, 
they  crossed  the  Danube,  and  settled  in  part  of  Dacia  and  Moesia, 
giving  their  name  to  the  country,  which  is  still  called  Bulgaria. 
(Voltah'e.)     Volga,  Volgarii,  Volgaria,  Bolgaria,  Bulgaria. 

BUNDELCUND,  Hindustan.     See  Kund. 

BUR,  in  names  of  places  in  England,  is  the  A.  S.  bur  a  lodge, 
cottage,  dwelling,  inner  room,  storehouse. 

BURBA CH,  a  village,  co.  Leicester,  said  to  derive  its  name 
from  burr,  a  species  of  thistle  for  which  the  land  there  is  still 
remarkable,  and  bach  a  brook. 

BURFORD,  Oxon,  found  written  Beorgford  and  Beorhford  ; 
from  A.  S.  beorh  a  hill,  ford  a  ford  :  "  collis  ad  vadum."  (Lye.) 
Bat  see  Bur. 

BURG,  BURGH,  from  A.  S.  burh  or  burcg  (Dan.  Sw.  and  Ice. 
bor(j)  ;  primarily  a  place  of  defence,  whether  strong  by  nature 
or  fortified  by  art,  and  situated  on  an  eminence  ;  and  then  a 
fort,  castle,  city,  town,  court,  palace,  &c.  Some  derive  burh,  burcg, 
from  beoryan,  borgan,  byryan,  to  defend,  keep  safe,  fortify, 
strengthen  ;  from  Goth,  bairgan.  Others  derive  the  synonymous 
word,  the  Fr.  bourg,  from  Low  L.  bvrgus,  from  Gr,  irvpyoQ  a  tower, 
turret,  defence.  Casaubon  says  from  ^opyoc,  which  in  the 
Macedonian  and  Thracian  dialects  was  used  for  itupyog.  Cyrille 
translates  itvpyog  turris,  burgus.  The  Arab,  has  ^  j  burj  a  castle, 
tower,  wall,  and  c    j  burgh  a  dam,  marsh. 

BURGCLERE.     See  Burg  and  Clere. 

BURGOS,  capitsil  of  Old  Castile,  Spain.  It  is  situated  on  a 
mountain.  Qu.  Gr.  irvf^yoQ,  or  Goth,  buirgs  a  tower,  turret, 
castle,  city.     See  Burg. 


LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY.  *  51 

BURH  (whence  Borough),  from  A.  S.  burh  or  hiircg.  See  Burg. 

BURI  DIHING,  a  river  in  Asam.  Buri  means  the  Great, 
in  contradistinction  to  Noa  the  Little,  Dihing. 

BURRA:\IP00TER,  a  river  in  Hindustan  ;  from  Pers. 
Barahmaputar,  from  Sans.  Brahma-jmtra,  "Brahma's  son." 

BURY,  from  A.  S.  burg,  dative  bjjrig.     See  Burg. 

BUXTON  (called  in  Sax.  Baddecan,  i.e.  hot  haths),  a  town  in 
Derbyshire ;  "  of  A.  S.  bocce  a  beech-tree,  and  toivn  (tun),  by- 
reason  of  the  plenty  of  beeches  growing  there."    (Baileg.) 

BUYUKDERE',  a  village  on  the  European  shore  of  the 
Bosphorus  ;  from  Tare,  (^.jo  buyuk  great,  i"  .j  dere  valley. 
Baron  Hiibsch,  of  Grossthal,  chose  his  title  from  Buyukdere. 

BY  (be),  in  names  of  places  in  Sweden  and  Norway,  is  the 
Sw.  by  a  village,  hamlet ;  Dan.  by  a  city,  town,  borough  ;  Ice.  by 
a  habitation,  village  ;  A.  S.  by,  bye,  a  dwelling,  habitation.  Thus, 
Mosby,  Rissby,  Sdderby,  Wisby,  &c.  The  Dan.  by  is  also  very  fre- 
quently found  in  local  names  in  England  ;  particularly  in  tlie  north. 

BYZANTIUM  (Fr.  Byzance),  an  ancient  Greek  city,  which 
occupied  part  of  the  site  of  modern  Constantinople,  from  Gr. 
/Svi^avriov  (on  coins  sometimes  (SviavTiov) ;  said  to  be  derived 
from  Byzas — leader  of  the  Megarian  colony — by  whom  it  was  built, 
and  who  is  reported  to  have  been  son  of  Neptune ;  perhaps 
because  he  was  commander  of  the  fleet  of  this  colony. 


c. 


CA'ABA,  the  Temple  at  Mecca  ;  in  Arab.  aj^\  cdkabat, 
so  called  from  its  quadrangular  form  ;  ul  the,  ka'hat  a  four-cornered 
house  (domus  quadrata). 

CABUL  {kabool'),  AfPghanistan,  named  from  its  situation  on 
the  river  Cabul.  A  Scriptural  writer,  referring  to  Cabul,  in  Asia 
Minor,  says,  "Cabul  (Ileb.  dirty),  the  name  which  Iliiam,  king 
of  Tyre,  gave  to  the;  twenty  cities  of  wliich  Solomon  made  liim  a 
[)resent  :  these  cities  not  being  agrecal)!e  to  Hiram,  he  gave  (licm 

i:  2 


52  .  LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY. 

the  name  Cabul."  Some  translate  the  Heb.  kahul,  a  barren 
country,  "  une  terre  sterile,  sabluneiise,  dessechee,  une  terre 
boueuse  et  humide,  trop  chargee  d'herbes."  Josej)hus  says, 
kabi'il  in  Phcen.  means  that  which  does  not  please.  Others  think 
kahid  is  for  yahid  frontier.  It  seems  to  correspond  to  the  village 
Xa/ScwAo;,  mentioned  bv  Josephus.  A  fortress  called  \J\i  kdhul 
is  mentioned  by  Arabian  writers  in  the  district  of  Safed.  See 
Gesen.   {Robinson.) 

CADER  IDRIS,  Wales;  "the  chair  of  Idris."  Archdeacon 
Williams  thinks  Idris  was  a  great  astronomer.  He  says  the  Arab 
in  the  East,  as  well  as  the  Cymro  in  the  West,  recognised  a  great 
astronomer  by  the  name  of  Idris  or  Edris  ;  although  the  x\rab 
would  have  him  to  be  the  patriarch  Enoch,  the  Cymro,  a  giant, 
whose  observatory  was  the  bold  mountain  called  Cader  Idris,  the 
chair  of  Idris,  and  whose  name  was  connected  with  a  locality  in 
the  holy  island  of  Mona.  He  says  that  the  Homeric  l^piQ  is 
applied  to  a  skilful  sailor,  whose  vocation  required  a  knowledge 
of  the  stars.  The  W.  cader  is  a  fortress,  stronghold,  chair 
(Gael,  cathair,  a  town,  city,  fortified  city,  chair,  seat,  bench  ; 
Corn,  cadair,  Arm.  cader  and  cadoer,  a  chair).  The  root  of 
tliese  words  may  be  the  Phoen.  kartha,  Chal.  and  Syr.  id.. 
Pun.  karta,  cartha,  cirtha,  a  town.     But  see  Oude. 

CA'DIZ  (pronounced  in  Sp.  kad'ith),  a  maritime  city  in  Spain, 
built  by  the  Phoenicians,  who  called  it  Gadir  or  Gaddir,  which  is 
said  to  signify  "enclosed  or  hemmed  in;"  either  because  the 
island  on  which  it  is  built  was  surrounded  by  the  sea,  or  on 
account  of  the  fortifications  with  which  it  was  surrounded.  The 
Romans  afterwards  corrupted  Gadir  into  Gades,  which  the 
Spaniards  changed  into  Cadiz.  By  some  of  the  ancients  it  is  called 
Tartessus,  and  in  the  old  Spanish  chroniclers  Calls  ;  hence  English 
sailors  used  formerly  to  call  it  Cales.  Vallaucey  says  the  Aire- 
Coti,  or  ancient  Irish,  named  Cadiz  Cotineusa,  i.e.  Coti-inse,  or 
the  island  of  sheep  pasture,  whence  Gadir,  its  synonymous  name. 
The  Phcen.  Gadir  may,  however,  be  another  orthography  of  the 
Arab.    ,jl,i  kddir,  or  kadlr,  powerful. 

CAEN  (kaioiff),  in  Normandy.     Some  derive  the  name  of  this 


LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY.  53 

town  from  Cadaius,  who,  when  in  search  of  liis  daiigliter, 
founded  it;  others  from  Caii  doimis,  because  it  was  huilt  by 
Juhus  Caesar,  or  by  a  maitre-d'hotel  of  King  Artus,  named 
Cams.  Fauchetsays  Caen  is  the  same  as  Quentovicum  ;  but  tliis 
is  a  mistake,  for  the  latter  was  a  town  of  Artois,  situated  upon 
the  Quanche.  Caen  was  anciently  written  Cathim,  Cathem, 
Cathnm,  and  Catheum,  which  Lamartiniere  says  is  a  word  half 
Gaulish  and  half  Saxon,  and  which  Bochart  translates  "  demeure 
de  guerre,"  and  Huet  "  demeure  des  cadettes."  Caf/iem  may 
come  from  Gael.  catA  war,  and  G.  heim  a  home,  Sax.  ham  a 
dwelling.  Thus,  Cath-heim,  Catheim,  Cathem,  Cahem,  Caen, 
Caen.      Cafh  may  come  from  the  same  root  as  Oude. 

CAER  (/iur),  in  names  of  places  in  Wales,  is  the  W.  caer, 
a  wall  or  mound  for  defence,  the  walls  of  a  city,  a  castle,  or 
fortress,  a  walled  or  fortified  town  or  city.  This  word  is  most 
probably  of  Oriental  origin.  :\Ieuage  gives  the  Bas-Bret.  /}•,»/•, 
which  Bochart  derives  from  the  Phoen.  ■n^'-.p  kiryuy  or  «mp  kartha. 
Johannes  Caius  says  that  in  the  Trojan  language  a  city  was  called 
cair ;  that  in  Heb.  "'-p  kir  is  a  wall,  and  kiria  a  city  ;  that  in 
like  manner  the  British  cair  denotes  walls,  and  a  city  '^irt  with 
walls;  and  that  the  Scythians  called  a  city  car.  See  Tzetzes, 
Chil.  G.  Hist.  224.  Gesenius  gives  ■^7,  once  -p,  a  wall,  e.  g.  a  wall 
of  a  city,  a  place  fortified  with  a  wall,  a  fortress  ;  proper  name  of 
a  fortified  city  on  the  borders  of  the  land  of  A[oab,  now  called 
Kerrek  ;  Kir-heres,  Kir-heresh,  the  wall  of  bricks,  or  the  brick 
fortress;  and  many  names  of  cities  beginning  with  kir;  thus, 
Kir-jath,  &c.  The  Arab,  has  ^jy  kar-ijat  a  city  (urbs,  pagus, 
villa),  hard  to  entertain  a  guest,  to  seek  hospitality. 

CAER.MARTIIEX,  S.  Wales,  formerly  Caer  Merdin,  "JNlerlin's 
town;"  from  W.  caer  castle,  city,  and  Merdin,  or  Merdhiti. 
It  IS  said  that  Merlin,  the  magician,  lived  here.  Jones  {Hist. 
Breckn.)  thinks  Caermarthen  may  be  from  Gartli-marthrin,  or 
Madrin.     See  Bulcknockshike. 

CAERNARVON,  N.  Wales.  The  Roman  Segontium,  situated 
about  iialf  a  mile  south  of  Caernarvon,  from  being  opposite  to 
Mona,  or  .Vnglesea,  was  called  Caer  yn  Arvoii,  i.e.  the  sfron^Iiuld 


54  LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY. 

in  the  country  opposite  to  Mona ;  wliich  appellation  was  after- 
wards transferred  to  the  present  town  of  Caernarvon.  Some 
remains  of  Segontium,  which  the  Welsh  call  Caer  Segont,  i.e.  the 
fort  of  the  river  Sciont,  and  Caer  Custeint,  the  fort  of  Constantine, 
are  still  visible.  (P.  Ct/c.)  The  AYelsh  call  Anglesea  Sir  Fon 
or  Yon,  which  has  been  corrupted  from  Mon  or  Mona.  Thus, 
Mon,  Von,  Arvon,  Caer-yn-Arvon,  Caernarvon. 

CAFIRISTAN,  a  country  lying  on  tlie  other  side  of  the 
Hindoo  Koosh  ;  the  $tan  or  country  of  the  Cafirs.  See 
Cavfrauia  and  Stan. 

CAFFRARIA  or  KAFFRARIA,  a  large  district  of  S. 
Africa,  so  called  from  being  inhabited  by  a  people  called  the 
CafFers,  Cafres,  or  Kaffirs.  The  name  was  given  to  them  by  the 
Arabs,  who  look  upon  them  as  infidels  ;  from  Arab.  i\^  kdfir  an 
infidel,  one  who  denies  the  dogmas  of  the  Muhammadan  religion  ; 
from  JS"  Iwfr  a  village.  A  Kaffir  is  literally  one  who  lives  in  a 
hut,  apart  from  civilization  ;  therefore  one  who  does  not  acknow- 
ledge the  religion  of  Muhammad.  The  words  "pagan"  and 
"  heathen"  have  been  formed  upon  the  same  principle. 

CAGLIARI  ikal-ye-ar'e),  chief  town  in  the  island  of  Sardinia ; 
corrupted  from  L.  Caralis  ;  thus,  Caralis,  Carali,  Calari,  Caglari, 
Cagliari. 

CAIRO  {jiijro),  the  metropolis  of  Egypt  ;  from  Arab. 
iJii\^\  alkdhirah,  "the  victorious."  It  v?as  named  by  Jawhar, 
general  to  the  first  Fatimite  khalif  of  Egypt,  who  ordered  the 
foundations  to  be  laid  (a.d.  968)  when  the  planet  Mars  (to 
which  the  Arabian  astronomers  give  the  epithet  hdhir,  or  "  the 
conqueror")  was  in  the  ascendant.  {Richardson.)  Others  say 
Ja\Ahar  named  it  Alkahirah,  because  he  had  subjected  Egypt. 
This,  however,  agrees  with  the  time  chosen  by  him  for  laying  the 
foundations. 

CAITH'NESS,  in  Scotland.  Chalmers  says  Caithness  is  for 
Catti-ness,  from  the  Catti  or  Catini  who  inhabited  the  extremity 
of  N.  Britain  ;  and  that  the  Catti  may  derive  their  name  from  cat 
or  catai,  the  Brit,  name  of  the  weapon  with  which  they  fought ; 
and  that  Catini  may  have  meant  "  club-men."     See  Nkss. 


LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY.  55 

CALA,  CAL,  GALA,  or  GAL,  in  or  at  the  termination  of 
names  of  sea-port  towns  noted  for  good  havbonrs  (as  in  Calais, 
Kiel,  Burdicala  or  Burdigala,  Portucal  or  Portugal),  is  considered 
by  some  to  be  the  Gael,  cala,  caJadh,  a  harbour,  fort,  shore,  ferry. 
The  Low  L.  has  cala,  It.  cala,  a  lee  shore,  a  bay ;  Sp.  cala,  a 
bay  ;  Teut.  k'dle  and  hielli  ;   Ir.  cale. 

CALAHORRA,  a  city  of  Old  Castile,  Spain;  from  Arab. 
halaVharrat ;  ^Uli  ^«^  ^ at  a  castle,  fort  (especially  on  the  top  of 
a  mountain),  al  the,  S'  >.  harrat  a  stony  place.  In  like  manner 
Calatrava,  from  Arab,  kal  'aturdh,  from  haVot,  al  and  v_jl  "  turub, 
land,  ground,  earth. 

CALAIS.  Some  derive  Calais  from  Celt.  (Gael.)  cala,  caladh, 
a  harbour,  port,  shore,  ferry.  In  Norm,  however,  Galeys  is  used 
for  both  Calais  and  France  {Guilt,  de  Galeys,  Wm.  de  Waleys ; 
Galles,  Galeys,  Wales,  Welsh),  and  in  Low  L.  Calais  is  called 
Caletum  and  Calesium.     See  Cala  and  Gaul. 

CALATRAVA,   a  city  of  New  Castile,    Spain.     See   Cala- 

HORRA. 

CALCUTTA,  capital  of  Bengal ;  "  from  Cutta,  a  temple  dedi- 
cated by  the  Hindvis  to  Caly,  goddess  of  time,  which  was  situated 
between  the  villages  of  Chuttamitty  and  Gobindpore."  The  Sans. 
Kali  "is  the  name  of  a  popular  goddess,  wife  of  Siva,  named 
from  her  black  complexion."  (TJ'ilson.)  Kuti,  kuti,  is  a  small 
house,  cottage,  hut ;  in  Bengal  any  large  building. 

CALEDONIA,  the  ancient  name  of  Scotland.  Some  derive 
Caledonia  from  Anc.  Brit.  Calyddon,  "  the  country  of  forests  ;" 
others  from  Gael,  Celts,  dun  a  hill — "  the  Celts  of  the  hill 
country."  Camden  says  kaled  is  hard,  pi.  kaledion,  i.  e.  people 
hardy,  rough,  uncivilized,  as  northern  nations  in  general  are. 
Dr.  ]Macp!ierson  informs  us  that  in  Brit,  and  Gael,  in  or  yn  is 
a  country,  and  that  by  joining  together  kaled  nnH  in,  came  kaledin, 
signifying  a  rough  mountainous  country  ;  which  (as  some  assert) 
has  been  changed  by  historians  into  Calcdin,  Calidon,  and  Caledon. 
Tiie  most  reasonable  derivation  is  that  from  the  Gael.  CoHldaoine, 
"  men  of  the  woods,"  from  ruill,  cuille  (Arm.  call.  Corn.  /,clli. 


56  LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY. 

Ir.  coill),  a  wood,  tfaoine,  pi.  of  duine,  a  man.  Caledon  in  ancient 
writings  is  spoken  of  only  as  a  division  of  Scotland  ;  Caledonia 
was  latterly  applied  by  the  Romans  to  the  whole  of  Scotland. 
(Camden.)  Chalmers  states  that  in  early  ages  an  extensive  forest 
spread  over  the  interior  and  western  parts  of  the  country  on  the 
W.  side  of  the  Forth  and  Clyde,  to  which  the  British  colonists 
gave  the  descriptive  name  of  Celyddon,  lit.  "coverts,"  and 
generally  denoting  a  woody  region  ;  and  that  the  large  tribe  who 
then  inhabited  a  great  portion  of  the  forest  Celyddon,  were  con- 
sequently called  Celyddoni  and  Celyddoniaid  ;  "  the  people  of  the 
coverts." 

CALICUT,  a  sea-port  town  in  Malabar.  The  name  of  the 
place  is  properly  Colicodu.  Dr.  Hamilton  (Buchanan)  gives  the 
following  account  of  the  origin  of  the  name.  When  Cheruman 
Permal,  the  first  monarch  of  Malabar,  had  divided  that  country 
among  his  nobles,  and  had  no  principality  remaining  to  bestow 
on  tlie  ancestor  of  the  Tamuri,  he  gave  that  chief  his  sword,  with 
all  the  territory  in  which  a  cock,  crowing  at  a  small  temj/le  in  the 
town,  could  be  heard.  This  formed  the  original  dominions  of  the 
Tamuri,  and  was  called  Colicodu,  or  the  cock-crowing. 

CAL'LANDER,  a  parish  in  Scotland.  The  name  is  generally 
supposed  to  be  derived  from  Gael,  calladh  a  ferry,  and  srhid  a 
street,  v>ay  ;  "  the  way  leading  to  the  ferry  over  the  Teath,  a  little 
below  where  the  present  bridge  stands." 

CALVARY,  a  hill  outside  Jerusalem,  where  Christ  was  cruci- 
fied ;  so  called  from  the  skulls  of  dead  men  found  there.  Fr. 
Calvaire,  It.  Calvdrio.  Literally,  a  place  of  skulls  ;  from  L. 
Calcaria,  lit.  the  skull ;  from  calva  a  skull,  or  scalp,  the  head ; 
from  cahnis  bald. 

CAM'BRAY,  or  CAMBRAI,  in  France  (in  L.  Cameracum 
Nerviorura,  Cameracum,  Urbs  Cameracensis).  Some  assert  that 
this  town  was  built  by  an  ancient  duke  of  Cimbria  and  Denmark 
named  Cambro  or  Cambre,  who  walled  it  in  and  named  it  after 
himself;  others  think  it  was  named  Cambrai  from  the  number  of 
caverns  (in  O.  Gaul.   Cambres)  and  subterranean  places   found 


LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY.  57 

both  ill  the  town  and  in  its  environs,  where  the  original  inhabi- 
tants were  wont  to  put  their  goods  in  safety. 

CAMBRIA,  another  name  for  Wales.  Cambria  comes  from 
Low  L.  Cambri  (L.  Cimbri),  from  Anc.  Brit.  Cymri,  Ci/Dirt/, 
Kymbri,  called  by  the  Greeks  Ki[X[j.spioi.  The  Kymri  are  by  some 
considered  to  have  been  the  first  Celtic  race  that  inhabited  Britain. 
The  better  opinion  seems  to  be  that  the  Gauls,  or  Gaels,  were  the 
first  settlers.  The  Kymri  are  said  to  have  come  from  Jutland  in 
Denmark.  Some  authors  assert  that  this  Celtic  race  anciently 
inhabited  the  country  now  called  the  Crimea  (q.  v.).  Lemon 
derives  Cymbri  from  Celt.  A-ym  a  mountain,  bro  region.  Owen 
thinks  the  more  probable  derivation  is  from  brv,  that  which  has 
existence,  a  womb,  and  the  prefix  cj/tn.  He  says  Cymbni  in 
W.  means  the  place  of  existence  or  country,  and  that  Cymro 
is  the  universal  appellation  by  which  the  Welsh  call  themselves 
and  every  other  people  of  the  same  race  and  language,  wheresoever 
situate. 

CAMBRIDGE  is  said  to  take  its  name  from  the  modern  ap- 
pellation of  the  river  Cam,  on  which  it  is  situated  ;  and  it  is 
asserted  that  the  ancient  name  of  that  river  was  the  Granta,  whicli 
is  still  retained  above  Cambridge  ;  and  that  there  still  exists  a 
village  not  far  from  Cambridge  culled  Grantchester,  anciently 
Grauta-ceaster.  Cambridge  is  said  to  have  been  built  on  the  site 
of  the  Roman  Granta,  and  to  have  been  anciently  called  Granta- 
brycge,  Grantebrycge,  Grantanbrycge,  Grautebrige,  Grantabric, 
Granthebrige,  Grantebryge,  Granntebrigge,  Grantabrycg,  and  in 
Domesday  Grentebrige.  Cleland  (Vocub.)  says  Cambridge  is  only 
a  contraction  of  Cantalbureich,  from  cant  head,  al  a  school  or 
college,  bureich  or  reich  a  borough  or  bury  ;  "  the  head  precinct 
of  a  college,"  or  "principal  college  borough  ;"  and  he  says  there 
are  many  reasons  to  believe  that  Cantalbury,  Cambray,  or  Cam- 
bridge existed  in  the  state  of  a  head  collegiate  borough  for  ages 
before  the  Roman  invasion.  There  is  a  Cambridge  on  tlie  Severn, 
in  Gloucestershire,  which  was  anciently  called  Cwatbricge,  Cant- 
Ijriege,  (iuautelridge,  and  Quatbrig.    {^ac Si)muerSi\\i\  Bo^worlli.) 


58  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

If  Cam  were  tlie  original  name  of  the  river,  it  rnigbt  come  from 
W.  cam  crooked,  i.e.  a  river  full  of  windings.  Some  derive  grant 
in  Grantebrige,  from  A.  S.  gron,  a  fen.  The  Welsh  call  Cam- 
bridge Caergrawnt. 

CAMBRIDGE,  Cornwall,  in  Corn,  means  a  crooked  bridge. 
CANAAN,   the  laud  of  Canaan,  was   named   after  Canaan, 
Noah's  grandson,  by  whom  it  was  peopled,  and  who  died  there. 
See  Gen.  xii,  6,  7,  xiii.   14,  et  seq.     Canaan  in  Heb.  means  a 
merchant,  a  trader. 

CANADA.  Sir  John  Barrow  says,  "  When  the  Portuguese, 
under  Caspar  Cortereal,  first  ascended  the  St.  Lawrence,  they 
believed  it  to  be  the  strait  of  which  they  were  in  search,  and 
through  which  a  passage  might  be  discovered  into  the  Indian  Sea  ; 
but  on  arriving  at  the  point  whence  they  could  clearly  ascertain 
that  it  was  not  a  strait,  but  a  river,  they,  with  all  the  emphasis  of 
disappointed  hopes,  exclaimed  repeatedly,  '  Canada  !'  "  (Here 
nothing) — words  which  were  remembered  and  repeated  by  the 
natives  on  seeing  Europeans  arrive  in  1534,  who  naturally  con- 
jectured that  the  word  they  heard  employed  so  often  must  denote 
the  name  of  the  country.  This  derivation  would  be  from  Port. 
ca  here,  nuda  nothing — Canada.  Father  Hennipin,  confirming 
this  early  visit  of  the  Portuguese,  says  that,  finding  nothing  to 
gratify  their  desire  for  gold,  they  called  the  country  El  Capo  de 
Nada,  "  Cape  Nothing."  Others  assert  that  it  was  named  after 
a  M.  Cane,  a  French  nobleman.  "The  more  generally  received 
derivation,  which  is  supported  by  the  analogy  of  other  names,  is 
either  that  given  by  Charleroix  from  the  Iroguis,  kannata,  'a 
collection  of  huts,'  or,  by  other  writers,  from  two  Indian  words, 
l-an  or  can,  a  mouth,  ada  a  country,  "the  mouth  of  the  country;" 
originally  applied  perhaps  fo  the  river  St.  Lawrence,  and  mistaken 
for  the  name  of  the  province  of  Canada." 

CANTxVBRIA,  in  ancient  geography,  the  name  of  a  countrv  on 
the  coast  of  Spain,  now  comprehended  by  the  provinces  of  Biscay, 
Alava,  and  Guipuscoa.  The  Abbe  D'llharci  says  the  people  of 
this  country  derive  their  name,  Cantabri,  bv  which  thev  were 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  59 

known  to  the  Romans,  from  Khantor-ber,  signifying  sweet  singers. 
But  see  Kent. 

CANTERBURY,  under  the  Saxon  Heptarchy,  was  the  principal 
place  in  the  kingdom  of  Kent,  and  at  the  time  of  the  Norman 
Conquest  it  still  possessed  a  castle.  Tlie  Britons  called  it  Caer 
Ccnit,  and  in  A.  S.  it  is  found  written  Cant-wara-hyrig,  -hurghe, 
-buruh,  and  Cant-warse-burg.  The  name  was  afterwards  changed 
to  Cantuaria  and  Canterbury.  The  Kentish  men  were  called 
Cant-waras.  Wara  is  the  A.  S.  waru,  which  in  composition 
means  people,  inhabitants,  from  wer  a  man  (Erse,  fear,  W.  ffwt', 
L.  vi?'),  from  Sans.  vira.     See  Kent  and  Burh. 

CANTON  from  Chin.  Kwang-tung,  properly  the  province  of 
Canton,  but  applied  by  Europeans  to  the  town  itself.  Its  real 
name  is  Kwang-chow  foo-ching ;  or  Sang-ching,  "the  provincial 
city,"  or  metropohs  of  the  empire.  Kicany  means  large,  great, 
wide,  extensive,  tuny,  east. 

CAPEL,  in  local  names  in  Wales  is  the  W.  ccqiel  a  chapel. 

CAPRI  {c(tj)'ree),  an  island  in  the  Tuscan  sea,  formerly  Caprece, 
so  named  from  having  once  being  famous  for  its  wild  goats. 
Capra,  Caprca,  Caprese,  Capri.  Capra  is  both  L.  and  Etrusc. 
for  a  she-goat. 

CAP'UA,  Italy.  Virgil  {2En.  lib.  x.,  145)  derives  Capua 
from  a  leader  named  Capys ;  Strabo  (lib.  v.)  from  cwput  a  head, 
because  Capua  is  the  head,  i.e.  the  chief  city  of  Campania. 

CARDIGAN,  from  Caredigion,  i.e.  the  territory  of  Caredig, 
the  first  king  of  this  district,  who  was  succeeded  by  a  long  line  of 
j)rinces.    Or,  "  of  caer  and  W.  decan,  '  dean's  town.'  "    {Bailey.) 

CARGILL,  a  parish  in  Perthshire,  said  to  be  from  Celt,  caer 
a  fortress,  town,  &c.,  cil  a  place  of  worship. 

CARISBROOK  CASTLE,  Isle  of  Wight.  Leland,  speaking 
of  Newport,  says,  "  There  is  also,  fast  by,  an  old  castle  which 
the  Britons  called  Caerbro,  because  it  stoade  upon  the  sea  ;  for 
bro  witli  theim  signified  jvstuarium."  "  I  take  it  to  be  the  same 
that  is  now  called  Carcsbroke,"  says  Laiubarde.  This  castle, 
however,  is  at  some  distance  from  the  sea,  but  Newport  stands  on 


60  LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY. 

a  river  which  falls  into  the  sea  at  Cowes.  "  Between  Yarmouth 
and  the  Needles,  (he  site  of  two  other  forts  is  known,  and  the 
points  on  which  tliey  stood  hear  the  names  of  Carey'' s  Sconce,  and 
Worsley's  Tower ;  but  no  vestige  of  them  exists."  {Hist.  I.  of 
Wight.)  It  is  possible  that  "  Carisbrook  "  may  have  been  cor- 
rupted from  its  Sax.  name,  Wiht-gara-burh,  "  the  castle  of 
the  men  of  Wight."  See  Osborne,  Pembrokeshire,  and 
Kent. 

CARLISLE,  CO.  Cumberland,  from  W.  caer  a  town  ;  and 
Luell  ;  or  from  Cai-  Lualid,  from  W.  luyh  a  tower,  gwall  a 
trench  ;  i.e.  a  fort  nigh  a  trench  ;  for  there  is  a  Roman  trench  to 
be  seen  just  by  the  city  to  this  day.  {Bailey.)  Luel  is  said  to 
be  a  Sax.  corruption  of  Luguvalhim,  a  Roman  station  mentioned 
in  the  Itinerary  of  Antoninus. 

CARLSRUHE,  or  KARLSRUHE  {J(arlsroo-a),  capital  of 
the  Grand  Duchy  of  Baden,  from  G.  Karl's-ruhe,  "  Charles' 
rest."  It  owes  its  origin  to  the  Margrave  Charles  of  Baden,  who 
first  built  a  hunting  seat  on  this  spot. 

CARLSTADT,  or  KARLSTADT,  in  the  Austrian  province  of 
Agram  (Hung.  L.  Carolostadium,  Slav.  Karlovec:),  may  have  its 
name  from  the  fortress  constructed  there  in  1579  by  the  Arch- 
duke Karl  of  Syria. 

CARMEL,  Mount,  in  Syria.  According  to  some  writers 
Carmel  in  Heb.  means  "the  vine  of  God,"  and  is  constantly  used 
to  signify  a  fruitful  spot,  or  any  place  planted  with  trees  ;  and  this 
mount  especially,  we  are  told,  was  very  fertile,  particularly  on  the 
top.  Mr.  Sandys  says  that  when  cultivated  it  abounds  with 
olives,  vines,  and  a  variety  of  plants  and  herbs,  both  medicinal  and 
aromatic.  (See  also  Ilierom.  Loc.  Hebr. ;  Bochart,  Hieroz.  part  I., 
lib,  ii.  c.  48  ;  Josh.  xix.  26.)  Others  say  Carmel  means  a  garden, 
orchard,  and  is  formed  from  the  noun  DID  kerem,  a  vineyard,  and 
that  the  termination  el  has  only  a  diminutive  force. 

CARNAC,  a  village  or  small  town  in  Bretagne  in  France, 
remarkable  for  the  remains  of  an  extensive  Celtic  monument, 
having  some  resemblance  to  that  at  Stoneheno-e.     Some  assert 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  61 

that  in  the  Breton  language  Carnac  means  "  field  of  flesh." 
Ducange  translates  it  a  burial  place,  cemetery.  The  name  is 
most  probably  derived  from  the  Gael,  carnach  abounding  in 
cairns,  from  cam,  cairn,  cuirn  (Corn.  W.  and  Ir.  cam),  a  heap 
of  stones  loosely  thrown  together. 

CARNOCII,  the  name  of  a  parish,  and  of  a  village,  and  of 
other  places  in  Fifeshire.  There  is  also  Carnock  House  in 
Lanark,  and  Carnock  Castle  and  Carnock  "Water  in  Stirling. 
Some  say  Carnock  means  a  village  or  collection  of  houses  adjoining 
a  small  hill,  from  Gael,  cam,  cairn,  a  monumental  heap  of  stones, 
a  barrow,  a  cairn,  and  cnoc,  cnoic,  a  hillock,  little  hill,  knoll, 
eminence.  "  The  cnocs  were  the  ancient  scenes  of  religious  cere- 
monies, and,  in  process  of  time,  of  festivity  among  the  Gael ; 
lience  cnoc-aireachd  signifies  merry-making."  {Armstrong.)  But 
see  Carnac. 

CARPENTARIA,  the  Gulf  of,  in  the  N.  coast  of  Australia, 
discovered  and  surveyed  by  the  Dutch  Gei^eral  Carpenter,  after 
whom  it  was  named. 

CARPETANIA,  Spain,  the  L.  form  of  the  Basq.  yara-be, 
signifying  the  place  at  the  foot  of  the  hills. 

CARR,  in  names  of  places  in  Lincolnshire,  as  in  Morton-Carr, 
near  Gainsborough,  Ilaxey-Carr,  Star-Carr,  Axholm-Carr,  is  said 
to  mean  a  woody,  moist,  or  boggy  giound,  a  wood  in  a  boggy 
place  ;  from  Dan.  carr  a  pool.  "  The  soil  (Isle  of  Axholme) 
by  the  water,  be  fenny  and  morische  and  ful  of  carres."  (Leland, 
Itin.  vol.  i.  39,  40.  See  also  Whitaker,  Hist.  Craven,  421.) 
The  A.  S.  carr  is  a  rock  ;  north  country,  carrock. 

CARRICK,  CARRICKFERGUS,  &c.  Carrick  in  local  names 
in  Ireland  is  the  Ir.  carraiy  or  cruiy,  a  rock,  also  a  castle  built  on 
or  near  a  rock  ;  as  Carrickfergus,  castle  of  Fergus  ;  Carrick-on- 
Shannon,  Carrick -on-Suir,  castle  on  the  Shannon,  &c. 

CAIUION,  a  river  in  Scotland  which  falls  into  the  Forth,  near 
Falkirk  ;  a  corruption  of  Gael,  carunn,  contraction  of  car-amhainn, 
from  car  bending,  twisting,  tortuous,  winding,  amhainn  a  river. 
Chalmers  says  car,  carra,  and  carron,  mean  winding  water,  and 


62  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

that  there  are  several  winding  streams  in  N.  Britain  named  Carron. 
See  Avon. 

CARSIIALTON  (case/iawton).  The  name  of  this  parish  was 
anciently  written  Aulton,  i.e.  Old  Town.  About  the  reign  of 
King  John  it  assumed  the  name  of  Kersaulton  ;  it  was  afterwards 
varied  in  the  records  to  Kersalton,  Carsalton,  Cresalton,  and 
Kresalton.  It  has  now  for  nearly  two  centuries  been  uniformly 
written  Carshalton.  {Lysons.) 

CARTHAGE.  Some  say  this  city  was  first  called  Utica,  or 
the  ancient,  and  that  when  Dido  arrived  there  she  called  it  Carta- 
hadath,  or  Carthadt,  the  new  city,  which  the  Greeks  converted 
into  Kcipy^Y'Ojv,  and  the  Romans  into  Carthago.  Among  the  more 
ancient  Romans,  however,  the  name  of  this  city  (derived  from  the 
Carthaginians  themselves)  was  Cataco,  as  appears  from  the 
Columna  Rostrata  of  Duilius.  (Rees.)  The  Phoen.  kartha. 
Pun.  kartu,  cartha,  means  a  city. 

CARY,  or  CAREY,  a  river  in  Somerset ;  qu.  W.  garw  rough. 
See  Yarrow. 

CASPIAN  SEA,  an  inland  sea  of  W.  Asia.  Strabo  derives 
the  name  from  the  Caspii,  who  inhabited  its  south  coast. 

CxlSSEL,  the  name  of  many  places  in  Germany  ;  from  O.  G. 
castell  a  castle,  from  L.  castellum,  id.  ;  lit,  any  fortified  place, 
dim.  of  castrum,  a  stronghold,  fortress,  camp  ;  lit.  a  large  hut, 
from  casa,  perhaps  from  Sans.  vdsa.  Thus,  vasa,  uasa,  quasa, 
casa,  castra,  and  castrum,  castellum,  castell,  Cassel.  See  Ches- 
ter, from  same  root. 

CASSITERIDES  (Gr.),  "whither the  Phoenicians  from  Gades 
(Cadiz),  and  the  Romans  after  them,  went  for  tin."  The 
Cassiterides  are  supposed  to  have  been  either  the  Scilly  Islands 
or  the  peninsula  of  Cornwall.  From  Gr.  y.a.T(rir sprig  (mentioned 
in  Homer),  tin,  or  perhaps  pewter,  which  some  derive  from  the 
Sans,  kdstira.  Bochart  says  "Jonathan  has  kastira  ;  the  Hierol. 
interpres  kistara  ;  the  Arabs  kasdir  ;  that  in  some  authors  kas- 
titerion  is  used  for  starmum,  and  that  Buxtorf  translates  gasteron 
as  orichalcum,  which  is  the  same  as  x-OLircnrBpoQ.  (See  Herodotus, 
iii.  115;  Strabo,  iii.  1/5.) 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  63 

CASTILE,  a  province  of  Spain,  was  so  named  from  tlie 
numerous  forts  erected  by  Alfonso  I.  for  its  defence  ;  from  L. 
castellum  a  castle.     See  Chester  and  Cassel. 

CATALONIA,  a  large  province  of  Spain,  from  Sp.  Catahma, 
formerly  Cafala?ua,  said  to  be  corrupted  from  Gothalania,  from 
Gothi  and  Alauni,  two  peoples  who  invaded  the  eastern  parts  of 
Spain  after  the  breaking  up  of  the  Western  Empire. 

CAT'MOSS,  the  Yale  of,  co.  Rutland  ;  from  Celt,  coct  maes, 
a  wooded  plain.   (^Camden.) 

CAUCASUS.  In  Persia  they  call  high  mountains  kaf,  and 
some  think  Caucasus  may  come  from  Koh-haf,  i.e.  Mount  Kaf; 
but  it  must  be  remarked  that  this  people  do  not  know  the 
Caucasus  except  under  the  name  Elbrouz.  Pliny  says  the  name 
is  of  Scythian  origin,  and  that  Krau-hasus  means  "  white  moun- 
tain." A  French  writer  observes  that  at  all  events  it  is  certain 
that  the  primitive  word  from  which  Caucasus  has  been  corrupted, 
expresses  in  general  the  idea  of  a  mountain  ;  that  the  Armenians 
have  continued  to  call  this  chain  Kaukas  or  Kavkas  ;  the 
Georgians  lal-Bouz,  the  Turc.  for  criniere  de  glace,  or  ledi-ial- 
bouz,  les  sept  crinieres  de  glace.  In  Georgia  they  also  frequently 
call  it  Themi.     See  Bescherelle,  Diet,  de  Geog.,  Paris,  1857. 

CAYENNE  {ka-en'),  a  city  and  province  in  Guyana  or  Guiana, 
America,  from  which  its  name  may  have  been  corrupted. 

CEFN,  in  local  names  in  Wales,  is  the  W.  cefn  (cevn)  the 
back,  upper  side,  a  ridge,  cevi/n  o  der,  a  ridge  of  land,  a  long 
extended  mountain  ;  cevnen,  a  gentle  rising  hill. 

CERIGO,  an  island  on  the  coast  of  Laconia,  in  Peloponnesus ; 
corrupted  from  Gr.  Kv^tipa,  ( Cythera.)  It  was  especially  sacred 
to  Yenus,  who  was  on  that  account  called  KuSe^sia,  Kl-Sij^ij. 

CEllREG,  in  local  names  in  Wales,  is  the  W.  carreg  a  stone. 

CERRIG  Y  DRUIDION  {kerrig-e-drideon),  a  village  in  N. 
Wales,  The  name  in  W.  means  the  rock  of  the  Druids.  See 
Cerrig. 

CEYLON,  an  island  in  the  E.  Indies,  lying  off  the  Coromandcl 
coast,  and  by  some  considered  to  be  the  finest  and  richest  in  the 
world  ;  from  Port.  Selun,  some  say  Ceildo,  a  corruption  of  SinliaUi- 


64  LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY. 

dwipa  (and  so  called  iu  the  Singhalese  annals),  i.e.  the  island  of 
lions.  Sans,  sinha.  Hind,  singh,  a  lion  ;  Sans,  divipan  an  island. 
"  In  Sans,  writings  it  is  called  Lvnka,  i.e.  holy  or  resplendent, 
The  Arabs  named  it  Serendib,  a  corruption  of  the  genuine  name. 
It  has  been  called  Hebenaro,  '  the  fertile  island  ;'  Eclam,  '  the 
insular  kingdom  ;'  and  Tenessirim,  '  the  place  of  delight.'  To 
the  Greeks  and  Romans  it  was  known  under  the  name  of 
Taprobane  and  Salice."  In  Mai.  it  is  now  written  .  J»jw  selan. 
Sinha,  Siuhala,  Singala,  Singalese,  Cingalese. 

CHALLOCK,  or  CHALK,  in  Kent,  corrupted  from  A.  S. 
cealc-hythe,  i.e.  chalk-hithe.     See  Chr.,  785. 

CHANCERY  LANE.  "The  same  street  hath  since  been 
called  Chancery  Lane,  by  reason  that  King  Edw.  III.  annexed 
the  House  of  Converts  (between  the  Old  Temple  and  the  New) 
by  patent  to  the  office  of  Custos  Rotulorum,  or  Master  of  the 
Rolls."  (Stow.)  "  This  Chancellor's  Lane,  now  called  Chancery 
Lane."    (Siri/jJe.) 

CHANDERI,  or  CHAN  DELI,  a  district  in  Hindustan,  so 
named  from  Chandel,  a  tribe  of  Rajputs  who  claim  to  be  of  the 
Somabansi,  or  lunar  race  ;  perhaps  from  Sans,  chandra  the  moon, 
Pers.  chdnd.  Chanderi  is  also  the  name  of  a  place  on  the  left 
bank  of  the  river  Betwa.     See  Wilson. 

CHARING  CROSS.  Here  stood  formerly  the  village  of 
Charing,  and  a  cross  erected  by  Edward  I.  to  commemorate  his 
beloved  Queen  Eleanor.  The  cross  occupied  the  last  spot  on 
which  her  body  rested  in  its  progress  to  sepulture  in  Westminster 
Abbey.  Some  contend  that  Charing  was  so  called  from  having 
been  the  resting  place  of  his  Majesty's  chere  reine  (dear  queen)  ! 

CHARLESTON,  United  States ;  "Charles's  Town;"  named 
after  Charles  II. 

CHARMOUTH,  Dorset,  situated  at  the  mouth  of  the  river 
Char. 

CHARTERHOUSE,  London,  a  corruption  of  Chartreuse ; 
name  of  a  celebrated  Carthusian  monastery  suppressed  at  the 
Reformation,  and  which  formerly  existed  on  this  spot.  The 
name  is  derived  from   a   still  more  celebrated  monastery  called 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  {)5 

Chartreuse,  in  the  Alps  of  Dauphiny,  where  the  Carthusian  order 
is  said  to  have  been  first  instituted.  It  was  perhaps  originally 
founded  by  a  chartre  or  letters  patent,  from  L.  charta  paper, 
everything  written  on  paper ;  from  Gr.  y^ap-rriQ.  The  It.  Certusa, 
G.  Km-thaus,  and  Carthusian  are  synonymous. 

CHARYBDIS,  a  dangerous  whirlpool  in  the  Strait  of  Messina, 
Sicily,  and  nearly  opposite  to  Scylla,  on  the  coast  of  Italy  ;  (L.) 
from  Gr.  y^a-ovpoiQ  an  abyss,  from  %aa;  (obs.)  to  stand  open, 
be  empty,  gape,  and  poiftSsM,  to  eugulph  or  absorb  with  a  noise, 
to  suck  down  ;  poi^ioe  the  gush,  the  rush  of  water  (a  word  formed 
by  sound).  Bochart  derives  it  from  Pun.  khor-obdan,  "  the  hole 
of  perdition." 

CHELMSFORD,  Essex,  named  from  its  situation  near  the 
ancient  ford  of  the  Chelmer.  Chelmer's-ford,  Chelmesford, 
Chelmsford. 

CHELSEA.  In  the  most  ancient  records  (Chart.  Edw.  the 
Confessor)  the  name  of  this  place  is  written  Cealchylle.  This  is 
not  satisfactory  to  Lysons,  because  there  is  neither  chalk  nor  hill 
in  the  parish.  In  Domesday  it  is  written  Cercehede  and  Chelched  ; 
in  deeds  in  the  time  of  Edward  II.  Chelchey.  The  most  common 
way  of  spelling  the  name  for  centuries  after  the  Conquest  was 
Chelcheth  or  Chelchith.  In  the  16th  century  it  began  to  be 
written  Chelsey,  and  the  modern  way  of  spelling  the  name  is  onl}'^ 
about  a  century  old.  Skinner  derives  the  name  from  shelves  of 
sand,  and  ey,  or  ea,  land  situate  near  water  ;  but  he  admits  that 
it  is  written  in  ancient  records  Cealchyth,  in  A.  S.  chalky  haven. 
Newcourt  derives  it  from  ceald  or  cele,  cold,  hyth  heath.  Nordeu 
says  it  was  called  Chelsea  from  the  nature  of  the  place,  whose 
strand  is  like  the  chesel  (ceosel  or  cesol)  which  the  sea  castcth 
up  of  sand  and  pebble-stones,  thereof  called  Cheselsey,  briefly 
Chelsea,  as  is  Chelsey  in  Sussex  ;  and  Lysons  says  this  latter 
etymology  is  best  supported  by  fact.  Others  derive  the  name 
from  A.  S.  ceoles-iye — ceol  a  ship,  small  bark,  vessel,  ?V/an  island. 
Somner  says,  "  insularis  olim  et  navibus  accommodata,  ut  nomen 
significat."  See  Lysons,  Skinner;  Newcourt,  Repert.  vol.  1, 
p.  r)83  ;   Xordcn,  Sjjcc.  Brit.  p.  1  7. 


QQ  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

CHELTENHAM,  co.  Gloucester,  the  dwelling  (A.  S.  ham)  oa 
the  Chilt ;  a  rivulet  which  runs  past  the  town  and  falls  into  the 
Severn . 

CHELVINTON.  Some  derive  this  name  from  A.  S.  cealf 
a  calf,  tun  an  enclosure,  garden,  village,  town. 

CHERBOURG  {share' boorg),  found  written  Chierisburgh, 
a  sea-port  in  France.  The  name  is  said  to  be  a  contraction  of 
CcBsaris  burgus,  "  Cfesar's  town."  See  Guillaume  de  Jumiege, 
liv.  4  ;  Hist,  des  Normands,  chap.  7  ;  Jan,  La  Vie  de  Geoffroy 
de  Bel,  Comte  d'iVnjou,  and  Menage. 

CHERRY,  a  termination  of  local  names  in  the  East  Lidies,  is 
the  Tam.  and  Mai.  cheri  a  town,  village,  hamlet  (Pers.  ^  shar 
a  city),  as  Pondicherry,  originally  Puducheri,  a  new  village  or 
town ;  Paraicheri,  a  village  of  Pariahs.     See  Wilson. 

CHERSONESE,  a  tract  of  land  of  any  indefinite  extent,  nearly 
surrounded  by  water,  but  united  to  a  larger  tract  by  a  neck  of 
land,  or  isthmus  ;  a  peninsula.  There  are  many  so  called  among 
the  ancients,  and  five  were  more  celebrated  than  the  rest ;  but  the 
word  is  especially  applied  to  the  Thracian  Chersonese,  extending 
along  the  Hellespont.  Jutland  is  the  Cirabric  Chersonese  ;  the 
Crimea,  the  Tauric  Chersonese,  i.  e.  the  peninsula  inhabited  by 
the  Tauri,  a  people  of  European  Sarmatia.  From  Gr.  '^(Epu-ovricror, 
Att.  "^appovricroQ,  from  yj^poq,  yspffog,  land,  continent,  vrycroc  island, 
peninsula. 

CHERTSEY,  from  A.  S.    Ceortes-ig,  "  Cerot's  island." 

CHESHIRE,  contraction  of  Chestershire.     See  Chester. 

CHESTER,  from  A.  S.  ceaster,  cester,  from  L.  castnmi. 
'*  The  names  of  all  places  ending  in  caste?;  cester,  and  Chester 
were  probably  sites  of  a  castrum,  i.e.  a  fortress  built  by  the 
Romans.  The  Saxon  word  is  burg!^  {Bosivorth.)  Castrum, 
says  Riddle,  "  is  literally  a  large  hut ;  then  in  military  science 
a  fort,  redoubt,  intrenchment  ;  hence  a  stronghold,  fortress  ; 
pi.  several  intrenchments  or  redoubts  lying  in  a  quadrangular 
form ;  hence  a  camp.  The  Roman  army  pitched  a  camp 
after  each  march ;  hence  castra  with  numerals  for  a  day's 
march."    Among  many  names  of  places  ending  in  chest er,  &c.,  we 


LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY.  67 

have  Chichester,  Dorchester,  Ilchester,  Manchester,  Wmchester, 
Lancaster,  Gloucester,  Worcester.     See  Cassel  and  Bicetre. 

CHEYNE,  CHEYNEY  (fsha-ne),  m  local  names,  as  in  Cheyue 
Walk,  Chelsea ;  Cheyney  Court,  Winchester,  are  corrupted  from 
the  Fr.  chene  an  oak.  In  the  Norman  times  the  Bishop's  Court 
at  Winchester  was  held  under  an  oak  tree. 

CHICHESTER,  formerly  Cissa-ceaster,  "the  fortress  of  Cissa." 
**  Cissa  succeeded  his  father  in  the  government  of  the  South- 
Saxon  territory.  He  fixed  the  seat  of  his  government  on  the 
site  of  Regnum,  and  gave  both  the  origin  and  name  to  Cissan- 
ceaster,  Chichester."   (Horsfield,  Sussex.)     See  Chester. 

CHIDLEY",  Devon,  "  from  A.  S.  cid  a  contention,  ley  a  lock, 
or  leffe  a  field ;  i.  e.  a  ground  about  which  controversies  arise,  the 
right  of  possession  thereof  being  disputable."  (^Bailer/.) 

CHINA,  from  Chin,  chung-kwo,  i.e.  the  middle  nation  ;  chung 
middle,  kivo,  kwe,  a  general  name  for  a  state  or  nation,  a  kingdom, 
an  empire.  "  A  name,"  says  Morrison,  "  claimed  for  Arabia  by 
some  of  the  Mohamedan  writers  in  China."  This  word  may  have 
come  through  the  Pers.  or  Arab.  The  Buddhists  write  Che-na  ; 
the  Persians  .,js~^  ckin.  Others  say  China  derives  its  name  from 
that  of  the  dynasty  of  Tsin.  The  natives  sometimes  call  it 
Tang-shan,  "  Hills  of  Tang,"  the  name  of  one  of  their  most 
celebrated  dynasties.  China  was  known  to  the  ancients  under 
the  name  of  Sinse  and  Seres. 

CHINAB,  a  river  in  Hindustan.  Chinab,  Chenaub,  or 
Chunaub  is  said  to  be  a  corruption  of  its  former  Sans,  name, 
Chandra-bhdga,  "  garden  of  the  moon,"  and  to  have  been  so  called 
because  it  proceeds  from  a  small  lake  of  that  name  ;  but  that 
the  Sans,  name  was  not  adopted  by  the  followers  of  Alexander, 
because  it  sounded  like  Sandaro-phagos,  i.e.  Alexander-eater. 
Chandra-baga,  Chandraba,  Chandrab,  Chanrab,  Chanab,  Chinab. 

CHIPPING.  From  A.  S.  ceapian,  to  bargain,  chaffer,  trade, 
comes  ceap,  a  bargain,  sale,  business,  price,  cattle,  saleable  com- 
modities, whence  Cheapside,  London,  also  Chepstow,  INIoninouth  ; 
i.e.  a  place  for  sale,  a  market.  From  ceap  comes  ceuping  buying, 
merchandise,  and  then  chipping  ;  as  Chipi)ing  Barnet,    Herts  ; 


68  LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY. 

Chipping  Norton,  Oxon  ;  Chipping  Ongar,  Essex ;  Chipping 
Sodbury,  Gloucester;  Chipping  Warden,  Northampton  ;  Chipping 
Wycomb.  From  ceuping  come  Ceaping-ham,  Cyppenham,  and 
Chippenham,  Wilts  ;  lit.  market-abode  or  place.  In  like  manner 
from  Sw.  hop,  to  purchase,  comes  hoping  a  borough,  market. 
This  word  is  found  in  many  names  of  places  in  Scandinavia, 
particularly  in  Sweden  ;  as  Koping,  Jonkoping,  Lidkoping,  Lin- 
koping,  jNIalmkoping,  Norrkoping,  Nykoping,  Soderkoping,  &c, 

CHIRBURY,  Salop,  found  written  Cyric-byrig,  Cereburih, 
and  Cyrebury,  "  the  church  city ;"  from  A.  S.  circe,  circ,  cyric, 
a  church,  and  bitrg.     See  Bosivorth,  also  Chr.  915,  Ing. 

CHIRK,  a  village,  co.  Denbigh,  N.  Wales  :  perhaps  a  cor- 
ruption of  Ceiriog,  name  of  the  river  on  which  it  stands.  "  Chirk 
Castle,  situated  about  a  mile  from  this  village,  was  erected  upon 
the  site  of  a  more  ancient  fortress  called  Castell  Crogen." 

CHISWICK,  (c/iiz'ic/i).  This  parish  is  not  found  in  Domes- 
day, but  it  is  mentioned  in  various  ancient  records  by  the  names 
of  Ceswyck,  Cheswyck,  and  Cheswick.  There  is  a  tradition  that 
within  the  last  hundred  years  a  very  considerable  mart  or  fair  for 
cheese  was  annually  held  in  the  field  called  the  Great  Downs, 
nearly  opposite  the  Duke  of  Devonshire's  ;  and  if  so,  we  here 
possess  the  most  probable  derivation  of  the  name  of  the  village, 
which  in  all  the  more  ancient  writings  is  spelt  Chesewick  or  Ches- 
wick.    (Faulkner,  Hist.  Brentford,  &c.) 

CHIUSI  {ke-oo'se),  in  Tuscany,  a  corruption  of  its  ancient  name, 
Clusium. 

CHIVERTON,  Cornwall,  in  Corn,  means  "a  house  in  the 
green  lay."  Some  derive  it  from  Chi-var-ton,  "  a  house  upon 
the  hill."      Todn,  formerly  t6n,  is  "lay  ground  ;"   ton  a  hill. 

CHRISTIANIA,  capital  of  Norway.  It  formerly  bore  a 
diiferent  name  ;  it  has  its  present  appellation  from  Christian  IV., 
by  whom  it  was  rebuilt. 

CHURNE,  or  CHURN,  a  river  in  Gloucestershire.  It  was 
called  by  the  Romans  Corin.  Qu.  W.  chwyrnxo.yiA,  cyrn  pretty  ; 
or  it  mB.y  be  another  orthography  of  Carron. 

CILLY,   a  very   ancient   town   situated    between   Gratz   and 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  69 

I  aibacli,  in  Austria.     It  was  founJed  by  the  Emperor  Claiulius, 
who  called  it  Celleia,  whence  its  present  name  has  been  corrupted. 

CINQUE  PORTS  {sink).  Hastings,  Dover,  Tlythe,  Romney, 
Sandwich,  are  called  the  Cinque  (i.e.  the  five)  Ports  ;  from  Fr. 
cinq  five,  from  L.  quinque,  Gr.  kbvxb,  Dor.  for  TTsvre,  from 
^&\is.  pancha.     See  Port. 

CINTAIL  {kin-tale),  a  parish  in  Scotland  ;  from  Gael,  ceann- 
tail,  more  correctly  ceann  ant-sail,  "the  boundary  of  the  sea." 
{Armstrong  ^ 

CIRCASSIA.  "  Pomponius  jNLela  calls  the  Circassians  Sar- 
gaciens  ;  by  the  Turks  they  are  called  Tcherkes,  or  Kerkes  ;  by 
the  ancients  Zageens,  and  '  Inhabitants  of  the  Mountains ;' 
which  agrees  with  the  denomination  Peng-dagui,  which  some 
Oriental  geographers  give  this  people  ;  lit.  'the  five  mountains'— 
the  number  certain  for  the  number  uncertain."  The  Turks  write 
Tcherukasah  for  Circassia,  also  Tcherkeslik.  Cheriikiah  means 
place  of  pasturages,  a  prairie.  Other  writers  say  these  people  are 
called  Tscherkess,  Tscherkessi,  and  Tscherkessians  by  the  Rus- 
sians, and  that  the  name  is  of  Tartar  origin,  compounded  of 
tucker  a  road,  kesmek  to  cut  off.  "They  call  themselves  Adeches 
or  Adekhes,  a  name  denoting  a  mountain  ravine  on  the  sea  ;  but 
their  neighbours,  the  Nogai  Tartars,  call  them  Tcherkesses, 
which  well  expresses  the  ferocity  of  their  disposition,  being 
derived  from  tsherk  to  cut  off,  kes  the  head,  whence  their 
European  name."     {Malte  Brun.) 

CI'RENCES'TER  (locally  sis'estcr),  co.  Gloucester.  The 
name  is  found  written  Cyren-ccaster  and  Cyrn-ceaster.  It  was  a 
military  station  of  the  Romans,  who  called  it  Coriiiium  or  Cornn- 
vium,  and  Corin  Castra.  Ptolemy  writes  Corinium  ;  Richard  of 
Cirencester,  Corinum  ;  Antonius,  Durocornovium.  It  takes  its 
name  from  its  situation  on  the  river  Churne,  Churn  (Corin),  which 
enters  the  Thames  at  Cricklade.     See  Chester  and  Churne. 

CIVITA  VECCIIIA  {chicitah  vek'ke-a)  the  name  of  several 
cities,  but  particuhuly  of  one  in  Italy,  and  one  in  Malta,  lit. 
"  the  old  city  ;"  from  It.  vecchia  old,  civitu  a  city,  from  L.  ciritds 
from  civis  a  citizen. 


70 


LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY. 


CLAPIIAM.  This  parish,  in  all  probability,  received  its  appel- 
lation from  one  of  its  proprietors.  Osgod  Clappa  was  the  name  of 
the  Danish  lord  at  whose  daughters  rnarriage-feast  in  Lambeth 
Hardicanute  died.  In  Domesday,  however,  this  place  is  called 
Clopeharn.   (Li/sons.) 

CLARE,  a  parish,  co.  Galway,  Ireland,  takes  its  name  from 
the  river  Clare,  which  runs  through  it. 

CLA'VERING,  a  parish  in  Essex.  The  name  is  said  to  be 
from  A.  S.  dcufra  violets,  ing  a  meadow  or  pasture. 

CLAVVDD  OFFA,  in  Wales.  A  dike  thrown  up  in  the  fiftii 
century  by  Offa,  King  of  Mercia,  to  prevent  the  incursions  of  the 
Welsh,  and  to  form  their  boundary.  The  name  signifies  "Offa's 
dike."     (W.  c/«M;c/c?a  ditch,) 

CLAYHANGER,  or  CLAYHONGER,  Suffolk,  from  A.  S. 
dcetjhangre  ;  so  called  from  its  clayey  situation.     (Chr.  1016.) 

CLERE  (Jdeer).  This  affix  signifies  a  royal  residence  or  epi- 
scopal palace  in  the  north  of  Hampshire.  Kingsclere  was  a  royal  de- 
mesne in  the  reign  of  Queen  Elizabeth  ;  at  Burgclere,  the  bishops 
of  Winchester  resided  ;  and  from  Highclere  Wilham  of  Wykeham 
dated  his  will.  Or  it  may  be  the  name  of  the  Cornish  saint, 
St.  Cleere.  (iV.  ^-  Q.)  Qu.  A.  S.  cleric,  clerc,  clere ;  L.  clericus. 
CLERKENWELL,  found  written  Clarkenwell,  means  either 
"  Clarke's  well,"  or  the  "  Clerks'  well."  The  pump  near  Clerk- 
enwell  Green  bears  the  following  inscription: — "  A.D.  1800. 
Willm.  Bound,  Joseph  Bird,  Churchwardens.  For  the  better 
accommodation  of  the  neighbourhood,  this  pump  was  removed  to 
the  spot  where  it  now  stands.  The  spring  by  which  it  is  supplied 
is  situate  4  feet  eastward,  and  round  it,  as  history  informs  us, 
the  parish  clerks  of  London  in  remote  ages  annually  performed 
sacred  plays.  That  custom  caused  it  to  be  denominated  Clerks' 
Well,  from  which  this  parish  derived  its  name.  The  water  was 
greatly  esteemed  by  the  prior  and  brethren  of  the  Order  of  St- 
John  of  Jerusalem,  and  the  Benedictine  nuns  in  the  neighbour- 
hood." 

CLEVELAND,  in  Yorkshire  ;  q.  d.  Cliff  Lane,  by  reason  of 
its  being  steep,  and    almost  impassable  with  cliffs   and  rocks. 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  71 

{Bailey.)  In  like  manner  Cleves  (whence  Ann  of  Cleves),  capital 
of  the  duchy  of  that  name  in  Prussia,  was  so  called  from  being 
built  upon  three  little  hills  ;  from  L.  cUvus  a  rising  ground,  height, 
hill. 

CLIFFORD'S  INN,  Fleet  Street,  derives  its  name  from  the 
Barons  Clifford,  ancestors  of  the  Earls  of  Cumberland,  who  had  a 
residence  there  many  years  since.  {Herbert.) 

CLIST,  formerly  Clyst,  a  river  in  Devonshire  ;  whence  the 
names  of  places  called  Bishop  Clist,  Honiton  Clist,  and  Clist- 
haydon. 

CLOG  HER,  a  bishop's  see  in  Armagh,  Ireland,  takes  its  name 
from  a  small  town  in  the  barony  of  Clogher,  co.  Tyrone,  which  is 
said  to  have  been  so  called  from  a  golden  stone  (Ir.  clock  a  stone, 
oir  golden),  formerly  consulted  there  by  the  Druids  for  oracular 
answers. 

CLON  is  a  very  common  prefix  of  local  names  in  Ireland,  as  in 
Cloutarf,  Szc.  Cluain,  cluaine,  cluainna,  occur  less  frequently.  In 
Ir.  cluaine  is  a  plain,  lawn,  a  remote  or  retired  situation.    Qu. 

CLOUGH  or  CLEUGH  {kluf),  in  Lancashire,  and  in  some  other 
northern  counties,  means  a  straight,  narrow  hollow  between  high 
steep  banks ;  from  A.  S.  dough,  a  cleft  or  fissure  in  the  steep  as- 
cent or  descent  of  a  hill.  Clench  in  Scotland,  has  the  like  mean- 
ing ;   it  sometimes  signifies  a  rugged  precipice. 

CLUNBURY,  CO.  Salop,  named  from  its  situation  on  the  river 
Clun.     See  Burg. 

CLYDE,  a  river  in  Scotland.  Chalmers  derives  it  from  W. 
Cluyd,  from  Anc.  Brit,  chjd,  warm,  sheltered. 

COBLENTZ  was  called  by  the  Romans  Confluentes,  from  its 
situation  at  the  confluence  of  the  Rhine  and  IMoselle.  Conflu- 
entes, Confluents,  Cofluents,  Cobluents,  Coblcnts,  Coblcntz. 

COCHIN  CHINA,  that  part  of  Eastern  Asia  which  commonly 
goes  by  the  name  of  "  India  without  the  Ganges."  The  present 
name  is  not,  it  is  said,  known  to  the  natives,  and  was  given  to  it 
by  the  Portuguese,  who,  on  their  arrival,  finding  it  was  called 
Koe-chen  or  Cochin,  in  order  to  distinguish  it  from  Cochin  on 
the  coast  of  Malabar,  added  China,  calling  it,  as  it   were,  Cochin 


72  LOCAL  ETYMOLOGY. 

of  China.  Perhaps  by  Koe-chen  is  meant  Keaou-che,  by  which 
name  (sometimes  abbreviated  to  cJie)  it  was  known  in  the  time 
of  Han.  In  the  classics  it  is  called  Nan-keaou.  The  natives 
distinguish  it  by  the  name  Dang-trong,  "  the  interior  or  central 
country,"  and  they  call  Tonkin,  Dang-ngoai,  "the  exterior 
country,"  They  also  call  Cochin  China,  Nuoc  Anam,  "  kingdom 
of  peace  of  the  south  ;"  from  C.  Chin,  nuoc  kingdom,  an  peace, 
rest,  nam  the  south.  Hamilton  derives  Cochin  in  ^Malabar  from 
cach'hi  a  morass. 

COCKERMOUTH,  in  Cumberland,  named  from  its  situation 
near  the  mouth  of  the  Cocker.  It  would  appear  by  the  map  to 
be  at  some  distance  from  the  mouth  of  this  river,  but  it  is  pos- 
sible the  land  may  have  gained  upon  the  water  along  this  part  of 
the  coast.  "  Its  name  is  derived  from  its  position  on  the  river 
Cocker,  at  the  point  of  its  confluence  with  the  Derwent.  The 
Cocker  flows  from  Buttermere  "Water,  and,  after  passing  through 
Crummock  Water,  divides  the  town  of  Cockermouth  into  two 
equal  parts,  which  communicate  with  a  stone  bridge."     (P.  Cyc.) 

COED  (ko-id),  in  local  names  in  Wales,  is  the  W.  coed  a 
wood  ;  as  Bettws-y-Coed. 

COIMBATORE,  for  Kayambatur.     See  Ore. 

COLCHESTER,  formerly  Coln-ceaster,  "  a  fortress  on  the 
river  Coin."      (A.  S.  ceaster  fortress.) 

COLD  HARBOUR,  a  not  unfrequent  local  name,  as  Cold 
Harbour  Lane,  Camberwell.  Sir  Rich.  Colt  Hare  says,  he  always 
found  the  term  "  Cold  Harbour  "  in  the  vicinity  of  a  Roman  road. 
From  Anc.  Brit,  col  a  hill,  arbhar  an  army  ;  also  a  military  sta- 
tion. Owen  {TV.  Diet.)  gives  col-arbhar.  But  see  Gent.  Mag. 
Dec.  1844.  p.  612. 

COLLEYSTOWN.  "Queen  Elizabeth  granted  Castletown, 
otherwise  Young  CoUeystown,  &c ,  in  King's  County,  Ireland,  to 
Robert  Colley,  Esq.,  on  3d  Feb.,  1562,  which  on  his  decease 
without  issue,  were  granted  to  Sir  Thomas  Moore,  ancestor  of  the 
Earl  of  Charleville."  {Lodge,  vol.  iii.  p.  58.  See  also  Gent. 
Mag.  vol.  xi.  for  Jan.  1839,  p.  73.) 

COLLUMPTOX    (koUum'ton),    found    written    Columpton, 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  73 

Columbton,  Cuilompton,  Cullumj)ton  ;  a  town  in  Devon,  situated 
on  the  Culm  or  Columb  —  a  tributary  of  the  Ex — whence  its 
name. 

COL^MKILL  or  Ikohnkill,  the  island  lona,  one  of  the 
Hebrides,  near  Mull ;  contracted  from  Columbkill,  i.e.  Columhce 
cella.     (Bosworth.) 

COLNBROOK  (Bucks).  B?-ook  may  here  be  a  corruption  of 
hrhhje.  "  Colebrook,  so  called  from  the  river  Cole,  because  it  is 
here  parted  into  four  currents,  but  is  joined  by  four  bridges." 
{Bailey.) 

COLNES  {koanes),  the  name  of  four  contiguous  parishes  in 
Essex,  receiving  their  general  appellation  from  the  river  Colne, 
which  flows  through  them.  Earl's  Colne,  Engaine  (Gain's)  Colne, 
Wake's  Colne,  White  Colne.  Colne  is  the  name  of  several  rivers 
in  England.  Qu.  W.  cul  narrow,  strait,  confined ;  culni,  nar- 
rowness, &c. 

COLNEY  HATCH  {kony).     See  Hatch. 

COLOGNE,  on  the  Rhine,  was  anciently  called  Civitas  Ubio- 
rum.  Agrippina,  mother  of  Nero,  who  was  born  here,  sent 
hither  a  colony  of  Romans,  and  gave  it  her  own  name,  calling  it 
Colonia  Agrippina,  from  the  former  of  which  it  has  its  present 
name.     (G.  Koeln,  K'Oln,  Coeln,  Coin,  pron.  keln.) 

COLUMBIA,  a  district  of  the  United  States,  named  after 
Columbus. 

COL'YTON,  or  Culliton,  a  town  in  Devon,  on  the  little  river 
Coly,  a  feeder  of  the  Axe. 

COMB,  COMBE,  COOMBE,  CUMBER,  in  local  names  in 
England — as  in  Combe  St.  Nicholas  (Somerset),  Ilfracombe, 
Alcomb,  Boscomb,  Chilcomb,  Combhill,  Combe  St,  Nicholas 
(Cumberland)  -  is  the  A.  S.  comb  a  low  place  enclosed  with  hills, 
a  valley  (Anc.  Brit,  kum  or  cuum,  W.  cw7h,  Low  L.  comha  and 
ciunba  terrce).  Sometimes  the  name  of  the  owner  is  annexed,  as  in 
Comb  Basset,  Comb  Raleigh.  Sometimes  b  is  changed  intoy;,  as  in 
Com[»toii  (q.  v.).  Charles  Nodier,  {Conies  choisies,  "La  Combe 
de  riiotnme  mort,"  Paris,  1B5G),  gives  the  following  note  on  this 
word: — "  Coinbe    cbt    nil    mot    trcs    Franrais,   (jui    siguifie   une 


74  LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY. 

valine  etroite  et  courte,  creusee  entre  deux  montagnes,  et  oii 
I'industrie  des  hommes  est  parvenue  a  introduire  quelque  culture. 
11  n'y  a  pas  uu  village  dans  tout  le  royaume  ou  cette  expression 
ne  soit  parfaitement  intelligible  ;  mais  on  I'a  oniise  dans  le  Dic- 
tionnaire,  parce  qu'il  n'y  a  point  de  combe  aux  Tuileries,  aux 
ChainpsElysees,  et  an  Luxembourg."  Comhen\Vi.y  be  a  French  word, 
but,  if  so,  it  has  been  either  borrowed  from  the  Saxon  or  the  Celtic. 

COMPTON,  from  A.  S.  comhe,  W.  cwni,  a  dell,  tun  an  enclo- 
sure, village. 

CONDA,  in  local  names  in  India,  may  be  the  Tel.  konda  a 
hill ;   a  cluster  of  a  few  huts  apart  from  the  main  village. 

CONSTANCE,  a  town  and  lake.     See  Bregenz. 

CONSTANTINOPLE,  "the  city  of  Constantine ;"  Gr. 
TfiKiQ  a  city. 

CONWAY,  properly  Conwy,  a  river  in  N.  Wales,  called  by 
the  Romans  Conovium.  Dr.  Pughe  translates  Conwy  "  The  Dart 
stream  ;"  others  derive  it  from  Cyn-wy,  i.e.  chief  water.  From 
Conwy  comes  Aberconwy,  "  the  efflux  of  the  Conwy,"  in  Caer- 
narvon.    The  Romans  called  it  Aberconovium.     See  Aber. 

CONZ  (Jiontz),  a  village  between  Treves  and  Luxemburg, 
near  the  mouth  of  the  Saar.  It  has  its  name  from  the  Emperor 
Constantine,  who  is  said  to  have  had  a  summer  palace  here,  traces 
of  which  are  still  visible. 

COP,  COPE,  in  local  names  in  England,  as  in  Horcop,  Warcop ; 
also  Moldcop,  Cheshire,  means  a  hillock,  mound  ;  from  A.  S.  cop 
the  head. 

COPENHAGEN,  from  Dan.  Koben-havn,  i.e.  "the  mer- 
chants' haven  or  port."     The  Swedes  call  it  Kopenhamn. 

CORDILLERAS  (kordil-yair'as.)  The  Andes  or  Cordilleras, 
are  a  chain  of  mountains  in  S.  America.  From  Sp.  cordillera,  a 
chain  or  ridge  of  mountains. 

CORDO'VA,  a  city  of  Spain.  Bochart  writes  Corduha,  which 
he  derives  from  Pbcen.  chardohaal,  meaning  "  his  fear  is  Baal." 
The  Phoenicians  doubtless  founded  Cordova,  but  they  called  it 
Kartabah,  which  may  be  from  karta-Baul,  i.e.  city  of  Baal. 
See  Carthage. 


LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY.  75 

CORK,  Ireland,  formerly  Corkan  ;  from  the  Ir.  corcach  a  moor, 
a  marsh,  having  been  originally  built  on  a  low  marshy  island. 

CORNANT,  in  local  names  in  Wales,  is  the  W.  cornant  9.hxook, 
rill,  small  ravine  ;  from  cor  a  point,  nant  a  hollow  formed  by  vi'ater, 
ravine,  mountain  torrent,  brook. 

CORNWALL.  It  is  said  that  the  original  British  name  was 
Cernyiv,  i.e.  a  horn,  or  promontory.  The  name  is  supposed  by  Dr. 
Borlase  to  have  been  changed,  by  the  intercourse  of  the  natives  with 
the  Romans,  into  Cornubia,  which  it  retained  until  the  Saxons  im- 
posed the  name  of  Weales  on  the  Britons,  driven  by  them  west  of 
the  Severn  and  Dee,  calling  their  country  in  Latin  Wallia  ;  after 
which,  finding  the  Britons  had  retreated  not  only  into  Wales,  but 
into  the  more  western  extremities  of  the  island,  the  Latinists 
changed  Cornubia  into  Cornwallia — a  name  not  only  expressive  of 
the  many  natural  promontories  of  the  country,  but  also  implying 
that  the  inhabitants  were  Britons  of  the  same  nation  and  descent  as 
those  of  Wales — and  from  Cornwallia  comes  Cornwall.  Others 
seem  to  think  that  Cornwall  was  named  after  Cornouailles,  a  canton 
of  France,  in  Bretagne.  Lamartiui^re  says  Cornouailles,  in  L.  Cornu 
GuUice,  Hicans  "point  of  France,"  and  that  it  was  so  called  because, 
jutting  out  into  the  ocean  in  the  form  of  a  peninsula,  it  makes  a  sort 
of  "  horn  of  Gaul"  (Cornu  GaUise),  as  Longuerue  expresses  it.  He 
says  that  Cornu  Gallice  accords  with  Cornouailles  only,  and  that 
Cornwall  was  most  probably  so  called  because  it  has  a  point  which 
juts  out  and  resembles  somewhat  the  canton  of  Cornouailles. 

COROMANDEL  COAST.  That  part  of  the  eastern  coast  of 
India  which  forms  the  shore  of  the  Bay  of  Bengal ;  originally 
Choramandel,  or  rather  Cholamandal,  i.e.  the  country  of  the 
Chola,  an  ancient  dynasty  of  this  part  of  India.  (Hind,  mundul, 
utandul,  a  circle,  orbit,  district,  province,  country.) 

CORSCOMBE,  in  W.  Corscw?n.  Qu.  W.  cors  a  bog,  fen,  cwm 
(A.  S.  comb)  a  valley. 

CORSICA,  an  islajid  in  the  Mediterranean,  belonging  to  France. 
In  the  time  of  the  Romans,  two  colonies  were  founded  there; 
the  one  by  Marius,  the  other  by  Sylla.  The  inhabitants  were  then 
called   Corsi.    liocliart  says  tlie  Carthaginians  called   this  island 


76  LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY. 

Corsis,  which  he  derives  from  Phoen.  ''W\^n  chorsi,  a  woody  place, 
because  this  was  the  most  woody  of  all  the  islands  in  that  quarter. 
See  Bochart,  Geog.  Sacr.  Diou.  Perieg.,  v.  458  ;  and  Theophr. 
lib.  V.  c.  9. 

COR'WEN,  N.  Wales,  said  to  mean  "  the  white  choir ;"  from 
W.  cdi'  choir,  given  white,  fair.  Goriven  means  extremely 
white  or  fair,  white  topped,  for  (/oi-wijn  ;  gor  very,  givf/n  white, 
fair,  pleasant. 

COTE,  COT,  COTT,  found  as  a  compound  in  local  names  in 
England,  as  in  Northcote,  Southcote,  Westcote,  Balscote  (perhaps 
for  Belet's  Cote),  Cottington,  Cotsmore,  Cotswold,  is  either  the 
A.  S.  cota,  cyta,  a  cot,  cottage,  den,  cave,  or  the  Brit,  eoet^a  wood. 

COTSWOLD,  a  district  in  Gloucestershire.  Rudder  {Hist. 
Glost.  p.  21)  derives  the  name  of  "  the  noble  champaign  country, 
which  runs  through  the  county,  and  abounds  in  verdant  plains, 
downs,  cornfields,  parks,  woods,"  &c.,  from  the  Brit,  coed  a.  wood, 
and  A.  S.  weuld  a  wood  ;  others  derive  Cotswold  from  A.  S.  cota, 
cyta,  a  cot,  cottage,  den,  cave,  and  ivold  a  place  without  wood. 
The  late  Michael  Jones  considered  the  latter  etymology  as  better 
descriptive  of  the  higher  district  of  the  Cotswold  division  of 
Gloucestershire ;  somewhat  resembling  the  South  Downs  and 
Salisbury  Plain,  though  more  enclosed  and  denuded  of  wood. 
Cowel  translates  Coteswold,  "several  sheep-cotes  and  sheep 
feeding  on  hills;"  cotland,  cot-sethland,  land  held  by  a  cottager, 
whether  in  soccage  or  villenage  ;  cotellus  a  small  cottage.  See 
Cote. 

COTTA,  in  local  names  in  Hindustan,  may  be  the  Hind.  cu»^ 
Jiot  or  kota  (in  some  dialects,  cote,  kotli,  kotta,  and  kottai,)  a  fort, 
stronghold,  a  fortified  residence  of  a  zamindar,  the  wall  of  a  fort. 

COURTRAIorCOURTRAY(/:oo/-7r«y),  in  W.  Flanders  (Flem. 
Kortryk).  In  the  time  of  the  Romans  it  was  called  Cortoriacum  or 
Corturiacum.  Lamartiniere  says  it  is  a  very  ancient  town.  "II  est 
fait  mention  des  soldats  ou  cavaliers  nommez  Cortoriacenses,  dans  la 
notice  de  I'empire  ecrite  il  y  a  environ  treize  cents  ans.  St.  Ouen 
(dans  la  vie  de  St.  Eloy)  fait  mention  des  peuples  Corturiacenses, 
dout  St.  Eloy  etoit  pasteur,  aussi  bien  que  des  Flamands  et  des 


LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY.  77 

Gaulois.  II  est  fait  mention  plusieurs  fois  clans  les  capitulaires 
du  pays  de  Couvtray,  Pacjus  Ciirfricisus."  The  etymology  dees 
not  appear  to  be  settled.  See  also  Longuerue,  Desc.  de  la  France, 
part  2,  p.  60. 

COUTANCE  (Jiootaionce),  a  town  in  Normandy,  said  to  have 
been  built  by  the  Emperor  Constantius  Chlorus,  father  of  Con- 
stantine  the  Great,  and  who  called  it  after  his  own  name,  Con- 
stantia ;  whence,  by  corruption,  its  present  name. 

COVENT  GARDEN,  a  corruption  of  Convent  Garden. 
COVENTRY,  CO.  Warwick,  "from  A.  S.  Cofantreo,h'om  Cwent, 
the  ancient  name  of  a  little  river  which  runs  past  the  town,  and  ree 
or  tre  a  river."  {Sonmer.)  Others  assert  that  the  name,  like 
Covent  Garden,  is  derived  from  "Convent  Garden,"  from  a  spacious 
convent,  founded,  says  Leland,  by  King  Canute,  and  destroyed  by 
the  traitor  Edric  in  1016.  It  is  certain  that  in  the  reign  of  Edward 
the  Confessor,  in  10-14,  Earl  Leofric,  a  powerful  lord  of  the  large 
territory  of  Mercia,  with  his  wife,  the  Lady  Godiva,  founded  at 
Coventry  a  magnificent  Benedictine  monastery.  (See  P.  Cyc.) 
Dugdale  says  tre  is  a  Brit,  word  having  the  same  import  as  villa 
in  Latin. 

CRACOW  {kra'ko),  in  Poland  ;  Pol.  Krakow,  G.  Krakau ; 
said  to  take  its  name  from  Cracus,  Duke  of  Poland,  by  whom  it 
was  built  in  1700.  Krah  is  the  name  of  the  Polish  Cadmus,  who 
slew  the  dragon  in  a  cave  at  the  rock  called  Wavel. 

CRAIG,  in  local  names  in  Wales,  is  the  W.  crairj  (Sco.  and  Ir. 
id.,  Gael,  creag,  Corn,  karak,  Arm.  garrecg)  a  rock. 

CRAY.  The  Grays,  viz.,  St.  Mary's,  St.  Paul's,  Foot's,  and 
North  Cray  and  Crayford,  in  Kent,  take  their  name  from  the 
river  Cray,  which  flows  near  them.  As  this  part  of  the  county 
is  said  to  abound  with  chalk,  the  river  may  have  received  its  name 
from  that  circumstance  ;  from  Fr.  craye  or  craie,  from  L.  creta 
chalk,  lit.  Cretan  earth. 

CRAYFORD,  Kent,  found  written  Crcccanford,  Crecganford, 
Creacanford,  Creganford  ;  "  ford  of  the  river  Crec  or  Craye." 
See  Cray. 

CREDITON,    anciently   written   Chridiatoue,    Cridiaton,  Cri- 


78  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

deton,  a  town  in  Devon,  near  the  junction  of  the  brook  Yeo  with 
the  river  Greedy,  a  feeder  of  the  Ex  ;  whence  its  name.  (A.  S.  tun 
an  enclosure.)    The  colloquial  designation  of  this  place  is  Kirton. 

CREED  LANE,  Ludgate  Hill.     See  Paternoster  Row. 

CRICKLADE,  Wilts,  found  written  Creccagelade,  Cregelade, 
Criccelade,  Criklade,  and  Creeklade.  Some  say  this  place  was 
originally  called  Greeklade,  from  a  famous  school  which  the  Greek 
philosophers  instituted  there,  and  that  the  University  of  Oxford  was 
formed  by  an  emigration  of  professors  and  students  from  this  town. 
Others  write  Crecceglade,  wliich  they  derive  from  A.  S.  crecca 
a  brook,  Indian  to  empty  ;  it  being  situated  near  the  junction 
with  the  Thames  of  two  small  streams,  the  Churn  and  the  Key. 
Again,  others  derive  the  name  from  the  Brit,  cerigivlad,  abound- 
in  o-  in  stones.     Near  Cricklade  is  the  source  of  the  Thames. 

CRIMEA.  The  Crimea  derives  its  name  from  Ki[jjj.sciov,  the 
ancient  name  of  a  small  town  in  this  peninsula.  In  more  modern 
times,  Kimmerion  or  Kimmeris  has  been  designated  Eski  Crim, 
and  Crim  Staroi,  or  Old  Crim,  and  is  now  called  Leukopolis. 
See  Cambria. 

CROATIA  takes  its  name  from  the  Croats,  a  tribe  of  the 
Wends,  from  Bohemia,  who  in  a.d.  640  settled  here.  The  ancient 
name  of  this  people  was  Horwather,  Ilrowathes,  or  Chrobates,  of 
which  the  modern  name  is  a  corruption.  Croatia  is  called  by  the 
inhabitants  Horwath  Orszag ;  and  by  the  Turks  Khervat  Mem- 
leketi.     The  Germans  call  the  Croats,  Croaten  and  Crabaten. 

CRONSTADT  {krun-stat),  from  G.  horie  a  crown,  stadt  a 
town,  city. 

CROYDON.  In  Domesday  and  in  records  of  later  date, 
this  place  is  called  Croindene,  and  in  A.  S.  Grogdcene.  It  is 
also  found  written  Cradiden,  Craydiden,  Crondon,  and  Croidon. 
Some  derive  the  name  from  A.  S.  crone  sheep,  dene  a  valley — a 
valley  for  sheep.  This  derivation,  says  Garrow,  appears  to  be 
established  by  the  situation  of  the  old  town,  in  the  opening  of 
a  rich  and  beautiful  vale,  and,  as  Camden  observes,  lying 
under  the  hills ;  and  this  vale,  skirting  the  bottom  of  Banstead 
Downs,  extends  some  miles  up  the  country,  having  the  hills  for- 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  79 

merly  covered  with  woods,  on  the  east  side,  the  west  being  open 
to  the  Downs.  Others  think  the  town  was  named  from  the  quan- 
tity of  chalk  in  its  vicinity,  because  in  Surrey  no  soil  of  this 
description  is  to  be  found  nearer  London  than  Croydon,  and  they 
derive  the  name  from  Fr.  craye  or  craie,  chalk,  and  Sax.  dun  a 
hill — "a  town  near  a  chalk-hill."  In  favour  of  this  supposition, 
some  refer  to  the  villages  of  Foot's  Cray,  St.  Mary's  Cray,  and 
Crayford,  in  Kent,  and  not  far  from  Croydon  ;  all  of  which  have 
been  named  from  the  river  Cray,  which  flows  near  them  in  a  part 
of  the  county  abounding  with  chalk. 

CRUTCH'ED  FRIARS,  a  place  in  the  City  of  London,  so 
called  from  a  convent  of  Crouched  Friars  formerly  situated  there. 
"  From  Fr.  freres  croises,  i.e.  friars  signed  with  a  cross." 
{Bailey.)  Crouch  is  an  O.  Eng.  word  for  a  cross,  from  L. 
crux,  cis.  The  festival  observed  by  Roman  Catholics  on  the  14th 
of  September  in  honour  of  the  Holy  Cross,  was  called  Crouch 
^lass. 

CUFA  {hoo-fa),  a  town  of  Asiatic  Turkey,  near  Bagdad.  The 
Cufic  characters,  which  prevailed  among  the  Arabians  for  about  300 
years,  were  named  from  this  place,  where  they  are  said  to  have 
been  invented ;  from  Arab.  Kufa,  which  signifies  also  a  round 
heap  of  red  sand,  or  gravel  mixed  with  sand. 

CUMBERLAND,  from  A.  S.  cumbraland,  "a  land  of 
valleys  ;"  comb  a  valley,  land  id.  Others  say  Cumberland 
is  "  the  land  of  the  Cumbri,"  i.  e.  the  Kymbri  or  Kymri,  who 
remained  there  for  a  long  time  after  the  rest  of  England  was 
conquered. 

CURAgAO  or  CURAZAO  {kuras'so),  an  isle  in  the  Caribbean 
Sea,  belonging  to  the  Dutch,  who  took  it  from  the  Spaniards  in 
1G32.  The  esteemed  liqueur,  curacoa,  is  so  called  from  being 
made  here.  The  name  of  this  isle  may  be  of  native  origin,  or  it 
may  have  been  christened  by  the  Spaniards.  The  curassow  is  a 
genus  of  gallinaceous  birds  in  S.  America  and  Mexico.  When 
the  Spaniards  took  possession  of  this  isle,  it  was  possibly  the 
haunt  of  these  birds,  whose  name  may  have  reference  to  their 
j)cculiar  cry. 


80  LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY. 

CWM,  in  local  names  in  Wales,  is  the  VV.  cwm  a  hollow,  a 
shelter,  a  place  between  hills,  a  dingle,  or  deep  valley. 

CYMMER  (pi.  cyiumerau),  found  in  names  of  places  in  \yales, 
means  the  confluence  of  waters,  and  is  synonymous  with  the 
Cymric  aber  and  the  Gael,  inver  (q.  v.),  compounded  of  cy^/ with, 
and  ber  or  mer,  one  of  the  most  ancient  names  for  water,  seas, 
lakes.     {Arch.  Williams.) 

CYPRUS,  in  the  Mediterranean.  Some  derive  this  name  from 
Gr.  -KpuTttOQ  hidden,  "  this  island  being  often  hidden  by  the  waves 
from  the  eye  of  the  sailor  ;"  others  from  Cyrus,  who  founded  here 
the  city  of  Aphrodosia  ;  but  it  was  known  by  the  name  of  Cyprus 
in  Homer's  time,  i.e.  600  years  before  the  birth  of  Cyrus." 
Festus  says  the  ancients  called  it  ^Erosa,  "  full  of  brass,"  because 
it  abounded  with  this  metal ;  and  some  say  this  is  why  the 
Greeks  called  it  KvirpoQ  copper.  KvitpoQ,  however,  seems  rather 
to  have  been  named  from  Cyprus,  whence  it  was  brought.  The 
Greeks  called  this  metal  yjx.Xurjc,  Kvirpioc,  i.  e.  Cyprian  brass,  brass 
of  Cyprus.  The  most  probable  derivation  is  that  from  the  name 
of  a  shrub  called  by  the  Greeks  xuTTpog,  with  which  the  island 
abounded.  With  the  flower  of  this  shrub  the  ancient  inhabitants 
made  a  very  sweet  oil,  greatly  recommended  by  Pliny,  and  the 
shrub  itself  is  now  used  by  the  Arabs  and  Turks  to  dye  the 
nails,  &c.,  being  called  by  the  former  hanna,  and  by  the  latter 
kanna.  See  also  Ptol.  lib.  ii.  c.  7,  lib.  v.  c.  31,  and  Cellar.  Geog. 
Ant.  t.  2. 

CZERNAWODA  (shernavo'da),  on  the  Danube.  This  name 
means  "black  water,"  from  Illyr.  c em  black,  voda  (Pol.  woda, 
Russ.  voda)  water.  Voda  may  come  from  the  root  of  Dur 
(q.  v.). 


D. 

DAGH,  in  local  names  in  Turkey,  as  in  Maden  Dagh,  Emineh 
Dagh,  i.  e.  the  Hsemus  or  Balkan  mountains,  is  the  Turc. 
cU;  tdffh,  a  mountain. 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY,  81 

DALECARLIA,  or  the  Dales,  iu  Sweden,  consists  chiefly  of 
the  two  great  river  basins,  and  numerous  small  branches  of  the 
Vesterdal  and  Osterdal  (W.  and  E.  Dal)  rivers,  which  unite  near 
Fahlun  and  there  form  the  Dal.  The  word  Dalecarlia  is  not 
known  in  Scandinavia.  The  Swedes  call  it  Dalene  {duhl'ena),  "the 
valleys  ;"  the  men  call  themselves  DahlkuU,  the  women  DahlkuUa. 
The  Sw.  kidl  means  brood,  hatch  (Sans,  kulu,  family,  race,  tribe). 

DALMATIA,  a  province  of  Austria,  on  the  Gulf  of  Venice. 
Calmet  translates  Dalmatia  "  deceitful  lamps,"  from  Gr.  ^olaoq  a 
lamp,  ij.arxix  vain,  but  does  not  give  any  reason.  Strabo 
(lib.  vii.  6),  states  that  the  Dalmatians  were  in  the  habit  of  making 
a  division  of  their  fields  every  eighth  year  ;  hence,  says  Dr. 
Webster,  perhaps  the  name  ;  from  deal  and  madh.  He  probably 
refers  to  the  Gael,  dealaich,  to  separate,  part,  and  madh  (now 
magh)  a  plain.  Others  derive  the  name  from  the  Dalmatine,  a 
small  district  between  Sebenico  and  Scordoua.  (P.  Cyc.)  Ac- 
cording to  Strabo  and  Appian,  Dalmatia  was  named  after  the 
Dalmates,  who  inhabited  the  city  of  Delminium  or  Delmium.  It 
is  often  named  Delmatia  upon  ancient  medals  and  marbles,  and 
bv  Latin  writers.  Greek  authors,  with  the  exception  of  Polybius, 
call  it  Dalmatia. 

DAMASCUS,  a  city  in  Syria  ;  L.  id.,  Gr.  Aa(xa(r>coc.  Bryant 
says  Damasec  means  "the  city  of  the  prince."  In  Arab,  shuykh  is  a 
prince,  a  chief;  the  Pers.  dam  signifies  breath,  air,  scent,  pleasure, 
society,  hot,  &c.;  but  in  Arab.  Damascus  is  written  ^l^l^^  dam- 
shak.  The  Arab,  damis  is  a  soft  sandy  place  ;  damask,  heat, 
thirst ;  daimas,  a  place  under  ground,  a  cave,  cavern.  Calmet 
writes  it  in  Heb.  homeschech,  and  gives  several  very  improbable 
etymologies,  not  worth  repeating.  This  city  is  now  locally  called 
Shcim  or  rather  Ash'sh^m,  or  Ash'shamah.  Dr.  Ilerbelot  says  some 
Eastern  geographers  derive .S7«/w from  awart,  because  the  country  is 
studded  over  with  a  number  of  small  hillocks,  resembling  those 
excrescences.  Richardson  says  that  black  moles  on  the  face  have 
ever  been  considered  in  the  East  as  extremely  beautiful,  and  that 
circumstances  fully  as  whimsical  have  often  given  names  to  jjlaces. 
The  Arab,  syim  is  a  black  spot. 


82  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

DANUBE ;  G.  I)o7iau,  Hung.  Buna,  Turc.  Tunah,  L.  Dami- 
bius.  Bailey  says  the  Romans  may  have  called  this  river  Danubius 
"  from  Teut.  dannen,  firs,  those  trees  being  planted  along  its 
banks  ;"  which  is  absurd.  Webster  thinks  the  Celt,  dan,  dian,  bold, 
strong,  vehement,  impetuous,  may  be  the  root  of  both  Danube  and 
Don.  Armstrong  gives  the  Gael,  don  water  (Arm.  id.),  "  hence  the 
Celtic  name  for  the  Danube,  Donau  ;  or  Dona  may  be  don-aw  the 
deep  water,  from  Arm.  don  (Gael,  domhainn),  and  au,  amh,  or 
abh,  water  ;  mh  and  bh  being  silent  in  these  words."     See  Don. 

D  ARIEL,  a  pass  in  the  valley  of  the  Terek,  on  the  road  to  Tiflis. 
The  name  is  said  to  be  derived  from  two  Tartar  words,  signifying 
"narrow  way."     Qu.  Turc.  r7«r  narrow,  ?/f^^  way. 

DARTFORD,  Kent,  '« the  ford  of  the  river  Darwent,  Darent,  or 
Dart."     See  Dartmouth. 

DARTMOOR,  co.  Devon,  "the  moor  in  which  the  river  Dart 
rises." 

DARTMOUTH,  Kent,  from  A.  S.  Dcerenta-muth,  Berta- 
muthan,  mouth  of  the  river  Dseranta,  Deorwent,  Derwent,  Darwent, 
Darent,  or  Dart.     See  Derwent. 

DAUPHINY,  an  ancient  province  of  France.  Dauphiny  was 
originally  part  of  the  country  of  the  Allobroges,  who  were  subdued 
by  the  Romans  about  100  years  B.  C.  Upon  the  declension  of 
the  Roman  empire  it  fell  under  the  dominion  of  the  Goths,  and 
other  barbarous  nations,  but  in  the  reign  of  Rodolph  the  Slothful, 
the  counts  of  Albon  made  themselves  masters  of  it,  and  their  suc- 
cessors reigned  there  under  the  title  of  Dauphins  of  Vienne.  In 
1343,  Humbert,  Dauphin  of  Vienne,  transferred  his  dominions  to 
Charles,  Duke  of  Normandy,  grandson  to  Philip  de  Valois,  upon 
condition  that  the  eldest  son  of  the  king  of  France  should  always 
bear  the  title  and  arms  of  Dauphin  of  Vienne.  "  The  title  of  Dau- 
phin is  said  to  have  originated  in  the  circumstance  of  one  of  the 
counts  of  Albon,  who  reigned  about  the  9th  century,  having 
caused  a  dolphin  to  be  painted  on  his  shield,  as  an  emblem  of  the 
mildness  of  his  reign,  these  animals  being  reputed  by  the  an- 
cients as  friendly  to  man  ;  and  about  the  middle  of  the  12th  cen- 
tury it  became  a  name  of  dignity,   and  was  annexed  to  the  pro- 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  83 

vince  "  The  Dauphin  is  called  in  Latin  Delphinus,  and  his  crown 
is  composed  of  four  dolphins.  The  Delphin  classics  were  com- 
piled for  the  use  of  the  Dauphin,  by  command  of  Louis  XIV. 
From  Lat.  delphinus,  Gv.hKi\>iv.  Qu.  Arab.  axxA  Vqxs.  dalfhi, 
delfiii,  dulfin.  "  The  dolphins,  according  to  old  poets,  are  ever 
attentive  to  the  saving  of  man  when  in  danger  of  drowning.  The 
Arabians  name  the  dolphins  also,  as  well  as  the  syrens,  handt  u'l 
hahr,  '  the  daughters  of  the  sea,'  whom  the  Persians  likewise 
call  malak-i  darya,  *  the  queens  of  the  ocean.'  "     {Richardson.) 

DAURIxA.  {daoo're-d).  The  portion  of  Siberia  lying  east  of  the 
basin  of  Selenga,  and  drained  by  the  river  Shilka  and  its  two 
principal  branches,  the  Ingoda  and  Onon,  is  called  Da-uria,  which 
is  said  to  signify  "boundary-country,"  or  "border."  {P,  Cyc.) 

DEAD  SEA,  so  called,  as  some  assert,  because  no  living  object 
is  found  in  it.  Others  say  it  derives  its  name  from  tlie  dreary, 
desolate,  and  death-like  character  of  the  scenery  in  the  \■icinit^^ 
It  is  known  in  Scripture  under  the  names  of  the  Salt  Sea,  the  Sea 
of  the  Plain,  and  the  East  Sea.  "  The  Greeks  called  it  Asphaltites, 
from  the  sulphurous  and  bituminous  matter  which  it  casts  upon 
its  shores,  and  with  which  its  waters  are  deeply  impregnated." 

DECCAN,  a  term  formerly  applied  to  the  whole  of  Hindustan, 
south  of  the  Nerbuddab,  but  latterly  limited  to  the  country  be- 
tween that  river  and  the  Kistnah  ;  from  Pers.  ^^^i^  dakhin,  duk- 
kin  or  dakkan,  corrupted  from  Sans,  dakshina,  the  south. 

DEE,  the  name  of  rivers  in  Scotland,  and  of  a  river  in  Wales. 
Some  say  that  Dee  (Deva),  means  impulse,  action,  separation,  and 
was  obviously  applied  to  these  rivers  for  their  quality  of  swiftness  ; 
and  that  both  the  Dees  in  N.  Britain,  as  mountain  streams,  are 
rapid,  but  that  the  name  may  also  be  derived  from  Brit,  du  black 
(pron.  dee),  which  agrees  with  the  dark  colour  of  their  waters. 

DELFT.     Lamartinierc  writes  Dolpht,  which,  he  says,  means  a 

canal ;  and  that  this  town  was  built  upon  the  banks  of  the  ancient 

canal  whicli  joined  the  Meuse  to  the  Rhine,  which  some  assert  to 

be  the  same  with  the  ditch  of  Corbulon,  whereof  Tacitus  (Annals, 

lib.  xi.)  makes  mention.      In  Low  Lat.  it  is  called  Delphi,  Dcl- 

phium  and  Delfum.     Qu.  D.  delven  to  dig. 

c;  2 


84  LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY. 

DELHI,  Hindustan.  This  city  is  said  to  be  the  Indraprast'hi 
or  Indraput  of  Hindu  history.  The  modern  town  was  founded  n 
1631,  by  Shah  Jehan,  one  of  the  most  powerful  of  the  Mongo 
emperors,  and  named  after  him,  by  the  Persians,  Shah- Jehan-pur, 
or  Shah-Jehan-abad.  Its  present  name  is  found  written  Deli, 
Delli,  and  Dehli.  The  natives  call  it  ^^^  dilU  or  dihl'i  {Bilwali 
an  inhabitant  oiBilli) .  Elliott  thinks  the  name  maybe  derived  from 
JJ^J  dahal,  a  quicksand  or  quagmire,  "  the  ground  on  which 
the  city  was  built  being  so  loose  and  unsound  that  ten<^pins  could 
not  be  fixed  in  it."  Dahal  comes  from  dahalna,  to  shake,  tremble, 
fear.     The  Hind.  (Sans.)  ^J^"^  dihli  is  a  threshold. 

DEN,  DENA,  DENNA,  DENES.  Den,  a  termination  of  local 
names  in  England,  especially  in  the  woody  parts  of  Kent,  as 
Tenterden,  Biddenden,  denotes  a  situation  in  a  plain  or  valley,  or 
near  woods  ;  from  A.  S.  den,  dene,  denn,  a  plain,  vale,  dale,  valley. 
Den  was  also  formerly  used  to  signify  liberty  for  ships  or  ves- 
sels to  run  aground  or  come  on  shore.  Edward  I.  granted  this 
privilege  to  the  barons  of  the  Cinque  Ports.  Dena,  denna,  is  a 
little  portion  of  woody  ground,  commonly  called  a  coppice.  Cowel 
translates  dena  terrce  "  a  hollow  place  between  two  hills."  At 
Yarmouth,  an  extensive  sandy  tract  of  ground  at  the  mouth  of  the 
river  Yare,  extending  along  the  sea-coast,  is  called  the  Denes. 

DENMARK.  Some  derive  this  name  from  Dan,  a  prince 
whom  the  traditions  assert  to  be  its  founder,  b.c.  1100,  and 
Teut.  marck  a  plain.  Others,  with  more  reason,  say  Denmark  is 
the  inarch  or  boundary  of  the  Danes. 

DEPTFORD,  Kent,  formerly  Depeford,  i.e.  deep  ford. 
"  This  town  in  auncient  writings  is  called  West-Grenwiche,  for 
difference  of  the  other,  which  in  such  like  is  written  East- 
Grenwiche,  and  now  commonly  Grenewiche.''     {Lambarde.) 

DERBEND,  a  strong  fortress  on  the  Caspian  Sea,  formerly 
the  boundary  of  the  Persian  and  Turkish  empires  in  that  quarter. 
It  now  belongs  to  Russia.  "  In  its  walls  are  two  large  gates, 
through  which  the  road  passes,  and  which  may  be  shut  at  plea- 
sure ;  hence  the  name  of  the  town,  i.e.  *  the  shut-up  gates,'  from 


LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY.  85 

Pers.  sJj  .w^  dar-hand,  the  bar  of  a  door,  a  barrier.  The  Arabs 
call  it  Babu'l  abwab,  'the  gate  of  gates.'" 

DERBEND,  a  British  military  post,  on  the  N.W.  frontier  of 
the  Punjab.  It  is  situated  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Indus,  where 
the  stream,  previously  straitened  in  its  passage  through  the 
mountains,  expands  on  entering  into  the  plain  ;  hence  probably 
the  name  of  Derbend,  which  signifies  the  place  of  a  dam  or  strait. 
{Thornton^ 

DERBY,  found  written  Deoraby,  Deorby,  Dereby,  and  Derebi. 
In  the  time  of  the  Saxons,  it  was  called  Northworthige.  Accord- 
ing to  some,  the  name  Deoraby  was  given  to  it  by  the  Danes,  by 
whom  it  was  captured ;  and  they  derive  it  from  A.  S.  deor  a  wild 
beast,  and  Dan.  hy  a  habitation.  Others  say  it  occupies  the  site 
of  the  Roman  station  Dcrventio,  which  is  probably  a  corruption 
of  Derwent  (the  river),  in  the  vale  of  which  it  is  situated.  See 
Dartmouth  and  Derwent. 

DERE  {deer'ee),  in  local  names  in  Turkey,  is  the  Turc. 
i  ,j  dereh,  a  valley;  as  Buyukdere,  i.e.  the  great  valley. 

DERRY,  Ireland.  Some  derive  this  name  from  Ir.  darech, 
from  dair,  an  oak  ;  others  say  it  is  corrupted  from  durtheach,  a 
place  of  pilgrimage. 

DERWENT,  the  name  of  several  rivers  in  England  ;  corrupted 
from  dwrywent,  from  W.  dwr,  water,  stream,  gwent,  a  fair  or 
open  region  ;  or  dwrgwent  may  mean  bright  or  clear  water,  fair 
stream  ;  from  dwr  and  gwen,  gwyn.  Dart  (the  river)  is  a  con- 
traction of  Darent,  Darwent,  or  Derwent. 

DEVIZES,  "Wilts,  was  called  in  ancient  records,  Uivisae,  De 
Vies,  Divisis,  &c.  ;  probably  from  a  supposition  that  it  had  been 
divided  between  the  king  and  the  bishops  of  Salisbury.  Leland 
calls  it  the  Vies.  The  first  charter  of  incor[)oration  was  by  the 
Empress  Matilda,  granting  to  her  burgesses  "  De  Divisis  "  free- 
dom of  toll  throughout  all  England  and  the  ports  of  the  sea. 
(P.  Cyc.) 

DKVLI  (dev'le),  situated  between  Kaisariyeh  and  Karanian, 
in  Asiatic   Turkey.       It    is    supposed    to   stand   on    the  site  of 


86  LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY. 

Derbe,  according  to  liierocles,  called  Delbia,  whence  its  present 
name. 

DEVONSHIRE,  found  written  in  A.  S.  Defenascire,  Defan- 
scire,  Defnascyre,  Deuenesire,  Dauenescyre,  Devenascyre,  Devna- 
scyre,  Devenschyre  ;  the  people  being  called  Defenas,  Denas. 
The  earliest  ascertained  inhabitants  were  the  Damnonii,  Dum- 
nonii,  or  Dumnunnii  (the  Aov[j.vovicii  of  Ptolemy).  Tbe  Cornish 
Britons  called  the  country  Dunan,  the  "Welsh  DeufFneynt  which 
Camden  translates  "  deep  valleys."  The  W,  divfn  is  deep, 
7iant  (pi.  neint,  nentydd)  a  hollow  formed  by  water,  a  ravine, 
mountain  torrent,  brook.  DeufFneynt,  Defenant-scire,  Defenascire, 
Devenschyre,  Devonshire. 

DHUN,  aspirated  form  of  the  Gael.  Dun  (q.  v.). 

DIARBEKR,  on  the  Tigris,  properly  Diyar-bakr,  "  tbe  tents 
or  dwellings  of  Bakr  ;"  from  Arab.  .L' J  diydr,  pi.  oidar  a  house, 
dwelling,  habitation,  city,  tribe,  camp  ;  io  bakr,  name  of  an  Ara- 
bian tribe. 

DIEPPE  {de-ep),  a  seaport  in  Normandy.  Bochart  derives 
this  name  from  Eng.  deep,  and  says  that  Dieppedale,  situated  in 
a  valley  below  the  town  of  Rouan  (Rouen),  is  from  Eng.  deep  dale. 

DIH  {dee),  in  names  of  places  in  Hindustan,  is  sometimes 
the  Pers.  i  j  dih,  deh,  a  village  ;  comprehending,  says  Wilson, 
not  only  the  actual  village,  but  the  lands  belonging  to  it. 

DIN'AS,  DIN,  in  local  names  in  Wales,  is  the  W.  dinas,  din, 
a  city.     But  see  Dun,  Dunum. 

DISS,  Norfolk.  Some  derive  this  name  from  A.  S.  dice,  diss, 
standing  water,  pool,  ditch.  The  A.  S.  die  is  a  dike,  mound, 
bank.     Somner  says,  "  a  ditch,  trench,  moat." 

DNIEPER  (tie-per),  a  river  in  Russia.  Some  derive  Dnieper 
from  don-ieper,  the  upper  river  ;  and  Dniester  from  don-iester, 
the  lower  river.     See  Don. 

DNIESTER  {nees-ter),  a  river  in  Russia.     See  Dnieper. 

DO'AB,  the  country  lying  between  the  Ganges  and  Jamuna ; 
also  the  districts  between  the  rivers  of  the  Punjab,  as  the  Jalan- 
dhara-Doab,  between  the  Satlaj,  and  the  Beah,  &c. ;  lit.  a  tract 


LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY.  87 

of  land  lying  between  two  rivers,  which,  after  running  for  some 

distance,  unite ;  from  Hind.  < -\  ,  j  do-db  or  du-db,  from  dii  two, 

and  db  water,  by  metonymy  a  river.     (TTilson.) 

DOBRUTSCHA  {dob roof s/i a),  x^art  of  Bulgaria,  lying  between 
the  Danube  and  the  Black  Sea ;  from  Turc.  Dobridje,  also 
Dobrizin,  by  some  derived  from  the  name  of  a  Tartar  race  by 
which  it  was  peopled  (Geog.  Univ.  Brux.  1839.)  The  name  is 
probably  of  Slavonic  origin.  Dobra  in  Slav,  means  "good," 
whence  Dobra  (Agathopolis),  a  town  in  Poland,  and  Dobra  in  Hun- 
gary and  Transylvania  ;  Dobre  in  Poland,  Dobra  a  river  rising  in 
Illyria,  Dobra  Venedik,  a  town  of  Dalmatia,  Dobravitz  a  burg  in 
Moravia,  Dobrawitz  and  Dobra  Woda,  two  burgs  in  Bohemia, 
and  Dobraschka  or  Dobruzka,  a  town  in  the  same  kingdom  ; 
also  Debreczin  or  Debreczyn,  a  town  in  Hungary ;  perhaps 
from  dobroczyn,  a  good  trade,  commerce,  "eine  gute  haud- 
hmg." 

DODABALLA,  or  DODA  BALLAPORE,  a  town  in  Mysore, 
India.  "The  name  is  said  to  signify  Ballapore  the  Great,  to  dis- 
tinguish it  from  Chika  Ballapore,  or  Ballapore  tlie  Less,"  about 
14  miles  N.E.  of  it.  Bodda  appears  to  be  Karnata,  The  Sans, 
bala  means  strength.     See  Poor 

DOLBADARN  ((/offiaf/erw),  near  Llanberis,  N.Wales;  named 
after  a  British  saint. 

DOMINICA,  one  of  the  W.  India  Islands,  so  named  from  having 
been  discovered  by  Columbus  on  a  Sunday.  (Sp.  dominica 
Sunday.) 

DON,  the  name  of  several  rivers  ;  viz.,  in  Russia,  France, 
England,  and  Scotland.  Some  derive  the  name  from  Celt,  don 
water ;  others  from  dhu  or  dhioi,  dark  ;  and  they  say  that  the 
Don  or  Doun  in  Scotland,  from  running  tlirongh  a  soft  dee]) 
bog  near  its  head,  receives  a  black,  mossy  tinge,  which  it  retains 
during  the  whole  of  its  course.  The  Don  in  Russia  was  called  by 
the  Greeks  and  Latins  Tanuis. 

DONCASTER  is  said  to  have  been  a  Roman  station,  and, 
according  to  some  .luthors,  was  the  identical  spot  where  the 
Maxima    Ca■saricn^is    comnionccd.       In    some     itineraries    it   is 


88  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

denominated  Dano  and  Danum.  Nennius  and  the  Notitia  call  it 
Caer  Daun ;  the  Saxons,  Dona-cercen  and  Donceaster ;  the  Scots, 
Donecastle  ;  and  in  the  first  charter,  granted  by  Richard  I.,  it  is 
styled  Daneceastre.  It  was  probably  named  from  its  situation  on 
the  river  Don  or  Dun.     (Don  and  ceuster.)     See  Chester. 

DORCHESTER,  in  Cornwall,  signifies  "  a  fortress  by  the 
water."  (Corn.)  For  Dorchester,  co.  Dorset,  see  Dorset- 
shire. 

DORDOGNE  {dordoan),  a  department  in  the  S.  of  France, 
named  from  its  principal  river,  the  Bordogne,  which  is  said  to 
derive  its  name  from  two  mountain  torrents,  the  Dor  and  the 
Dogne,  which,  springing  from  the  gorges  of  the  Mont  d'Or,  iu 
Puy-de-D6me,  unite  near  the  village  of  Bains,  and  form  the 
Dordogne.  Others  discard  this  derivation,  saying  that  this  river 
has  only  one  source.  Ausonius  gives  the  nam.e  of  Duranius  both 
to  the  mountain  (le  Mont  d'Or)  and  to  the  river.  Gregory  of 
Tours  calls  the  river  Dorononia ;  Eguihard  writes  Dornonia,  and 
Aimon,  Dordonia.  See  also  Pigauiol,  Descr.  de  la  France,  t.  5> 
p.  308  ;  and  Lamar tinie re. 

DORDRECHT  (dort'rekt),  by  contraction,  Dort,  in  Westphalia. 
Ancient  writers  call  it  Thur  and  Dur,  which  they  derive  from  the 
name  of  the  founder.  Others  say  Dort  is  the  name  of  a  river — now 
covered  with  the  waters  of  the  sea — which  has  inundated  all  the 
neighbouring  country,  and  that  this  river  fell  into  the  Merwe,  where 
the  Meuse  joins  the  Rhine  ;  and  that  as  evidence  thereof,  there 
is  still  a  place  called  Dortsmunde,  i.e.  "  mouth  of  the  Dort." 
Drecht  or  trecht,  like  the  Fr.  trajet,  is  corrupted  from  L. 
trajectiis  a  ford,  lit,  a  passing  over  ;  so  that  the  name  means 
"  Ford  of  the  Dort."  Others  say  that  in  L.  Dortmunde  was 
called  Treraonia  or  Trotmonia. 

DORNOCH,  a  town  and  parish,  co.  Sutherland,  is  said  to  be 
from  Gael,  dorn-eich,  a  horse's  foot  or  hoof.  The  writer  in  the 
Statistical  Account  of  Scotland  relates  a  tradition,  which,  he 
says,  is  countenanced  by  the  horse-shoe  still  retained  in  the  arms 
of  the  burgh. 

DORSETSHIRE.       This   part   of  England,   in   the    earliest 


LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY.  89 

period,  is  said  to  liave  been  inhabited  by  a  people  whom  Ptolemy 
calls  AouporpiysQ,  Durotriges,  which  name  Camden  derives  from 
Anc.  Brit,  divr  water,  iriff  an  inhabitant,  i.e.  dwellers  by  the 
water-side.  According  to  Menevensis,  these  people  were  called 
by  the  Britons  Dwr  Gwyer,  and  by  the  Saxons  Dorssettas,  Dor- 
settan,  whence  Dorset.  Dot-  in  Dorssettas,  is  the  Anc.  Brit. 
dicr  water,  and  seefas  at  the  end  of  words,  denotes  dwellers,  inha- 
bitants ;  from  A.S.  scet,  set,  a  sitting,  station,  camp,  from  sitfan 
to  sit.  Dorchester  was  called  by  the  Saxons  Doruceaster,  i.e.  the 
ceaster  or  fortress  of  the  Dornii,  Durnii,  or  Durotriges.  Ptolemy 
calls  Dorchester,  Dimium,  "  the  town  of  the  Durotriges."  Some 
copies,  however,  read  Durnium. 

DORTMUND  {dort'moond),  a  town  in  Westphaha.  See 
Dordrecht. 

DOURO  {dooro),  a  river  in  the  Peninsula.  From  Port.  Bouro, 
Sp,  Duero ;  perhaps  from  Basq.  ?</■«',  water,  or  Gael.  dour.  It 
is  also  found  written  in  Sp  Douero,  and  in  O.  Fr.  Doure  and 
Douere.     See  Dur. 

DOVER,  called  in  Domesday  Dovere  ;  by  the  Saxons  Dwyr, 
Dofra,  and  Dofiis ;  and  by  the  Romans  Dubris.  Lambarde  and 
Camden  derive  the  name  from  Anc.  Brit,  dwfyrrha,  a  steep 
place  ;  others  from  dwfr  water,  there  being  a  small  stream  in  the 
valley,  at  the  extremity  of  which  Dover  stands.  In  like  manner, 
Candover,  Hants,  is  said  to  be  from  cain-divfr,  clear  water. 

DRESDEN  {drezd'n).  Some  derive  this  name  from  the  Serb- 
Wendish  drotzdzim,  to  be  insolent,  to  brave  ;  or  from  trasi  a  ferry  ; 
and  Dresden  is  therefore  supposed  to  mean  either  a  fortress  or  a 
ferry-place.  In  ancient  documents  the  name  is  found  written, 
Dresaem,  Drasen,  Dresdin,  Drezdzu,  and  Drazdonach.  But  see 
Ally.  Encxjlt,  Von  Ersch,  &c. 

DREUX  {dreu),  a  town  in  France,  Eurc-et-Loire.  It  was 
known  to  the  Romans  by  the  name  of  Durocasses,  which  was 
subsequently  contracted  into  Drocsc  and  Dreux. 

DROGIIEDA  {dro'heda),  called  by  old  writers  Tredagh,  a  city 
CO.  LoutJj,  Ireland.  Tlie  name  in  Irish  means  "bridge  of  the 
ford- 


90  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

DROITWICH,  CO.  Worcester,  is  mentioned  in  Domesday,  on 
account  of  the  tax  then  derived  from  its  salt  springs.  This  tax 
is  said  to  have  been  originally  imposed  on  the  Britons  by  the 
Romans,  who  made  salt  a  part  of  their  soldier's  salarium,  or  salary. 
A  charter  was  granted  to  this  borough  by  King  John.  From 
Fr.  droit,  a  fee,  a  privilege,  a  right ;  and  wich,  from  A.  S.  wic  a 
village,  &c. 

DRONTHEIM  (dront'hime),  Norw.  Throndhjem,  formerly 
the  capital  of  Norway.  It  was  also  the  royal  residence  and  seat 
of  the  government.     From  Dan.  throne  throne,  hjem  home. 

DROOG,  in  names  of  places  in  Hindustan,  is  the  Hind.  (Sans.) 
f^f.J)  durga,  vernacularly  durg,  doorg,  a  fort,  hill  fort. 

DROTNINGHOLM  {home),  an  island  of  the  Malar  Lake, 
near  Stockholm.  The  name  means  "  queen's  isle,"  from  Sw. 
drottning  queen,  holme  island. 

DRURY  LANE,  London ;  "  so  called,"  says  Stow,  "  for  that 
there  is  a  house  belonging  to  the  family  of  the  Druries." 

DSHURUK-SU  {tshoorooksoo),  a  rivulet  which  runs  through 
the  town  of  Baktscbiserai,  in  the  Crimea.  Lr  the  language  of  the 
country,  it  signifies  "  fetid  water." 

DUBLIN.  Some  derive  the  name  of  this  city  from  Ir.  dubh- 
linn,  the  "black  pool,"  from  du,  dubh,  black,  Ihin,  a  pond,  pool, 
any  standing  water ;  "  hence,"  says  Chalmers,  "  Dublin  and 
many  other  names  of  places  in  Ireland."  The  Irish  used  to  call  it 
Bally-ath-diath,  "the  town  on  the  ford  of  the  hurdles."  It  is 
called  in  ancient  records  Difelin,  Dyflen,  and  Dyflin  ;  and  a  town 
is  supposed  to  have  stood  on  the  site  of  the  present  city,  and  is 
mentioned  by  Ptolemy  under  "Eblana,"  about  a.d.  140. 

DU'LEEK,  CO.  Meath,  where  the  first  ecclesiastical  stone 
building  is  said  to  have  been  erected ;  from  Ir.  daimhliag,  a 
church  built  of  stone ;  daimh  a  church.  Hag  a  stone. 

DUMBARTON,  or  DUNBARTON,  on  the  Frith  of  Clyde, 
Scotland.  Some  derive  this  name  from  the  same  root  as  Dun- 
bar ;  others  say  it  is  a  corruption  of  Dun-Briton,  "  the  fort  of 
the  Britons."     It  was   also  formerly  called  Alclud   or  Alcluid. 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  91 

In  Acts  of  Parliament,  the  name  is  more  frequently  Dnnbretane, 
Dmibertane,  Dunbartan. 

DU^MFRIES'  {freez),  a  town  in  Scotland,  from  Gael,  dun  a 
fortified  hill,  j)reas  shrubs  or  brushwood, 

DUN,  DUXUM,  Dun,  in  names  of  places  in  Great  Britain,  is 
the  Anc.  Brit,  dim  a  height,  Gaelrfwn,  duin,  a  fort,  fortress,  town, 
fortified  hill,  a  hill ;  W.  dinas,  din,  Corn.  Arm.  and  A.  S.  dun 
and  tun.  The  Basq.  has  dun  an  eminence.  Plat,  ditne,  O.  G. 
dun  a  city,  D.  duin,  O.  Dan.  dynerne.  Fries,  dune.  Dwium, 
dinium,  in  many  names  of  towns  in  Old  Gaul  and  in  Britain,  is 
the  L.  form  of  the  Celt,  dun,  din  ;  thus,  Etrodunum  (Amtrun), 
Novioduuum  (Noyon),  Augustodunum  (Autun),  Melodunum 
(Melun),  Lugdunum  (Lyons),  according  to  Plutarch  "raven  hill." 
Carrodunum  (Cracow),  &c.,  &c.;  all  situated  on  rising  grounds. 
Bochart  derives  the  Celt,  din,  dinas,  from  Arab,  medina,  the 
primary  meaning  of  which  is  "  a  city."  Others  say  the  Celt,  tin, 
din,  tun,  dun,  are  from  dunadh,  to  shut  up,  to  hedge  or  enclose, 
and  the  A.  S.  tun,  from  tynan  to  enclose.  Tun  means  lit.  an  en- 
closure, and  dan  a  hill,  but  perhaps  the  original  meaning  of  both 
was  an  entrenchment,  lit.  that  which  surrounds  ;  and  din,  dinas, 
dun,  tun,  tune,  ton,  town,  are  doubtless  only  diiferent  orthographies 
of  the  same  word.  Fosbroke  says  the  ancient  din  ov  dinas,  as  the 
words  import,  were  the  alarm-posts  in  which  the  inhabitants  of  a 
district  assembled  in  time  of  invasion  ;  an  event  that  rendered  the 
construction  of  a  proper  and  secure  receptacle  for  that  purpose 
absolutely  requisite.     See  also  Tun. 

DUNA,  or  DWIXA,  a  river  in  Russia.  Some  derive  it  from 
the  same  root  as  Don. 

DUN'BAR  or  DUMBAR,  Firth  of  Forth,  Scotland  ;  "a  fort  or 
stronghold  on  a  summit  or  height ;"  from  dun  (q.  v.)  and  bar. 
See  Bhar. 

DUNBLANE',  a  town  in  Scotland.  The  name  is  said  to  be 
corrupted  from  Dumblathan,  from  Gael,  dun-hhlath-heinn ;  dun 
a  hill,  blath,  hlaith,  blossom,  flower,  bloom,  fruit  {hUith,  warm, 
pleasant),  heinn  a  mountain,  a  hill.  Dunblane  is  supposed  to  be 
the  A/.a:jya  of  Ptolcmv. 


92  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

DUNDALK  (dundawk'),  a  town,  co.  Louth,  Ireland.  Qu. 
Ir.  dun  a  fortified  town,  hill,  fortress,  city ;  dale  fire.  Allard 
writes  Dundalke,  and  it  is  supposed  to  be  the  Dnndalgan  of  the 
Irish  Ossianic  poems,  and  to  have  been  the  residence  of  the  hero 
CuchuUin. 

DUNDEE,  on  the  Firth  of  Tay,  in  Scotland.  In  the  annals  of 
Boethius,  it  is  called  Alectum.  The  ancient  Gael,  name,  still 
used  by  the  Highlanders,  is  ail-lec,  signifying  "  beautiful."  The 
Latin  writers  call  itTaodunum.  In  several  ancient  records  it  is 
styled  Donde,  Dondie,  and  Donum  Dei,  and  found  written  Dun- 
deagh.  The  name  is  said  to  be  contracted  from  the  Gael.  Dliun- 
tatha  "hill  of  the  Tay." 

DUNFERMLINE,  a  parish  in  Fifeshire,  said  to  be  from  Celt. 
dun,  a  heap,  hill,  tower,  castle  ;  faire  a  walk  or  guard  ;  linne  a 
pool,  pond,  waterfall;  or  loin  a  little  stream  or  rivulet;  "the  fort 
or  castle  which  commands  the  pool  or  stream,"  or  shortly,  "  the 
watch  tower  of  or  upon  the  stream."  Others  say  Dun -flar -linne, 
"the  castle  upon  the  crooked  or  curved  pool  or  winding  stream" 
{fiar,  crooked,  winding).  The  name  is  locally  pronounced  dumfer- 
line  and  dumfarline. 

DUNKELD,  found  written  Dunkelden,  situated  on  the  left  bank 
of  the  Tay,  in  Scotland.  Some  derive  Dunkeld  from  Gael,  dun- 
kaled-in,  "the  rough, mountainous  country"  {dun  ahill,  A-a/e^/hard, 
inn  country),  from  "  dun-kaledin  'the  hill  or  stronghold  of  Kaledin,' 
not  farre  from  Calidon  Castell,  otherwise  called  Dunkeld."  Dr. 
Buchanan  derives  Dunkeld  from  Gael,  dunehalden  "  the  hill  of  the 
hazels  ;"  upon  which  Dr.  Macpherson  remarks  that  Dunkeld  is 
surrounded  on  all  sides  by  hills,  and  that  as  hazel-trees  grow  on 
almost  every  hill  in  Scotland,  dunehalden  might  ajiply  to  every 
place  in  that  country  where  there  was  a  hill  covered  with  hazel- 
trees  ;  that  there  is  no  such  word  as  ealden  (chalden)  in  the  Gaelic, 
that  the  Gael,  for  a  hazel-tree  is  calltuinn  ;  and  that,  therefore, 
according  to  Dr.  Buchanan,  the  proper  derivation  should  have 
been  dun-challtuinn  and  not  dun-ehalden . 

DUNKIRK  owes  its  origin  and  name  to  a  chapel  built  upon 
the  dunes  or  sandhills  ;  from  Flem.  dun,  and  kerk  a  church. 
DUNMOW,  Essex  ;  in  records  found  written  Dunmawe,  Dun- 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  93 

maw,  Dunmage,  Dunmawge,  Dunmore,  and  in  Domesday  Dom- 
maw  ;  from  Celt,  dun  a  hill,  majus  a  town  ;  or  from  A.  S.  dun 
a  hill  ;  mow  a  heap  ;  "  this  place  being  situated  on  a  gravelly 
hill  of  considerable  height."  Bailey  says,  "from  Sax.  dunan 
a  hill,  lyiaivan  to  mow,  it  being  a  fruitful  hill  that  yields  a  great 
crop  to  the  mowers  !  " 

DUNSTABLE,  formerly  Dunstaple,  co.  Bedford.  Monkish 
legends  say  that  this  town  took  its  name  from  Dun  or  Dunning, 
a  noted  robber  in  the  reign  of  Henry  I.,  but  it  was  most  probably 
called  Dunstaple,  from  its  market  or  staple  on  the  downs.  Duna  or 
dnnum,  a  hill  or  down,  frequently  occurs  in  the  chronicles  of  Dun- 
sta])le,  in  the  description  of  lands  in  this  neighbourhood  as  either 
infra  or  super  dunum. 

DUR,  DURUM.  Dur,  in  local  names  is  the  Gael,  dur,  duir, 
W.  dwr,  Ir.  dur.  Arm.  dour  and  douar.  Corn,  dour,  water,  from  Gr. 
v^ujp,  voccroQ,  id.,  from  Jew  to  make  wet,  rain  ;  or  from  Sans,  uda, 
und,  whence  L.  udo,  also  unda,  wave  ;  Slav,  voda ;  Pol.  ivoda, 
water.  Durum,  in  ancient  names  of  places  situated  by  the  seaside 
or  near  rivers,  is  the  L.  form  of  the  Celtic  word.  Thus,  Batavo- 
durum  (Holland);  Boidurum,  and  Serviodurum,  both  on  the 
Danube ;  Lactodurum,  i.e.  Bedford  ;  Durocortorum,  chief  town 
of  the  Rhenii,  in  Gallia  Belgica,  now  Rheims.  It  is  also  found 
in  names  of  rivers,  as  the  Durius  or  Douro  in  Spain  ;  Dur, 
the  Dingle  river,  in  Ireland;  the  Adour  (L.  Atur,  Aturus) 
in  France  ;  the  Adur,  in  England,  &c.  Armstrong  gives  also 
names  of  places  in  Euboea  and  Maccdon. 

DUR  AZZO  ( duradzo),  in  iS  Ibania,  the  ancient  Dyrrhachium.  See 
Dur,  Durum. 

DURHAM,  found  written  Dunholm,  Dunhelm,  and  Durem  ; 
from  A.  S.  dun  ahill,  holm  water,  an  island ;  or  from  deor  a  wild  beast, 
ham  a  home,  dwelling.  {Bosworth.)  The  neighbourhood  may  have 
been  anciently  infested  with  wild  boars.  Others  say  the  county  of 
Durham,  and  parts  of  the  adjacent  counties,  were  anciently  called  ])y 
the  Saxons  Deira  or  Deora,  and  by  the  British  Dewyr,  from  being 
inhabited  by  a  tribe  called  the  Deiri,  and  that  from  deora  comes 
fust  Dcor-ham,  and  then  Durham. 

DUSSELDORF,  a  town  in  Rhenish  Prussia.     It  is  situated 


94  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

at  the  junction  of  the  small  river  Dussel  with  the  Rhine  ;  whence 
its  name.     (G.  dorf  a  village.) 

DYFFRYN,  in  local  names  in  Wales,  is  the  W.  dyffnjn, 
a  valley,  vale. 

DY'SART,  a  parish  in  Fifeshire.  The  name  is  said  to  be  of 
Gaelic  origin,  and  to  signify  <'  the  temple  of  the  Most  High." 
Qu.  Gael.  Dia  God,  ard  high,  lofty,  exalted,  an  eminence,  a  hill. 


E. 


EARL'S  COLNE  {kone),  Essex,  so  called  from  its  ancient 
proprietors,  the  De  Veres,  earls  of  Oxford.  It  was  also  formerly 
called  Colne  Monachorum,  from  the  priory  founded  here,  and 
Colne  St.  Andrew,  from  the  saint  to  which  that  institution  and 
the  chtirch  were  dedicated  ;  and  being  the  largest  of  these 
parishes  (the  Colnes),  it  has  been  called  the  Great  Colne.  In 
Domesday  it  is  written  Coles.  (Wright,  Hist.  Essex.)  See 
Colnes. 

EBRO,  a  river  in  Spain,  from  Basq.  ibai-ero,  a  foamy  river,  or 
urbero,  a  warm  river.     See  Iberia. 

EDEN,  a  river  in  Kent,  also  another  in  Westmoreland. 
Chalmers  derives  it  from  Anc.  Brit,  eddain,  a  gliding  stream  ;  and 
says  that  the  Itiina  of  Ptolemy  and  Richard  is  the  Solway,  and 
has  its  name  from  the  said  root. 

EDINBURGH.  The  earhest  mention  of  Edinburgh  (Edin) 
has  been  detected  by  Mr.  David  Macpherson,  in  the  Annales 
Ultonienses,  a  MS.  in  the  British  Museum,  under  a.d.  637. 
In  960  Edintoun  is  mentioned  in  an  old  MS.  quoted  by  Camden, 
as  being  evacuated  by  the  Saxons,  and  abandoned  to  Indulf,  king  of 
the  Scots.  In  a  charter  of  Alexander  I.  it  is  called  Edenesburg ; 
in  one  of  David  I.  Edwynesburg  ;  in  the  Chron.  of  Melrose 
Edenbure  and  Edinburgh  ;  by  Simon  of  Durham,  Edwiuesburch  ; 
in  the  Chron.  of  Lanercost,  Edwynesburgh ;  by  Hemingford, 
Edensburg  ;  in  the   Polychronicon  of  Higden,    Edenburg  ;   by 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  95 

Knighton,  Edynsborg  and  Edenesburgh ;  by  the  prior  of  Loch- 
leven,  Edynburch,  Edynbrowch,  Mavdyn  Castle,  and  the  Sorrowful 
Hill.  It  is  called  by  the  Highlanders  Dun  Edin,  and  by  the 
Welsh  Myned  Agned  and  Caer  Agned,  "  maiden  castle,"  which 
some  think  may  in  course  of  time  have  been  softened  into  Aned, 
and  then  inverted  mio Eden— Si  conjecture  which  was  first  suggested 
by  the  Edinburgh  Reviewers,  and  appears  in  some  degree  sup- 
ported by  the  L.  Aneda.  Others  derive  its  name  from  Edwin, 
a  Saxon  monarch  ;  but  the  most  probable  etymology  is  from  the 
Gael,  edin,  the  steep  face  of  a  rock,  a  compound  which  occurs 
in  Edenbelly,  Edinmore,  and  other  local  appellations.  When  the 
Saxons  acquired  possession  of  the  fortress.  Dun  Edin  of  course 
became  Edinburgh,  the  former  being  still  retained  by  the  High- 
landers. (Rees.)  The  word  Edin  is  not  found  in  Gaelic. 
Armstrong  gives  eudann,  a  face,  brow,  forehead,  front ;  and 
Eudainn,  Edinburgh,  lit.  Edinton.  The  writer  in  the  Statistical 
Account  of  Scotland,  says,  "  the  most  ancient  name  given  to 
Edinburgh  Castle,  according  to  Boethius,  is  Castelh  Myned  Agned, 
'the  fortress  of  the  hill  of  Agnes;'  and  the  hill  itself,  M^jnyd 
Agned  cothre  gonion,  'the  hill  Agned,  nigh  the  fortress,' 
Simon  of  Durham,  writing  in  the  year  854,  mentions  this  fortress 
under  the  name  of  Edwinesburch,  or  the  castle  of  Edwin  ;  and 
it  was  probably  so  called  after  Edwin,  prince  of  Northumber- 
land, who  flourished  in  62G,  about  which  period  the  fortress  was 
perhaps  built.  King  David  I.,  in  his  charter  of  foundation  of 
the  Abbey  of  Holyrood  (1128),  recognises  Edinburgh  as  Burgo 
meo  de  Edwineshnrg.^^ 

EDMONTON,  near  London  ;  q.  d.  Edmund's  Town,  probably 
King  Edmund's.  (^Baileg.) 

EGLWYS,  in  local  names  in  Wales,  is  the  W.  eglwys,  a  church. 
EGYPT,  from  L.  TEgyptus,  from  Gr.  kiyvrtroc  The  Greek 
name  is  said  to  have  arisen  from  the  Egyptians  worshipping  the  he- 
goat,  or  from  the  country  abounding  in  fat  goats  ;  or  from  Kiyvitroc, 
the  name  of  the  river  Nile,  which  may  have  been  applied  to  the 
region  through  which  it  flowed  (see  Horn.  Od.  xiv.  ver.  758)  ;  or 
the  name  may  indicate   the  excessive  heat  of  the  climate,  or  the 


96  LOCAL    ETYMOLOOxY. 

vicinity  of  water  or  of  a  river.  (Ati'o  Aiyvrftov  rov  NsiXov,  6  yap 
N£/Xot>  itpOT'tpov  PnyvTttOQ  sY.aXsi'fo — t)  aiynfofOQ  (nai  aiyiit'fOQ)  itctpot, 
rov  rpayov,  ov  aiyvrrrioi  asf^oua'iv,  s^ccipetcuQ  Ss  rove.  M.£v^rjriovQ — 
H  Sja  ro  aiyoLQ  itiovaQ  sy^siv — H  syyvitoroq  koci  aiyuTrrog,  ujq 
Eyyii,ovcra  rev  itoruj  rj  rw  Ttoraacc,  &c.,  &c.)  Mrs.  Hamilton  Gray 
{Hist.  Efrur.)  says,  Egypt  took  its  name  from  Egyptus  (other- 
wise Rameses  II.,  Sesostris,  or  Sethos),  so  called  from  his  com- 
paratively fair  complexion  ;  and  that  gr/pt  in  the  Coptic  signifies 
a  fair  person.  There  is,  however,  no  such  a  word  as  ffi/jjt  in 
either  of  the  Egyptian  dialects.  Wilkinson  {Egypt,  vol.  1,  p.  8), 
quoting  Manetho,  says  Egypt  took  its  name  from  Sethosis,  also 
called  Egyptus,  brother  of  Armais.  It  is  more  than  probable 
that  kiyvitroQ  is  a  corruption  of  Coptus,  the  chief  city  of  the 
Thebaid.  Tattam  says  Coptus  is  written  Aophites  on  ancient 
coins  of  Trajan  and  Hadrian.  Macriny  derives  Coptus  from  an 
ancient  king  named  Kobt.  Others  say  Coptus,  or  rather 
Coptos,  is  from  gupta,  guarded,  fortified  ;  but  there  is  no  such 
word  as  gitpta  in  the  Egyptian.  The  Sans,  has  gupta,  hidden, 
concealed,  preserved.  In  Egypt  kiyvTtroq  is  not  used.  The 
natives  call  their  country  Xry^aj.  "Nee  alio  nomine  Egyptus 
appellatur  in  sacris  literis  et  aliis  libris  ^Egyptiacis."  {Scholtz.) 
See  also  Asiat.  Res.  Ill,  304,  335;  Gaisford,  Ety.  mag.  ;  and 
voc.  Nile. 

EHRENBRElTSTEIN(a?-e/i6/v>//i#'5^me).  Old  German  writers 
on  the  Rhine  state  that  this  fortress  was  at  first  named  Irmsteiu, 
and  then  Hermannstein,  after  Hermann  Hillin,  archbishop  of 
Treves,  who  rebuilt  it  in  1153,  but  that  in  1160,  the  works  being 
completed  on  a  more  extensive  scale,  the  archbishop,  on  account 
of  their  noble  breadth  and  spaciousness,  gave  them  the  name  of 
Ehrenbreitstein,  "  the  broad  stone  of  honour."  The  Rheinischer 
Antiquarius,  however,  says  that  Archbishop  Hillin  called  it 
atfrst  Ehrenbreitstein,  and  subsequently  Hermannstein,  after  his 
own  name.  There  seems  still  some  doubt  about  the  name,  for 
the  same  old  authority  states  that  the  castle  was  also  called 
Erenberti  Saxum,  which  he  gives  as  the  L.  for  Ehrenbreitstein. 
{N.  ^  Q.)     The  word  ehren,   in  names  of  such  fortresses  as 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  97 

Ehrenbreitstein,  is  uot  uucomraon.     There  is  the  Ehrenberger 
Klause  near  Reutte,  in  N,  Tyrol. 

EISENACH  {i'zenak),  a  town  in  Saxe- Weimar.  The  name  is 
found  written  Eisennach  and  Ysennach.  and  in  L.  Isenacum. 
"From  eisen  (O.  G.  eyseii)  iron,  ach  water  (a  brook),  on  account 
of  the  mines  of  iron  in  the  neighbourhood,  and  of  the  water 
which  facihtates  the  means  of  purifying  and  preparing  it ;"  but 
more  probably  named  from  a  brook  whose  waters  were  impreg- 
nated with  iron.  Others  think  the  name  may  come  from  the  idol 
Isis — worshipped  by  the  ancient  Germans — from  whom  the 
Pagan  traditions  say  that  one  of  their  kings,  "Suevus,"  had 
learnt  the  art  of  preparing  and  forging  iron  ;  in  memory  of  which 
this  metal  has  been  named  in  their  language  eysen  or  ysen — 
words  not  very  different  from  the  name  Isis  !  See  Zeiler, 
Thuring. 

ELBE  {ell)),  a  river  in  Germany,  found  written  Elb  ;  in  Bohem. 
Labe ;  in  Low  L.  Albia.  Fabritius  derives  Elbe  from  Teut.  eilf 
(elf)  eleven,  from  its  eleven  sources ;  others  from  L.  Albis,  its 
name  at  the  time  of  Augustus.  (See  Strabo,  lib.  vii.)  But  Albis 
is  doubtless  merely  the  L.  form  of  its  original  name. 

ELBING,  a  town  in  Poland,  situated  on  a  river  of  the  same 
name.  The  Sax.  ing  is  a  pasture,  meadow  ;  and  the  river  may 
have  been  anciently  called  the  Elb,  whence  Elbing,  "  the  meadow 
or  pasture  through  which  the  Elb  flows."  The  Elbe  itself  rises 
iu  Silesia.     See  Elbe. 

ELBINGERODE  ( — gheroad'),  found  written  Eilingeroda, 
Elbigeroda,  Elvoringeroda,  Eilingerode,  Eilgerode,  and  Eiligerode; 
a  town  in  the  Ila^tz,  said  to  be  named  from  Count  Eiligern  or 
Ilgern  von  Ilohnstein.     See  Rode. 

ELGIN  ielyhyn),  a  town  and  parish  in  Scotland,  anciently  Elgyn 
or  Ilelgyn ;  said  to  take  its  name  from  Helgy,  general  of  the  army  of 
Sigurd,  the  Norwegian  Earl  of  Orkney,  who  conquered  Caithness, 
Ross,  and  Moray,  about  the  beginning  of  the  tenth  century.  It  is 
related  that  this  general  built  a  town  in  the  southern  part  of 
Moray,  which  was  most  probably  Elgin,  that  town  being  situated 
about    eight  miles  S.  E.  of  Burghcad,  wliere    the    Norwegians 


98  LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY. 

had  a  small  fort  and  harbour  for  their  shipping.     See  Stat.  Ace. 
Scot.,  also  Rerum  Oread,  and  Ilist.  a  Thorn.  Torfeo. 

ELSINORE,  more  correctly  Helsing-or,  a  town  in  Denmark, 
opposite  to  Helsing-borg,  in  Sweden.  The  Danes  call  the  Sound  at 
Elsinore  Ore-Sund  ;  the  Sw.  or  is  gravel,  a  gravelly  place.  See 
Helsingfors. 

ELV,  ELF,  in  Norway  and  Sweden,  is  the  Dan.  elv,  Sw.  elf,  a 
river  ;  as  the  Alten  Elv,  the  Namsen  Elv,  the  Dal  Elv,  &c. 

ELY,  CO.  Cambridge,  probably  from  Gr.  sXoq  a  marsh,  or  W. 
heliff  a  willow,  "  because  it,  as  other  fenny  places  do,  aboundeth 
vdth  willows."  (Baileij.)  Lambarde  says,  "  Elye  (Jnffuillaria 
Insula,  Lei.;  Elis,  Polyd.;  Elge,\  Bedse ;  et  Eli(/cea,.Saxoii),  an 
isle  standinge  in  that  parte  of  the  realme  which  was  some  time 
East  Angle,  which  toke  the  name,  as  Beda  and  Leland  say,  of  Eles ; 
as  Grafton  and  suche,  harping  much  upon  the  stringe  of  men's 
names,  affirms  of  Helius,  a  kinge  of  England,  and  as  Polydore 
reasonablie  (thoughe  peradventure  beside  trouthe)  conjecturethe, 
of  eXa,  which  is  a  fenne  or  marishe  in  Greke." 

EMDEN  or  EMBDEN  (em'd'n),  a  town  in  Hanover,  named 
from  its  situation  on  the  river  Ems.  The  town  called  by  authors 
of  the  middle  ages  Emetha  or  Embda,  and  anciently  Amisia,  was  on 
the  left  or  opposite  bank,  and  has  been  distinguished  as  Webster 
Emden.  The  river  Ems  is  found  written  Emesa,  Emese,  Amasis, 
Amasus,  and  Amasia. 

EMMERICH  (etnlmerik),  a  town  on  the  Rhine,  in  Prussia,  in 
L.  found  written  Emmericum,  Embricum,  Emerica,  Embrica,  and 
Embrici  Villa ;  said  to  derive  its  name  from  Count  Embric  or 
Emeric.     See  Alting  Germ.,  Inf.  Notit.,  part  2,  48. 

ENGAINE  COLNE  {kone),  Essex,  sometimes  for  brevity 
called  Gain's  Colne,  and  in  Domesday,  Little  Colne,  takes  its 
name  from  the  Engaine  family,  its  ancient  lords. 

ENGLAND,  from  A.S.  Engla-land,  land  of  the  Engles  or  An- 
gles, a  German  tribe  who  came  over  from  Anglen,  in  Sleswick, 
and  settled  in  Britain.  In  O.  Sax.  eng,  ing,  is  a  meadow  or 
plain,  a  level  country  (Goth,  winga). 

ENNISKILLEN,  co.  Fermanagh,  Ireland.     See  In,  Inn. 


LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY.  99 

EPERIES,  (apa'reez),  iu  Hungary,  from  Hung,  eperjes,  from 
eper  a  strawberry,  with  which  fruit  it  probably  does,  or  did,  abound. 
In  L.  it  is  accordingly  called  Fragopolis  and  Eperesinum,  and  in 
the  Slovak  dialect,  Pressova. 

EPIRUS,  a  district  of  Greece,  extending  along  the  Adriatic  Sea ; 
from  Gr.  HTrs/foe,  the  main  land,  continent ;  a  priv.,  tfeipocQ, 
end,  boundary,  extremity. 

EPPING,  Essex,  found  written  Eppinges,  is  supposed  to  take 
its  name  from  a  manor,  identical,  some  think,  with  Tippendene, 
mentioned  in  the  Confessor's  charter.  Wright  says  this  may  be 
best  ascertained  by  reference  to  the  land -metes  (boundaries), 
which  he  accordingly  gives.     See  also  Morant,  Hist.  Essex. 

EPSOM,  anciently  Ebbs-hame,  i.e.  Ebba's  home,  or  place,  so 
called,  it  is  said,  from  Ebba,  a  queen  of  this  county.  The  name 
was  afterwards  changed  to  Ebbisham,  or  Ebsham.  Toland,  who 
lived  at  "Woodcote  in  the  reign  of  Queen  Anne,  says  that  Ebba 
was  wife  of  the  first  Christian  king.  Camden  states  her  to  have 
been  of  royal  blood,  and  daughter  of  Ethelfred,  and  that  about 
the  year  630,  she  had  such  a  character  for  sanctity  that  she  was 
canonized,  and  had  several  churches  dedicated  to  her. 

EREBUS,  the  infernal  regions  ;  Lat.  Erebus,  Gr.  Eps^og,  a 
region  below  the  earth,  not  so  low  as  Hades  ;  ht.  darkness,  place 
of  darkness,  from  or  allied  to  Heb,  nii*,  oreb,  night.  Tzetzes  says, 
it  is  rightly  observed  that  darkness  was  over  all,  till  the  sky  was 
illumined  by  the  sun  and  the  stars  ;  Chaos  therefore  brought  forth 
Darkness  and  Night ;  and,  says  Le  Clerc,  before  anything 
appeared,  all  was  hereb  or  erbo,  darkness  or  night. 

ERIVAN,  a  town  in  Georgia,  formerly  belonging  to  Armenia. 
A  writer  in  the  Asiatic  Journal  says  erevan  is  an  Armenian  word 
signifying  "  discovered,"  or  "  they  appear,"  as  from  this  quarter 
Noah  saw  the  highest  part  of  Ararat  ascending  above  the  waters 
of  the  deluge,  in  accordance  with  Genesis  viii.  5. 

ERN,  ERNE,  in  local  names,  is  the  A.  S.  cern,  em,  (Dan.  arne. 
Fries,  earne,  Ice.  ar,  am),  a  })lace,  secret  place,  habitation, 
house,  cottage ;  thus,  Arne,  Mintern,  and  Pimpern,  Dorset ; 
Chiltern  and  Pottern,  Wilts  ;  Crewkernc,  Somerset.     Cowel  says 

H   2 


100  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

"£'rw  means  a  melancholy  situation,  from  Sax.  em,  locus  secretus." 
It  may  be  sometimes  the  Brit,  arne,  a  division,  peninsula. 

ERROL,  a  parish  in  Scotland.  In  old  records  it  is  found  written 
ArroU  and  ErroU.  Its  most  ancient  name  was  Arroll,  said  to  be 
derived  from  Gael,  ear-nil,  eastern  landmark  (ear,  east,  eastward), 
**  a  designation  this  place  might  very  naturally  receive  from  persons 
entering  this  part  of  Scotland  by  sailing  up  the  estuary  of  the  Tay." 

ERZEROUM  (erzrooni),  Asiatic  Turkey  ;  Qu.  Arab  ^J\  ars, 
earth,  country,  region  ;  ^.  .  roum,  a  word  used  by  the  Arabs 
and  others  to  designate  both  the  Romans  and  the  Greeks.  This 
name  is  found  written  Erserum  and  Arzroum. 

ERZGEBERGE  {arytzgaheei^ gd),  in  Saxony;  a  chain  of  moun- 
tains abounding  in  mines  of  gold,  silver,  copper,  &c.;  from  erz, 
ore,  brass,  geberge  a  chain  of  mountains. 

ESCURIAL  (eskoo'real),  Madrid,  said  to  be  the  most  costly 
palace  in  Spain.  The  Sp.  escoriul  is  a  place  where  a  mine  of 
metal  has  been  exhausted,  a  place  where  the  escdria  or  dross  of 
metals  is  thrown  away,  y^o^iov,  corium,  ex-coriare,  escoriar,  es- 
coria,  escorial,  Escurial. 

ESK,  a  river  in  Scotland.     See  Isca. 

ESSEX.     See  Middlesex. 

ETHIOPIA,  from  L.  Ethiopia,  from  Gr.  Ai 9 J07r<a,  the  country 
inhabited  by  the  Aithopes,  or  Ethiopians,  from  Ai9io4^,  ovog,  an 
Ethiopian,  lit.  burnt  in  the  face  ;  from  ai^co  to  burn,  w^  the 
countenance,  face.  "  Ethiopia  received  its  name  from  the  colour 
of  its  inhabitants,  and  meant  '  the  land  of  the  sun-burnt  coun- 
tenances.'"  (TFarburton.)  "The  ancients  gave  the  name  of 
Ethiopia  to  every  country  whose  inhabitants  were  hlRck."  (Wright.) 

ETNA,  Mount,  (It.)  from  L.  ^tna,  found  written  -lEthna,  and 
Ethna.  Bochart  says  from  Phcen.  WJint*  attuna  a  furnace, 
chimney,  or  from  cetuna  obscurity. 

ETON,  Bucks,  named  from  its  low  watery  character;  from 
A,  S.  ce,  ea,  water,  and  ton,  tun,  town,  dwelling.     (Bosworth.) 

ETTRICK,  a  parish  in  Scotland,  takes  its  name  from  the  river 
which  runs  through  it.  In  a  charter  of  Alexander  II.  to  the 
monks  of  Kelso,  Ettrick  is  frequently  called  Ettric  and  Ethyric. 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  101 

The  name,  says  a  late  writer,  is  of  doubtful  origin.  In  the  lau- 
guage  of  the  British  aborigines,  ed  signified  a  current,  and  terrig 
mud,  both  names  characteristic  of  this  river  when  its  waters  are 
raised  and  agitated  by  the  mountain  torrents.  Mr.  James  Hogg 
says,  in  old  deeds  and  charters  it  is  first  found  written  Alterick, 
then  Atterick,  and  finally  Ette rick;  Alterick  signifying  "the  rising 
stream,"  or  "  stream  of  the  rapid  ascent."  The  Gael,  eitre 
is  a  trench  or  furrow,  eitrich  a  blustering  noise,  and  eitridh  a 
ditch. 

EU,  a  town  near  Dieppe,  in  Normandy.  The  name  is  cor- 
rupted from  Auga,  Augum,  Aucum,  Oca,  or  Alga,  which  this  place 
was  called  by  the  Romans.  Huet  says  it  is  situated  in  the  middle  of 
prairies,  and  he  derives  auga,  &c.,  from  G.  aw,  awe,  a  meadow. 
By  some  EngUsh  authors  the  name  was  formerly  written  Ou. 

EUPHRATES,  a  river  in  Asia ;  from  Gr.  Eu^)^ arije,  possibly 
from  sv^paivM  to  gladden,  in  allusion  to  the  beneficial  effects  of 
its  inundations.  Its  water  is  of  a  very  pleasant  taste  ;  hence 
its  Arab,  name,  c^^Li  furdt,  sweet  water.     In  Heb.  it  is  written 

rr^Q  phrath  ;  also  n^iQi*. 

EUROPE.  Some  derive  this  name  from  Gr.  evpvQ  broad,  and 
w;\|/  countenance — "  broad-faced."  Lemon  thinks  it  is  "  a  con- 
traction of  *  terra  Euro  ojiposita,'  i.e.  a  region  opposite  to  the 
East,  which  Europe  properly  signifies."  Others  say  Europe  was 
named  from  Europa  (Eujswttvj)  daughter,  of  Agenor. 

" tua  sectus  orbis  nomina  ducet." — {Hor.") 


See  Horace,  Carm.  lib.  iii.,  ode  27,  lines  57  and  75,  and  notes 
by  Dacier ;  also  Plin.  lib.  ii.  cap.  90.  Bochart  says  Europe  was 
called  by  the  Carthaginians  t^Q«  "nn  ur-uppa  (say  hhur-uirpa)  i.e. 
white  countenance,  because  the  Europeans  surpass  the  Africans  in 
the  whiteness  of  the  face  ;  on  which  account  it  was  also  called 
"  sister  of  Cadmus,"  as  though  a  virgin  with  a  white  face. 

EUXIXE,  the  ancient  name  for  the  Black  Sea.  Its  most 
aucient  name  was  A^£(voc,  inhospitable,  which  was  aftcrwardij 
changed  to  Ev^tivos,  hospitable. 


102  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

EVESHAM  (e'sam),  co.  Worcester,  formerly  Eversham,  named 
after  one  Eoves  Egwins,  a  shepherd,  afterwards  hishop  of  Wor- 
cester. It  was  anciently  called  Eathome  and  Heathfield. 
(Bailer/.)     Eoves-ham,  Eversham,  Evesham. 

EVREUX  (ev'reu),  a  town  in  Normandy.  In  the  fourth  cen- 
tury it  was  named  Civitas  Eburovicorum  or  Ebroicorum,  after- 
wards Ebroicae,  and  subsequently  corrupted  into  Evreux.  See 
York. 

EXETER,  in  A.  S.  Eaxan-  Exan-  and  Exe-ceaster.     See  Isca. 

EXMOUTH,  in  A.  S.  Eaxan-muth.     See  Isca. 


F. 


FALAISE,  ( — ase)  a  town  in  Normandy,  has  its  name  from  the 
falaises  or  rocks  upon  which  it  is  built,  or  with  which  it  is  surround- 
ed. Menage  tells  us  that  in  Normandy  and  Picardy,  the  hills  which 
run  along  the  sea- shore,  and  also  the  little  heaps  of  snow  formed 
by  the  wind,  are  called  falaises,  and  that  in  Touraine,  and  par- 
ticularly at  Amboise,  fine  sand  is  called  by  this  name.  The 
Norm,  has  falaise,  lit.  a  bank  or  hill  by  the  sea-side  ;  falese, 
falise,  sands,  rocks,  cliffs  ;  from  O.  G.  fals,  a  rock.  Mod.  G. 
fels,  felsen.  Coke  (Lift.,  fol.  5,  b),  gives  falesia  and  falazia,  Fr. 
falaize,  a  bank,  hill,  or  down  by  the  sea-side  ;  Cowel  (Law 
Dict.),falesia,  a  great  rock.  See  also  Turnebe,  liv.  xxi.,  ch.  23  ; 
Had.  de  Valois,  Not.  Gall. ;  Lipseius,  Gloss.  Allem.  Let.  44  ; 
Bourgueville,  Antiq.  Norm.  ;  Jos.  Seal,  sur  liv.  iii.  de  Varron, 
de  Rus. 

FALKIRK,  CO.  StirUng,  Scotland,  a  place  of  some  note  in  the 
eleventh  century.  Some  derive  this  name  from  L.  vallum,  a 
trench,  bulwark,  rampart  with  palisades,  and  Sax.  circ  a  church, 
because  the  church  stands  on  or  near  the  line  of  the  ancient  wall 
of  Antoninus.  The  town  is  supposed  to  have  been  at  one  time 
denominated  Ecclesbrae,  or  "  the  church  on  the  brow,"  as  descrip- 
tive of  its   situation.     In  the  Gael,  it  is  called   Eylais  bhris, 


LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY.  103 

"  the  fallen  church,"  and  sometimes  Eglais  hhrec,  "  the  spotted 
church,"  The  latter  name  has  been  translated  Vario  Sacello, 
and  as  such  appears  in  charters  of  a  comparatively  recent  date, 
and  is  supposed  to  have  arisen  either  from  the  colour  of  the  stones 
used  in  the  building,  or  from  the  different  kinds  of  architecture  of 
which  it  vras  composed.     {Stat.  Ace.  Scot.) 

FALMOUTH,  in  Cornwall;  "mouth  of  the  Fal."  Pryce 
translates  the  Corn,  fal,  a  prince,  "the  prince's  river." 

FA^MENNE  (fatnen'),  a  fertile  district  near  Naraur,  in  Bel- 
gium, Lamarche  being  its  capital.  It  was  named  from  its  ancient 
inhabitants,  the  Phaemanni,  mentioned  by  Ceesar. 

FARNHAM,  Surrey,  found  written  Feornham  and  Fearnham  ; 
from  A.  ^.fearn  fern,  hatn  a  habitation. 

FARRINGDON,  or  FARNDON,  Berks,  found  written  Feam- 
don  and  Fearn-dun ;  from  A.  S.fearn  fern,  dun  a  hill. 

FARRINGDON  STREET.  "  Farringdon  Ward,  both  within 
and  without,  take  their  name  from  William  Faringdon,  a  gold- 
smith, who  was  alderman  of  these  wards,  and  one  of  the  sheriffs 
of  London  in  1 28 1 ."      (Stoto.) 

FAYAL,  the  most  western  island  of  the  Azores,  in  the 
Atlantic,  received  its  name  from  the  number  of  beech-trees 
growing  in  it.  From  fai/a  a  beech-tree,  from  h./uffus,  from  Gr. 
^Yiyoc,  id. 

FENCHURCH  STREET  "took  that  name  of  sl  feniii/  or 
moorish  ground,  so  made  by  means  of  this  borne  (Langbourn) 
which  passed  through  it ;  and,  therefore,  until  this  day,  in  the 
Guildhall  of  this  citjs  that  ward  is  called  by  the  name  of  Lang- 
bourne  or  Fennieabout ;  yet  others  be  of  opinion  that  it  took 
that  name  of  fcenum,  that  is,  hay,  sold  here,  as  Grass  Street 
(Gracechurch  Street)  took  the  name  of  grass  or  herbs  there  sold." 
(Stow,  p.  76.) 

FERNER.  The  Tyrolese  word  for  •*  glacier,"  as  the  Hoch 
Joch  Fcrner,  The  Styrian  word  is  kies ;  in  G.  it  is  yletscher 
(glacies). 

FEROE,  or  FAROE  ISLES  (ferro),  in  the  Northern  Ocean, 
Irom  Dan. /««/•  sheep,  for  which  they  were  originally  famous. 


104  LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY. 

FETTER  LANE.  "Then  is  Fewter  Lane,  which  stretcheth 
south  into  Fleet  Street,  by  the  east  end  of  St.  Dunstan's  Church, 
and  is  so  called  of  fewters  (or  idle  people)  lying  there,  as  in  a 
way  leading  to  gardens  ;  but  the  same  is  now  of  latter  years  on 
both  sides  built  through  with  many  fair  houses."  (Stow,  p.  145.) 
"  Feuterer,  feivterer,  a  dog-keeper,  he  who  lets  them  loose  in  a 
chase."   {Bailey.') 

FTDLER'S  REACH,  near  Greenhithe,  on  the  Thames,  is  said 
to  take  its  name  from  the  circumstance  of  three  fiddlers  having 
been  drowned  there.  {Coghlan.)  Among  seamen,  a  reach  is  the 
distance  between  two  points  on  the  banks  of  a  river,  in  which  the 
current  flows  in  a  straight  course. 

FIELD.  The  fields  in  Norway  are  the  vast  plateaux  of  the 
different  ranges  of  mountains ;  as  the  Fille  Field,  the  Dovre 
Field  (Dan.). 

FINISTERRE  (Jinistay),  in  France,  also  Finistierra  in  the 
Peninsula,  from  L.  finis  terrce,  equivalent  to  Land's  End  in 
English,  Pentire  (^je/i-^zV)  in  "Wales  and  Cornwall,  and  Kin  tire 
(ceann-ttre)  in  Scotland. 

FINLAND,  "  the  land  of  the  Finns."  The  first  mention  of 
this  people  as  Finns  occurs  in  Tacitus,  who  says  the  Fenni  ought 
to  be  ranked  among  the  Germans.  Ptolemy  calls  them  the 
Phinni.  They  are  supposed  to  be  of  Asiatic  origin.  Fi?inmark 
means  the  march  or  boundary  of  the  Fins. 

FINSBURY.  '♦  This  tract  [Moorfields]  was  in  the  manor  of 
Finsbury,  or  rather  Fensbury,  and  in  the  days  of  the  historian 
Fitz  Stephen  was  an  arrant  fen."  (Pennant.)     See  Burg. 

FIORD  in  local  names  in  Norway  and  Sweden,  as  the 
Hardanger  Fiord,  the  Sogne  Fiord,  means  a  creek,  bay,  or 
inlet  formed  by  an  arm  of  the  sea;  from  Dm.  fiord,  Sw.fjdrd. 
See  Firth. 

FIRTH,  in  local  names  in  the  north  of  Britain,  as  the  Firth 
of  Forth,  Firth  of  Clyde,  is  a  narrow  passage  of  the  sea,  a  strait, 
the  opening  of  a  river  into  the  sea,  an  estuary,  a  bay ;  from  A.  S. 
firth,  fyrth  (Gael,  and  ^co.  firth,  Ix.  frith,  Dm.  fiord,  bay,  gulf, 
Sw.  fj'drd,  Ice.  fiord'er),  from  L.  fretum,  a  sea  or  the  waves  of 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  105 

a  sea ;  lit.  the  water  that  beats  up  the  shore,  especially  straits ; 
a  strait,  a  channel,  sound,  from  Gr.  peoj  to  flow.  Macpherson 
renders  Fu-th  of  Forth  "  firth  of  the  wood,"  adding  that  Islandic 
writers  translate  it  Mirknafiord ;  but  this,  says  Jamiesou,  would 
seem  rather  to  mean  "  the  dark  firth." 

FLAMBOROUGH  HEAD,  co.  York,  a  high  cliff  or  head- 
land, on  which  beacon  fires  were  formerly  kindled.  It  is  still  the 
site  of  a  modern  lighthouse.  From  A.  S.  Fleamburg ;  from 
flam  a  flame,  burg  a  hill,  tower,  city.  "  For  mariners  give  it 
the  figure  of  a  blazing  star,  or  else  from  Flamburgh,  in  Denmark, 
in  imitation  of  which  our  Danish  ancestors  built  it,  and  gave  it 
the  same  name."  {Bailey.) 

FLANDERS.  (Fr.  Flandre,  D.  Vlaander ;  and  riaaming  a 
Fleming.)  Some  derive  Fleming  "  from  Sax.  fixjming,  ox  flijma, 
an  exile  or  banished  man,  because  the  Flemings  were  often  forced 
to  change  their  habitations,  and  go  into  neighbourhig  countries,  on 
account  of  the  inundations  of  the  sea."  Flanders  may  be  the 
country  of  the  Flemingers.  Thus,  Flemingers,  Fleminders,  Fla- 
minders,  Flaminders-land,  Flanders. 

FLEET,  in  local  names  in  England,  is  the  A.  ^.fleot  (Plat. 
feet  a  small  river,  G.  fethe  a  channel),  a  place  where  vessels 
float,  a  bay,  gulf,  arm  of  the  sea,  the  mouth  of  a  river ;  from 
fleot-an,  to  float,  swim;  perhaps  indirectly  from  Sans,  plu,  to 
swim.  Hence,  Northfleet,  Southfleet,  Kent;  Purfleet,  Esses; 
Fleet  Street,  Fleet  Ditch,  &c. 

FLEKKEFIORD  (Jekkafeord'),  a  town  in  Norway.  The 
Dan.  Jlekke  is  a  borough,  hamlet,  little  town.  See  Runham 
aud  Fiord. 

FLINT,  the  co.  town  of  Flintshire,  N.  Wales.  Pennant  re- 
marks that  this  town  had  an  early  origin,  and  although  not  men- 
tioned in  Domesday,  that  the  name  is  Saxon,  aud  that  the  spot 
was  so  called  anterior  to  the  Conquest ;  but  as  the  country  pro- 
duces none  of  those  accompaniments  of  chalky  strata  denominated 
flints,  he  is  at  a  loss  for  the  derivation.  Upon  which  a  later 
writer  observes  that   when  Flint  was  made  one  of  the  four  N. 


106  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

Wallian  counties,  in  the  time  of  Edw.  I.,  the  statutes  were  pro- 
mulgated in  barbarous  Latin,  and  the  county  was  in  some  in- 
stances called  Comitatus  de  Flint,  which  was  probably  a  transla- 
tion, or  various  mode  of  expressing  in  writing  Comitatus  de  Silici, 
or  the  silicious  territory  ;  chert,  which  the  ancients  designated 
both  by  the  name  of  silex  as  well  as  petrosilex,  being  a  pre- 
dominant feature  in  the  geology  of  this  district.  He  suggests 
also  that  it  may  be  the  Brit,  fflwyn,  a  shred,  a  severed  part ;  a 
name  the  independent  Britons  would  naturally  give  it,  after  the 
inhabitants  had  submitted  to  the  Roman  yoke  ;  which  from  his- 
toric documents  they  appear  to  have  done  long  prior  to  the  other 
subdued  parts  of  Cambria. 

FLORENCE  ;  It.  Firenze,  formerly  Fiorenza,  L.  Florentia. 
According  to  some  authors,  this  city  derives  its  name  from 
Florino,  who  built  it,  and  died  here.  Others  say  ho\n  Jluentia,  it 
being  situated  near  the  river  Arno ;  and  they  add  the  testimony 
of  Pliny.  Others,  again,  ixoxa.  florentia  or  florentia,  from  It.  flore 
a  flower,  because  in  this  place  and  in  the  neighbourhood  grew 
many  flowers,  "fiori  e  gigli  [flowers  and  lilies],  si  come  fosse  in 
fior  edificata,  cioe  con  molte  delizie."  Borghini  and  Menage 
agree  with  the  latter  etymology.  In  this  city  is  the  celebrated 
Academia  della  Cnisca,  which  was  instituted  for  purifying  and 
perfecting  the  Tuscan  language  ;  "  to  refine  it,  and,  as  it  were,  to 
separate  it  from  the  crusca  or  bran."  "  E  fu  cosi  detta  dal 
cernere  che  fa  della  farina  delle  Scritture,  il  piii  bel  fior  cogliendone, 
e  la  crusca  ribbuttando.  (Vocab.  della  Crusca.)  It  has  for  its 
device  a  sieve,  and  for  its  motto,  "  II  piu  hel  fior  ne  coglie" 
"  It  gathers  the  finest  flower  thereof."  "  In  the  hall  or  apartment 
where  the  academy  meets,  everything  bears  allusion  to  the  name 
and  device.  The  seats  are  in  form  of  a  baker's  basket ;  their 
backs  like  a  corn-shovel,  the  cushions  of  gray  satin  in  form  of 
sacks  or  wallets ;  and  the  branches,  where  the  lights  are  placed. 
likewise  resemble  sacks."  (Maconis.)  Menage,  alluding  to  the 
device  and  motto,  says,  "  Mais,  comme  les  denominations  se  sont 
ordiuairement  a  potiori,  il  semble  qu'elle  devoit  plustost  se  faire 
appeler  I'Academie  de  la  Fleur  que  1' Academic  du  Son."     He 


LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY.  107 

derives  the  It.  crusca  from  O.  G.  griesz,  or  Flem.  gruis.     Thus, 
gruis,  gruiscus,  gruisca,  grusca,  Crusca. 

FLORIDAS  ;  the  E.  and  W.  Floridas  in  N.  America.  Florida 
was  named  by  the  Spaniards  who  discovered  it  on  the  Jour  de 
Paques-fleuries,  or  Dimanche  des  Rameaux.  (Lamar tiniere.) 
The  Sp.  Jlorida  signifies  full  of  flowers,  from  fur  a  flower,  from 
L.  Jlos,  jloris. 

FONTAINEBLEAU.  According  to  some,  from  fontaine  and 
bleue,  i.e.  "  blue  fountain  ;"  h\xi  bleau  is  more  probably  a  cor- 
ruption of  belle  eau,  from  the  great  number  of  fine  springs 
running  through  the  place.     See  Du  Chesne,  Antiq.  Melun. 

FONTARABIA,  in  Sp.  Fuente  Rabia,  a  very  ancient  town  in 
Guipuzcoa,  in  the  Basque  provinces  of  Spain.  It  is  called  in  L. 
Fons  Rapidus,  "the  rapid  fountain,"  from  which  its  name  is  said 
to  have  been  corrupted. 

FORD,  a  common  termination  of  local  names  in  England,  as 
Stratford,  Ilford,  Bradford,  Twyford,  Longford,  Bedford,  Har- 
ford, Blandford,  Oxford,  Milford,  is  the  A.  S.  ford,fyrdan  (G. 
furt,  W.  fordd),  a  passage  over  a  stream,  from  faran  to  go,  or 
pass.  According  to  others,  the  Anc.  Brit,  fordd  means  a  road 
or  passage,  whether  over  a  stream  or  dry  laud,  and  the  A.  S. 
word  is  the  Brit,  word  taken  in  a  narrower  sense. 

FORMOSA,  an  island  in  China,  in  the  Eastern  Sea,  called  by 
the  natives  Tdi-wan.  The  Portuguese  named  it  Formosa  ilha, 
"  beautiful  island." 

FOS,  in  local  names  in  Norway,  as  in  Voriug-fos,  near  Vosse- 
vangen,  the  Sarp-fos,  near  Fredrikshald,  is  the  Dan.  fos,  a  water- 
fall, cataract,  fall  of  a  river  (Sw.fors  a  stream,  waterfall,  forsa  to 
gush,  rush.) 

FRAMPTON,  CO.  Dorset,  so  named  from  its  situation  on  the 
river  Prome,  and  A.  S.  tun,  an  enclosure,  town,  &c. 

FRANCE  was  named  from  the  Franks,  a  powerful  German 
tribe,  by  whom  it  was  conquered  ;  and,  accordingly,  the  Germans 
call  it  Frankreich,  i.e.  kingdom  of  the  Franks.  The  G.  frank, 
O.  G.  franck,  vranck,  means  free,  enjoying  liberty.  Thierry 
says,  to  express  the  term   "  civil  liberty"   in  the  tenth  century, 


108  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

there  were  no  words  iu  the  language  then  spoken  in  France  hut 
frankise  or  francise,  according  to  the  different  dialects,  and  that 
frank  signified  both  free,  powerful,  and  rich.  Ducange  enlarges 
on  the  words  francus,  franchisia,  francia,  &c.,  all  implying 
a  state  and  character  of  freedom,  liberty,  and  privilege  ; 
immunity.  An  old  German  writer  derives  francus,  franciscus 
(liber,  libertus),  from  O.  G.  fry  (A.  S.  frei)  free,  and  ank  (as 
though  Fryank)  from  ancke  a  youth.  Frank,  Franci,  Francia, 
France.  See  also  Leibnitz,  Recr.  sur  I'Hist.  tom.  ii.,  p.  28/  ; 
Le  P.  Daniel,  Hist,  de  France,  "  Clovis ;"  Longuerue,  Descr.  de 
France,  part  1,  Desc.  prelim.;  Thierry,  Conq.  de  I'Angl. 
vol.  i.  177. 

FRAW,  a  river  in  Wales,  which  gives  name  to  the  town  of 
Aherfraw ;  from  W.  />■««,  a  flux,  stream,  torrent  {ffrwd,  a 
stream,  current.) 

FREDERIKSHALD  ( — ks-hald),  a  town  in  Norway,  on  the  road 
between  Christiania  and  Stockholm.  "  The  old  appellation  of  this 
town  was  Halden,  to  which  Frederick  III.,  in  1665,  added  his  own 
name  in  commemoration  of  its  gallant  defence  against  the  Swedes." 
FREIBURG  {frijbtirg),  the  name  of  several  places  in  con- 
tinental Europe,  but  especially  of  one  in  Switzerland,  another  in 
the  Breisgau,  Germany,  and  a  third  in  Silesia.  From  G.  frei 
free,  burg  a  town. 

FRIESLAND,  or  VRIESLAND,  the  most  northerly  province 
of  Holland.  Some  derive  the  name  from  fresen,  to  shake  or 
tremble,  "  in  allusion  to  the  nature  of  the  country,  the  soil  of 
which  is  an  unstable  or  shaking  moor  ;"  but  Friesland  is  rather 
"the  land  of  the  Frisii."  Tacitus,  PUny,  and  other  Latin 
authors,  call  the  inhabitants  by  this  name  ;  by  the  Greeks  they 
are  designated  Phreisii  and  Phrisii,  and  the  name  is  found  writ- 
ten Phresii,  Frisei,  Fresones,  Fresiones,  Friseones,  Frisiones, 
Frisones,  Phresones,  Phresiones,  Frigiones,  and  Fresonici.  Some 
authors  interpret  Frisii  or  Phreisii  "  free  men,"  this  people  having 
defended  and  preserved  their  liberty  longer  than  the  other  Ger- 
man tribes.  Others  refer  the  name  to  the  mud  with  which  the 
sea  has,  by  frequent  inundations,  covered  this  part  of  the  coast ; 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  109 

others,  arguing  from  the  word  Frigiones,  to  the  extremely  cold 
climate.  "  Some,  indeed,  have  asserted  that  the  Frisii  derived 
their  name  from  the  Phrygians,  or  from  Frlson,  their  founder. 
They  do  not,  however,  appear  to  have  settled  as  to  whether  he 
was  of  Indian,  Greek,  or  Trojan  extraction."     {Lamartiniere.) 

FRITH,  sometimes  found  in  local  names  in  England,  means  a 
forest,  a  woody  place  ;  said  to  be  from  A.  S.  frith  peace. 
"Frith,  a  wood,  from  the  Sax.  frith,  pax  (peace)  ;  for  the  Eng- 
lish Saxons  held  several  woods  to  be  sacred,  and  made  them  sanc- 
tuaries." (Cowel.)  The  Gael,  has  frith,  frithe,  forest,  heath, 
moor,  deer-park  ;  W./riVAj/nf,  forest ;  Yv.  friche  uncultivated 
land.  The  A.  S.  has  also  frith-geard  an  asylum  (Goth,  frid- 
giard,  an  enclosure).  Jamieson  writes  frth,  ft/rth,  and  thinks  it 
may  come  from  A.  S.  frith-ian,  to  protect,  and  not  from  frith, 
peace. 

FRIULI  {fi'eool'e),  G.  Frioul,  a  district  in  the  Venetian  terri- 
tory, of  which  Udine  was  formerly  the  capital.  Friuli  is  a  cor- 
ruption of  "  Forum  Julii,"  the  ancient  name  of  Cividale,  which 
lies  E.  of  Udine. 

FRO  ME  {froom),  co.  Somerset,  named  from  the  river  on  which 
it  stands.     Qu.  W.  ffrom,  fuming,  violent. 

FROMONT  {fromong'),  sometimes  called  Bramont,  on  the 
frontiers  of  Alsace  ;  a  corruption  of  Pharamond. 

FULDA,  a  town  in  Saxony,  on  a  river  of  the  same  name. 

FULHAM.  The  earliest  mention  of  this  place  occurs  in  a 
grant  of  the  manor  by  Tyrhtilus,  Bishop  of  Hereford,  to  Erken- 
wald,  Bishop  of  London,  and  his  successors,  about  the  year  691, 
in  which  it  is  called  Fulanham.  Camden  calls  it  Fulham,  which 
he  derives  from  Sax.fullonham  (volucrum  domus),  the  habitation 
of  birds,  or  place  of  fowls,  with  which  Norden  agrees,  and  adds, 
"  it  may  also  be  taken  for  volucrum  amnis,  or  the  river  of  fowl, 
for  ham  in  many  places  is  for  amnis,  a  river ;  but  it  is  most 
j)robable  it  should  be  of  land  fowl,  which  usually  haunt  groves 
and  clusters  of  trees,  whereof  in  this  place  it  seenieth  hath  been 
plenty."  Somner  and  Lye  call  it  FuUanham,  or  Foulham  ;  "  sup- 
posed from  the  dirtiness  of  the  place."     The  first  definition  has. 


110  LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY. 

however,  been  generally  adopted  (A.  S.  fug  el,  fugl,  and  ham). 
See  also  Faulkner's  Fulham  ;  Wharton,  de  Episc.  p.  18  ;  Camden, 
Brit.  p.  3G7  ;  and  Norden,  Spec.  Brit.  p.  20. 

FURNIVAL'S  INN,  Holborn,  derives  its  name  from  its  original 
occupants,  the  Lords  Furnival. 

FURUUCKABAD,  Hindustan,  capital  of  a  small  district  of 
the  same  name  in  the  Doab.  The  name  is  said  to  signify  "  the 
happy  abode."  The  Pers.  farrukh  means  happy,  fortunate, 
beautiful ;  the  Arab,  farakh  being  secure,  exempt  from  fear  or 
danger.     See  Abad. 

FUSSEN,  a  small  town  in  Bavaria,  situated  at  the  foot  of  the 
Alps,  at  the  entrance  or  jaws,  as  it  were,  of  a  narrow  defile  or 
gorge,  anciently  called  Fauces  Julise,  whence  Fussen.  Some  say 
it  was  named  in  L.  Fucena,  from  the  monastery  formerly  called 
Faucense  Monasterium,  at  the  foot  of  the  mountain. 


G. 


GAD'S  HILL,  about  four  miles  from  Gravesend.  "  The  name 
of  this  spot,  like  that  of  Shooter's  Hill,  in  the  same  Une,  was  de- 
rived from  the  depredations  of  highwaymen  and  foot-pads; 
simply  but  significantly  denoting  both  a  vagabond  and  a  weapon. 
Gad's  Hill  had  long  been  infested  with  robbers,  when  it  acquired 
an  enduring  notoriety  from  being  selected  by  Shakespeare  for  the 
scene  of  a  dramatic  incident,  probably  suggested  by  frequent 
depredations  there  in  his  time."  (Cruden,  Hist.  Gravesend.) 
"Gad,  to  vagabondize"  {Cotgrave);  "gad,  a  club,  wedge,  &c." 
{Ash.)  Bailey  says,  "  A  gad  of  steel  is  a  small  bar  to  be  heated 
in  the  fire,  in  order  to  quench  in  liquor."  The  A.  S.  gad  is  a 
goad  and  a  wedge,  Ir.  gadh  a  dart,  gad  a  stealing,  gadaim  to  steal. 
See  2  and  3  Edw.  III.,  ch.  27. 

GAIN'S  COLNE  {kone),   Essex.      See  Engain  Colne. 

GAINSBORUGH,  co.  Lincoln  ;  in   A.    S.    Gegnes-hurh  and 


LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY.  Ill 

Genes-  Gene-  and  Geners-buruh,  which  some  derive  from  genes  a 
sanctuary,  biinih  a  town  ;  "a  town  of  refuge"  (the  A.  S.  genear, 
gener,  is  a  refuge,  protection  ;  gences  saved).  Others  think  this 
town  owes  its  origin  as  well  as  its  name  to  the  Ganii,  a  Saxon 
tribe,  whose  chiefs  had  their  residence  there  in  the  eighth  century, 
whence  it  was  called  the  Burgh  of  the  Ganii,  or  Ganiiburgh. 
Wharton  supposes  that  the  original  name  of  the  place  was  Danes- 
borough  from  the  neighbourhood  having  been  at  one  time  occu- 
pied as  a  station  by  the  Danes  ;  but  as  this  place  was  known  as 
Gainsburgh  nearly  two  centuries  before  the  arrival  of  that  people 
in  this  neighbourhood,  there  does  not  appear  to  be  any  ground  for 
this  supposition.     See  Stark,  Hist.  Gainsburgh. 

GALATIA,  a  district  of  Asia  formerly  so  called.  The  Gauls 
having  invaded  Asia  Minor  in  small  bodies  and  conquered  this 
country,  they  settled  in  it ;  and  the  Greeks  named  it  Ta'Kix'tW, 
and  its  inhabitants  TaXara;,  while  the  inhabitants  of  Gaul  were 
designated  TaAara*  'EtrTTf^io*.     See  Gaul. 

GALICIA,  a  province  of  Spain,  lying  between  the  Bay  of 
Biscay  and  Portugal.  Larramendi  derives  the  name  from  Basq. 
galacia,  seed  of  wheat  grown,  or  galecea,  moist  wheat  (trigo 
humedo),  or  gali  iza,  galeiza,  a  hunt  between  crops  or  corn  fields. 
Others  say  from  Gr.  TaKana,,  a  word  formed  from  the  root  of 
"  Gaul."     (See  Thierry,  Hist,  des  Gaulois.) 

GALILEE,  a  region  in  the  tribe  of  Naphtali,  inhabited  by  Gen- 
tiles, i.  e.  Phoenicians,  Egyptians,  and  Arabians,  anciently  called 
Galilee  of  the  Nations.  Gr.  TaXiXaicc,  Heb.  riyh:^,  from  galiyl 
a  circuit,  circle,  region  ;  "  the  circuit  [Galilee]  of  the  Gentiles  ;" 
lit.  rolling,  turning.  Calmet  translates  it  "  my  wheel,"  "  my  fron- 
tier ;"  from  galal,  a  wheel,  revolution,  frontier. 

GALLIPOLI,  situated  at  the  mouth  of  the  Propontis ;  the 
Calipolis  of  the  ancients ;  from  Gr.  kccXoq  beautiful,  itoXiQ  a  city. 
The  modem  name  of  the  Hellespont  is  Sea  of  GaUipoli ;  in 
Tare.    Galiboli  Denghizzi. 

GALLOWAY,  Scotland,  (L.  Gallovidia) .  Thierry  says  Galloway 
means  "  the  country  of  the  foreigners,"  and  Gal  is  the  Highland 
name  for  Lowlandcrs  and  English.      Others  derive  both  Galloway 


112  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

and  Galway  from  the  Celt,  gal,  west,  westward.  De  Burgo  asserts 
that  Gaillimh,  the  name  of  the  town  in  Ireland,  is  the  same  as  locus 
Anglorum,  i.  e.  the  residence  of  the  English.  Vallancey  says  that 
gahnhaith  is  an  Irish  compound,  meaning  a  rocky,  barren  country, 
and  he  translates  it  Galway.  In  another  place  he  says  Port-na-Gall 
is  Gallorum  partus,  and  Gall-amhan  is  amnis  Gallorum ;  and, 
referring  the  name  of  Galway  to  a  company  of  merchants  that  settled 
there,  he  says  gael  signifies  a  merchant,  from  gaelis,  traffic  or  com- 
merce, and  ibh  in  Ir.  means  tribes  or  families,  whence  gailibh, 
tribes  of  merchants.  According  to  Hardiman  {Hist.  Galway),  the 
town  and  river  were  called  after  the  surrounding  district  itself, 
which  was  originally  named  from  the  Gael,  or  merchants  by  whom 
it  was  inhabited.  In  the  annals  of  Roscommon  the  name  of  the 
river  is  nearly  similar  in  orthography  and  entirely  in  pronunciation 
to  Gailibh  (pron.  gallive).  In  all  the  most  ancient  documents, 
till  the  year  1400,  the  name  was  invariably  written  Galvy,  which 
in  time  became  changed  into  Gal-iva,  and  Gal-via,  the  literal 
translation  of  which,  Galway,  first  occurs  about  1440.  From  a 
very  early  period  until  after  the  invasion  of  Hen.  II.,  the  territory 
on  which  the  town  stands  was  called  Clan-fir-gael,  i.  e.  the  land 
or  habitation  of  the  Gael  or  merchants. 

GALWAY  {(jawlway),  in  Ireland.     See  Galloway. 

GANGES,  a  river  in  Hindustan.  The  Hind.  i^,J^ gung  is  a 
river,  whence,  says  Gilchrist,  "  perhaps  by  way  of  pre-eminence, 
Gunga,  the  river  Ganges."  "  The  Ganges  in  the  language  of 
ludostan  is  called  Pudda  or  Padda,  i.  e.  the  foot,  because,  as  some 
Brahmins  affirm,  it  flows  from  the  foot  of  the  god  Veeshnu. 
It  is  also  called  Burra-Gonga,  or  the  Great  River,  whence  its 
European  name  is  derived."  {Flay fair)  In  Sans,  gang  is  a  river, 
stream ;  Gangd,  the  river  Ganges.  Monier  Williams  derives 
Gangd  from  ga7n,  to  go,  i.  e.,  that  which  goes  or  flows  on  the 
earth. 

GAR'GARUS,  a  mountain  in  Asia  Minor,  near  Beyramitch, 
from  the  summit  of  which  may  be  obtained  a  most  extensive  and 
magnificent  view,  embracing  Constantinople,  the  Sea  of  Marmora, 
the  Hellespont,  the  Isles  of  Athos,  Lemnos,  Tenedos,  the  Gulf  of 


LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY.  113 

Smynia,  and  a  large  part  of  Asia  Minor.  Mount  Gargarus, 
Gargara,  or  Gargarou  is,  properly  speaking,  one  of  the  peaks  of 
Mount  Ida.  The  name  may  be  derived  from  Gr.  yccpyapsoov, 
Heb.  1j1:,  (jaryar,  the  throat. 

GARIEP,  or  GAREEP,  a  river  in  Africa,  means  "great 
river."' 

GARONNE  {garon),  a  river  in  France,  which,  after  receiving 
the  waters  of  the  Dordogne,  is  called  the  Giroude.  Camden  derives 
the  name  from  Anc.  Brit,  garw,  rapid  ;  Menage  from  G.  geronnen, 
from  rinnen,  to  run,  to  flow  ;  "  tant  a  caiise  de  son  cours  ordinaire, 
que  du  flux  et  reflux  de  la  mer."  Armstrong,  in  one  place,  derives 
Garonne  from  Gael,  garv  an  or  garhh  arnhainn,  the  rapid  river  ; 
and  in  another  place  he  says  Garunn-us,  Garonne,  is  garbh-an,  the 
rough  water.     But  see  Yarrow  and  Yarmouth. 

GASCONY,  a  province  of  France.     See  Biscay  and  Basque. 

GAU  (gow),  a  termination  of  local  names  in  Germany,  &c.,  is 
the  G.  gaic,  a  country,  district,  as  Rheingau,  Pinzgau. 

GAUL.  The  derivation  of  G alius,  a  Gaul,  from  L.  gallus  a 
cock,  or  from  Gr.  yaXa  milk,  "  because  the  Gauls  had  a  very 
white  skin,"  is  ridiculous.  Some  derive  the  name  from  Celt. 
gallu  power,  or  from  gallcn  to  journey,  because  the  Gauls  left  their 
own  and  acquired  fresh  territories  ;  others  say  the  Gauls  'derived 
their  name  from  Gadhelius,  son  of  Neimheidh,  the  Oriental 
patriarch  ;  or  from  gaethel  or  gathel,  woodlanders.  From  the 
root  of  Gaul  come  GaiJheal,  Ghaidheal,  Gadhel  or  Gayhel 
(W.  Gwythel),  contracted  into  Gael,  also  Gadheilig,  now  Gaelic 
or  Galic,  the  language  of  the  Scotch  Highlanders.  From  the 
root  of  Gaul  come  Fr.  Galles,  Wales,  Norm.  TFallez,  WuUesch, 
Guiles,  Gales,  Wales,  Welsh ;  Galeys,  France ;  Galei/s,  Calais 
(William  de  Galeys,  William  de  JValeys )  ;  Walais,  Wallaix, 
Wullois,  Welsh.  The  Saxon  Chronicle  speaks  of  the  Weales, 
Wylishe,  or  Welsh.  The  A.  S.  has  Walas,  the  Welsh,  Britons ; 
WaUi,  Britanni ;  wealh  (pi,  weulhas,  weulas,  weallas,  ivealnn), 
a  foreigner,  stranger,  one  from  another  country,  a  Welshman, 
Welsh.  Taliesin,  a  Welsh  bard  of  the  sixth  century,  styles  his 
own  country   irnllia.     Others   say  that  walsh  in  tlio  N(utlicrn 

1 


114  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

languages  of  Europe  also  signifies  a  stranger,  and  that  the  Britons, 
being  unlike  the  Saxons  and  Angles,  both  in  speech  and  costume, 
were  called  Welsh,  and  their  country,  Wales.  Further,  the 
O.  G.  has  Gal,  Gall,  Wall,  Wale,  Weale,  Walah,  a  stranger,  a 
Gaul,  a  Roman  ;  Walcholant,  Gaul ;  the  G.  Welscher,  an 
Italian,  Welschland,  Italy  ;  Belgic  Wallon;  Low  L.  Wallus, 
and  Gualus,  Gaul.  Gael,  Gallic,  Gaelic,  Gallia,  Gaul,  Wales, 
Welch,  Wallon,  Wallachia,  Gallway,  Galloway,  and  Galatia,  seem 
to  be  all  formed  from  the  same  root,  but  whether  from  gathel, 
Gad/ielms  or  (/al  is  doubtful.  The  Greeks  called  Gaul  Galatia, 
and  its  inhabitants  TaAara*  ''Ea-ira^ioi,  to  distinguish  them  from 
those  of  Galatia,  a  district  of  Asia  Minor,  whom  they  called 
TdXxrai.  See  also  Thierry,  Hist,  des  Gaulois ;  Wachter, 
Gloss;   Grimm,  Gram.,  lib.  ii.  1/1  ;  Pott,  ii.  529. 

GA'ZA,  a  city  of  Palestine,  now  called  Gazzara.  Gaza  is  said  to 
be  an  O.  Pers.  word  for  a  treasury  ;  "  quod  Cambyses,  Persarum 
rex,  ciim  ^gyptum  armis  peteret,  hiic  belli  opes  et  pecuniam 
intulisset."  (See  Pomp.  Mela,  lib.  i.  ii.)  Bochart  says  Gazse  is  a 
corruption  of  Arab,  khazan,  from  Heb.  khosan,  a  treasury,  from 
pn,  khasan  (in  Niphal),  to  lay  up  in  store. 

GEHEN'NA,  a  word  used  by  the  Jews  as  equivalent  to  hell ; 
from  Gr.  yBBvvx,  which  some  derive  from  Heb.  ge-Miiom,  valley  of 
Hinom,  where  the  Israelites  sacrificed  their  children  to  Moloch. 
The  Arab.  ^J*^^^  jahannam  is  a  deep  pit,  lying  below,  the  fire  of 
hell,  hell. 

GENOA,  Fr.  Genes,  found  M^ritten  Gennes ;  It.  Genova, 
G.  Genua.  According  to  Lamartiniere  it  was  anciently  called  by 
the  Greeks  Tsvovcc,  and  by  the  Romans  Genua.  Its  inhabitants 
were,  however,  styled  Ingauni,  a  word  probably  of  Celtic  origin, 
and  from  wbich  the  city  may  have  been  named.  "  In  the  middle 
ages  ignorance  introduced  the  name  of  Janua,  in  order  to  derive 
it  from  Janus,  whom  the  inhabitants  are  said  to  have  worshipped." 
{Lamarfinitre.)  The  word  Janua  is,  however,  an  old  Sabine 
word,  which  the  Latins  converted  into  Diana. 

GEORGIA,  an  Asiatic  province  of  Russia.  The  Russians 
called  it  Grusia,  the  Georgians  call  it  Giirge  or  Kurge,  the  Persians 


LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY.  115 

Gurgistan,  the  Turks  Gurtshi  and  Gurjistan,  i.e.  the  stan  or 
country  of  the  Gurges,  Gurjes,  or  Kurjes.  Some  assert  that  these 
people  were  named  by  the  Greeks  from  yscufyoQ  (whence  the 
Christian  name  George),  a  farmer,  labourer  ;  others  say  they  were 
called  Georgians  from  St.  George,  the  great  saint  of  the  modern 
Greek  church.  We,  however,  find  the  Georgians  mentioned  in 
Pliny,  Pomponius  Mela,  and  other  authors,  all  of  whom  lived  be- 
fore the  time  of  St.  George.  From  the  following  quotation  it 
would  appear  probable  that  this  country  was  named  from  one  of 
its  monarchs  :  "  Heraclius  II.  died  in  1798,  and  was  succeeded 
by  his  son,  George  XIII.,  who  died  in  1800,  and  after  his  death 
Georgia  was  declared  a  Russian  province." 

GERMANY.  Dr.  Bosworth  thinks  German  may  mean 
"  spearman,"  from  the  Gallic  yer  a  spear.  Strabo  (1.  vii.),  observing 
considerable  conformity  between  the  Gauls  and  the  Germans, 
thinks  their  name  may  have  denoted  them  to  be  gertnani,  i.  e. 
brothers,  of  the  Gauls.  Some  modern  writers,  amongst  whom  are 
Althaimer  and  DeWillichius,  have  derived  Germany  from //a/- or  ^er, 
strong,  firm,  and  ?««««  aman.  Philip  Melancthon  thinks  German 
is  another  orthography  of  Teut.  hermann,  a  warrior,  but  does  not 
tell  us  whether  the  Germans  were  so  called  by  themselves,  or  by  the 
Romans.  What  is  supposed  to  favour  this  latter  derivation,  is,  that  in 
the  middle  ages  herimanni  and  ffr^»^a?^^^^  were  both  used  to  signify 
soldiers,  and  that  herman  in  A.  S.  means  a  war-man,  warrior.  An 
ancient  tradition,  preserved  in  German  songs,  and  mentioned  by 
Tacitus,  supi)Oses  that  their  God  Tuisco  was  "  born  of  the  earth," 
and  that  from  his  son  Mann,  the  whole  German  nation  have  sprung. 
This  tradition  gives  to  Mann  three  sons,  from  whom  the  Invenons, 
the  Hermions  and  the  Istsevons  are  supposed  to  have  received  their 
names.  Dr.  Iludbeck  derives  Germanni  from  Mann  ;  Leibnitz 
from  Hermion,  son  of  Mann,  believing  the  Hermions,  Ilermun- 
deres,  and  Germans  to  be  synonymous ;  and  he  thinks  that  the 
Hermions  or  Germans  having  conquered  a  part  of  Gaul  and 
rendered  their  name  famous,  the  other  Teutonic  nations,  their  allies, 
took  the  same  name.  Interchange  of  the  letters  g  and  h  is  not 
uncommon.     The  Spaniards  converted  genvnno  into  hennana. 

I  2 


116  LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY. 

GETHSEMENE,  a  village  on  the  Mount  of  Olives,  ■whither 
Christ  sometimes  retired  in  the  night  time.  *'  Gethsemane,  or 
Ge-semani,  a  very  fat  vale ;  otherwise,  the  vale  of  oil ;  from  «U 
ghie  a  valley,  fatl^  shemen  oil,  perfume,  incense."  (Calmet.) 
Others  translate  "olive  garden,"  or  "oil  press." 

GEYSERS  (ffa'sers).  The  ;  boiling  springs  in  Iceland  ;  from  Ice. 
ffiusa  (G.  giessen),  to  pour  out. 

GHAUT  {gaiot),  in  India,  means  a  pass  through  the  rriountains 
— hence  also  a  range  or  chain  of  mountains — and  is  especially  ap- 
plied to  the  E.  and  W.  ranges  of  the  south  of  India.  From  Hind. 
gJiAt  (from  Sans,  ghatt),  which  means  also  a  landing  place,  steps 
on  the  bank  of  a  river,  a  quay,  a  wharf  where  customs  are  com- 
monly levied.     (See  Wilson.) 

GHENT  (gong),  formerly  capital  of  Flanders  ;  Flem.  Gend, 
Fr.  Gaud;  named  from  its  ancient  inhabitants,  the  Gorduni  or 
Gond-uni,  who  were  first  under  the  protection  of  the  Nervii,  and 
afterwards  of  the  Romans.  In  the  9th  century  it  was  called 
Ganda,  and  by  writers  of  the  12th  and  13th  centuries,  and  even 
subsequent  thereto,  Gandavum  and  Gandavum  Victim.  See  also 
Meyer,  Annal.,  lib.  i.,  and  Csesar,  Com.,  lib.  v.  16. 

GIBRALTAR.  The  name  is  generally  supposed  to  be  cor- 
rupted from  Jabaltarik,  from.  Arab.  ^\j.s^ jabcd  a  mountain,  \\ 
al  the,  Tarik,  the  name  of  a  Moorish  general,  who  conquered 
Spain  in  712,  having  first  made  a  descent  on  this  rock.  Canes 
derives  the  name  from  Jabaltaraf,  from  jabcd,  al,  and  iarj"  or  taraf, 
a  point,  because  this  rock  has  a  point  towards  the  sea.  Menage 
says  it  was  anciently  called  Gebaltar  and  Mont  Gibel. 

GILLIES'  HILL,  Bannockburn,  Scotland,  so  called  from  the 
part  contributed  to  the  victory  at  Bannockburn,  by  the  servants 
(gillies)  attending  on  the  baggage.  Bruce  had  posted  them 
behind  the  hill,  but  they  suddenly  appeared  in  front,  and  the 
English,  mistaking  them  for  reinforcements,  fled  in  a  panic. 
Servants  are  still  called  gillies  in  the  Highlands.  (Kohl.) 
From  Gael,  gille,  Ir,  giolla,  a  lad,  young  man,  boy,  man- 
servant. 

GIPPS'   LAND,  in   the  colony  of  Victoria,  Australia  ;  named 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  117 

by  Count  Streleski,  in  honour  of  Sir  George  Gipps,  Governor  of 
Port  Phillip. 

GIRGENTI  {jergen'te),  a  town  in  Sicily,  the  ancient  Agri- 
gentum,  whence  its  name  has  been  corrupted.  Agrigentura 
is  also  corrupted  from  Acragas  (Axpaya^,  a.yroQ),  properly  the 
name  of  the  mountain  near  which  the  town  was  built.  Thucy- 
dides  says  the  Geloans  built  Acragas,  giving  the  city  its  name 
from  the  river  Acragas. 

GLADMOUTH,  formerly  Cledemuth,  S.  Wales  ;  "  mouth  of 
the  river  Clede  or  Cleddy  ;  "   A.S.  muth  mouth. 

GLAMOR'GANSHIRE,  S.  Wales  ;  Glamorgan  is  a  corrup- 
tion of  gwlad  ynorgan,  from  gwlad  a  country,  morgant  a  sea 
brink,  from  mor  the  sea,  cant  the  rim  of  anything.  The  Welsh 
call  this  county  Sir  Forganwg  and  ]Morganwg.  But  see 
Morgan. 

GLAS'GOW.  Some  derive  this  name  from  Gael,  glas  's  dhu, 
a  contraction  of  glas  agus  dhu,  gray  and  black ;  Baile  Glas  's 
Dhu,  the  town  of  gray  and  black  (monks)  ;  others,  from  iVnc. 
Brit,  glas-coed,  green  wood,  said  to  be  corroborated  by  the  early 
existence  here  of  a  forest,  subsequently  denominated  the  Bishop's. 
Again,  others  interpret  "  Glasgow,"  a  dark  glen,  in  allusion  to 
the  ravine  near  the  cathedral,  where  a  primary  settlement  is  said 
to  have  been  made. 

GLASTONBURY  {glass' enh err y),  co.  Somerset,  found  written 
Glsestinga-byrig,  Glestinga-byrig,  Glasting-byri,  Glastingabyrig, 
Glasting-birh,  Glastinbirh,  and  Glastingberi.  This  town  stands 
on  an  eminence  nearly  isolated  by  marshy  flats,  and  was  called  by 
the  Britons  Ynys-wytrin,  "  the  island  of  glass  ;  "  from  ynys  an 
island,  gwydr,  gwydryn,  glass.  The  name  was  afterwards 
changed  to  Avalon  or  Afalon,  the  meaning  of  which,  as  well  as  the 
reason  for  its  former  designation,  is  still  in  dispute.  The  Saxons 
altered  the  name  to  Glaesting-byrig,  from  glees  glass,  brjrig, 
Ijurh,  a  town.  "Glastonbury;  Sax.  Gheseney,  i.e.  the  isle  of 
glass ;  also  Gltvsenhyrig,  a  town  memorable  for  the  tomljs  of  two 
kings,  Arthur  and  Edgar,  and  of  Joseph  of  .Vrimathea,  and  of 
many  of  thf  primitive  saints  of  England,"      (llailey.) 


118  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

GLEN  LYON,  near  Loch  Tay,  Scotland,  takes  its  name  from 
a  stream  called  the  Lyon. 

GLENjNIORE',  near  Strathmore,  in  Scotland,  means  "  the  great 
glen  ;  "  from  Gael,  gleann,  glinne,  a  valley,  a  glen,  mur  great. 

GLOUCESTER  {gloster);  A.  S.  Gleancester.  The  city  of 
Gloucester  was,  according  to  most  writers,  built  by  the  Romans 
to  overawe  the  Silures,  and  a  colony  settled  there  called  Colonia 
Glevum,  or  Glebon  Colonia.  Others  say  it  was  built  by  Claudius 
Csesar.  Nennius  attributes  its  erection  to  Glovus,  a  prince  of 
this  part  of  the  country.  Higden  says  it  was  called  Caer-claii, 
from  Claudius,  who  erected  it,  but  that  it  took  the  name  of 
Gloucester  from  Glovus,  a  duke  of  the  country.  "William  of 
Malmesbury  asserts  that  the  Britons  called  it  Aer-chalu  (omit- 
ting the  c  in  caer),  and  he  quotes  Seneca  {De  morte  Claudii), 
as  observing,  "  that  the  barbarians  worshipped  Claudius  in 
Britain  as  a  god,  and  built  a  city  in  his  honour  there."  This, 
says  the  historian,  "  comes  nearest  the  truth  ;  for  that  Gloucester 
was  a  city  built  by  the  Romans,  cannot  be  accredited  by  those 
who  consider  that  Cirencester  was  entitled  to  much  higher  con- 
sideration, as  is  evident  by  the  large  remains  in  the  latter  city, 
none  of  which  are  to  be  found  in  Gloucester  ;  and  all  the  etyma 
of  Gloucester  turn  upon  the  Brit,  caer  glou,  or  the  bright  city,  as 
it  is  interpreted."  He  is  of  opinion  that,  as  "  glo  is  the  Brit, 
for  coal,  it  has  in  that  signification,  from  circumstances,  a  greater 
probability  than  the  other  ;  that  Glebon  is  a  misnomer — a 
Grsecism,  he  supposes,  of  Ptolemy — totally  anomalous  to  the 
Roman  termination,  but  that  Glevum  accords  with  the  genius  of 
the  Roman  language."  The  name  of  this  city  has  been  spelt 
Gleawan-cester,  Gleaw-ceastre,  Glewceastre,  Gloweceastre,  Gleu- 
cestre  and  Gloucestre.  Bosworth  gives  the  Brit,  glow,  splendid, 
or  W.  glew,  strong,  valiant ;  A.  S.  ceaster,  a  city. 

GLYN,  in  local  names  in  Wales,  is  the  W.  glyn,  a  dale.  The 
Gael,  has  gleann,  glinne,  ghleann,  Ir.  gleann.  Corn,  glyn,  Sco. 
and  Eng.  glen. 

GODOL'PHIN,  a  place  in  Cornwall.  Pryce  says  go-dol-phin, 
in  Corn,  means  a  httle  valley. 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  119 

GOL'GOTHA,  a  small  eminence  near  Jerusalem,  which  is 
supposed  to  have  received  its  name  either  from  its  resemblance  to  a 
man's  skull ;  or  because  it  was  destitute  of  vegetation  ;  or  from  its 
being  appropriated  to  the  execution  of  malefactors.  The  latter 
seems  the  most  probable.  From  Gr.  VoXyo^x,  signifying  the 
place  of  a  skull ;  a  corruption  of  Heb.  nb:';":,  a  skull,  cranium,  so 
called  from  its  round  form.  The  Arab,  has  iljsiij^  jalajat,  the 
cranium,  also  the  head  itself. 

GORE  {goar),  in  local  names  in  England,  as  in  Kensington 
Gore,  &c.,  may  be  the  O.  Eng.  gore,  a  small  narrow  slip  of  land, 
or  the  A.  S.  gor,  gore,  clotted  blood,  dirt,  mud.  It  may  have 
originally  denoted  a  dirty  muddy  place. 

GOROD,  GORAD,  GROD,  GRAD,  and  HRAD,  found  in  local 
names  in  Russia,  Servia,  &c. — as  Novgorod,  "  new  town  or  fort," 
from  Slav,  nowy  new — means  a  town  or  fort,  from  Slav,  hrad, 
a  camp,  castle,  citadel,  Illyr.  grad,  a  castle.  Armstrong  gives 
O.  G.  gard,  Pers.  gherd,  a  town  ;  Phcen.  gard,  a  fenced  place, 
an  enclosure  ;  Gael,  gard,  a  garden,  fenced  place  ;  Heb.  Chald. 
and  Syr.  gert,  to  enclose ;  and  the  word  is  found,  in  some  form 
or  other,  in  most  European  languages  ;  but  the  Hung,  korth, 
Goth,  gards,  show  that  the  European  synonyms  are  from  the 
Gr.  yjjproQ,  an  enclosure,  courtyard,  or  the  L.  hortus ;  Ut.  any 
enclosed  place,  then  a  garden. 

GOTHEBORG  {get'ahurg)  or  GOTHENBURG  {go'tenburg), 
Sweden.  Chas.  IX.,  when  Duke  of  Gothland,  laid  the  founda- 
tion of  this  town,  and  named  it  in  honour  of  the  duchy.  Sw. 
borg,  a  castle,  fort  (town).     But  see  Oude. 

GOTHINGEN  {get'iiu/n),  a  city  of  Germany.  Some  say  it 
derives  its  name  from  the  Goths ;  others  from  the  goodness  of 
the  land.  "  Sivc  agri  bonitas  sen  gens  tibi  Gothica  nomen, 
Gottinga,  fecerit  tuum."  {Henri  Meiborn.)  The  etymology 
from  gutt  good,  says  Lamartini^re,  seems  authorized  from  letters 
of  Frederick  Barbarossa  calling  it  Guttding  ;  "  k  Northcn  ad 
montes  Mcssiacos  usque  ad  uostram  civitatem  Guttding." 
Modius  recounts  at  great  length  that,  towards  the  year  925, 
Henri  I'Oise,  having  gained   a  glorious  victory  over  the  Huns, 


120  LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY. 

who  had  ravaged  Germany,  drove  them  as  far  as  Goftingen, 
"  usque  ad  Gottungam,  sie  dictam  quod  Gothos  Hunnosque  ea 
expeditione  subjecisset ;  "  and  that  he  there  celebrated  his 
triumph  by  a  magnificent  tournament.  See  Dresser,  de  Prsecip. 
Germ.  Urb.  Frang.  ;  Modius  (de  Bruges)  Pandect.  Triump.  t.  2, 
lib.  i  fol.  1  ;  Zeyler,  Brunsw.  and  Luneb.  Topog.  p.  92  ;  and 
Lamartiniere,  Diet.  G6og.  et  Grit. 

GOUDA  {gow'dci),  a  town  in  the  province  of  S.  Holland,  situ- 
ated on  the  Yssel,  at  the  confluence  of  the  Gouw. 

GRACECHURCH  STREET,  formerly  Grasse  Church  Street, 
and  Grasse  Street.  "  In  New  Fish  Street  be  fishmongers  and 
fair  taverns,  and  in  Fish  Street  High,  and  Grasse  Street,  men  of 
divers  trades,  grocers  and  haberdashers."  (Stow.)  See  Fen- 
church  Street. 

GRAM'POUND,  a  village  in  Cornwall ;  a  corruption  of  Corn. 
(/ran  pont,  great  bridge.      (Pnjce.) 

GRANGE.  Granges  were  farms  at  a  distance  from  the 
abbeys,  to  which  they  belonged,  and  stocked  and  cultivated  by 
the  monks  ;  hence  so  many  mansions  called  "  The  Grange." 
"  Fr.  granffe  a  barn,  Ir.  grainseach  a  grange,  Sco.  grange ;  the 
buildings  belonging  to  a  corn-farm,  originally  a  place  where  the 
rents  and  tithes,  paid  in  grain  to  religious  houses,  were  deposited  ; 
from  grannm  grain."  {Webster.)  Low  L.  grangia,  granchia, 
grancia,  granca,  granica. 

GRATZ,  the  capital  of  Syria ;  corrupted  from  Slav,  gradez. 
It  is  called  in  Slav.  Niemetzki-Gradez,  i.e.,  the  burg  or  fortress 
of  Niemetzki. 

GRAVE,  a  termination  of  local  names  in  England,  denotes  a 
wood,  thicket,  den,  or  cave ;  from  A.  S.  grtef.  Camden  and 
others  interpret  the  Low.  L.  grava,  "  a  little  wood."  Cowel 
says  it  sometimes  signifies  a  thick  wood  of  high  trees,  a 
grove. 

GRAVESEND.  The  origin  of  this  name  is  somewhat  doubt- 
ful. The  town  was  anciently  called  Gravesham,  from  the  name 
of  the  manor,  and  afterwards  corrupted  into  Graveshende.  Some 
derive  Gravesham  from  graaf  a  reeve,   and  heim,  hime,   "  the 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  121 

dwelling  place  of  the   reeve  or   representative  of  the    superior 
lord."     See  Cruden,  Hist.  Gravesend. 

GRAY'S  INN  derives  its  name  from  the  Lords  Gray  of  Wil- 
ton, its  former  occupants.     (^Herbert.) 

GREECE,  from  L.  Grcecia,  from  FpaiKoi,  the  Greeks,  a  name 
not  used  by  Homer,  but  said  to  be  very  ancient.  Some  assert 
that  the  Javan  of  the  prophets  Ezekiel,  Daniel,  and  Zechariah, 
refers  to  Greece,  and  that  Ionia  may  take  its  name  from  Javan 
(i.e.  ]V  yon),  one  of  the  sous  of  Japhet.  (See  Gen.  x.  2.)  "  The 
Hindus  formerly  called  an  Ionian  or  Greek  Javana,  but  the  term 
is  now  appHed  to  both  the  Muhammadan  and  European  invaders 
of  India,  and  is  often  used  as  a  general  term  for  any  foreigner  or 
barbarous  race."  "  Greece,  called  Hellas  by  the  Greeks."  {Cicero.) 

GREENWICH  {grinidj),  Kent;  in  L.  Grenovicum ;  from 
A.  S.  Grena-wic,  Grene-wic,  "  a  green  habitation  upon  the  bank 
of  a  river,"  from  grene  green,  wic,  a  village,  bay. 

GRENO'BLE,  capital  of  Dauphine,  a  province  of  France; 
formerly  Grenople,  contraction  of  Gratianopolis,  i.e.  the  TToAig  or 
city  of  the  Emperor  Gratian,  son  of  Valentinian  I.  It  was 
anciently  called  Cularo. 

GRIMSBY,  CO.  Lincoln ;  "  from  one  Grimus,  who  built  it." 
{Bailey.)     Dan.  by,  a  city. 

GRON'GAR-HILL,  from  W.  gron,  for  crwn,  round,  from 
coron,  cron,  a  circle,  crown;  and.  gaer  for  caer,  a  fort.  Y gron 
gaer,  the  round  caer  or  fort. 

GUADALOUPE  {gwada-loop),  an  island  in  the  W.  Indies, 
called  Guadalupe  by  the  Spaniards,  from  the  resemblance  of  its 
mountains  to  a  chain  in  Spanish  Estremadura,  which,  as  well  as  a 
town  and  a  small  river,  bear  that  name.  The  name  of  the  river 
is  proljably  derived  from  the  Arab,  loddi  a  river,  and  Sp.  loba 
(from  L.  iupa)  a  she-wolf.     Varac  calls  it  in  L.  Aquce  Lupice. 

GUADALQUIVIR,  a  river  in  Spain  flowing  by  Seville  and 
Cadiz.  The  name  is  corrupted  from  the  Arab.  Wdd-ol-lmbir, 
"  the  great  river,"  from  ^j\.  wddi  a  river,  also  the  channel  of 
a  river,  a  valley,     W  al  the    -\^  /edbir  great.     The  names  of  many 


122  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

rivers  in  the  Peninsula  are  compounded  of  wMi  and  other 
Arabic  words.  Among  these  are  the  Guadalcazar,  from  Wad-al- 
kasar,  the  river  of  the  palace  or  royal  house  ;  the  Guadalhorra, 
from  Wdd-al-gdr,  the  laurel  river ;  the  Guadarrama,  near 
Gibraltar,  from  JVud-al-rumka,  the  mare's  river ;  the  Guadal- 
quiton,  from  Wud-al-kat,  the  cat  river ;  the  GuadaLaxara,  or 
Guadaljara,  from  Wdd-al-hachdra,  the  river  of  the  stones  ;  and 
the  Guadalbacar,  from  Wdd-al-bacai-,  the  ox  or  cow  river. 

GUERNSEY  {gernze).  The  name  of  this  island  was  perhaps 
originally  Ger's-ige,  and,  if  so,  may  have  been  derived  from  the 
same  root  as  Jersey  and  Cherbourg.  Camden  says  Jer,  Ger,  and 
Cher,  are  corrupted  abbreviations  of  Ccesar.  Jerbourg,  the 
name  of  a  fort  in  this  island,  long  since  in  ruins,  is  supposed  to 
be  a  corruption  of  Ccesar's  burg,  or  Cherburg.  The  termination 
ey  in  Guernsey  is  the  ig,  ea,  in  A.  S.  igland,  ealand,  island, 
which  comes  from  land  ;  id.  and  ea,  a  corruption  of  Goth.  a/<M;a, 
from  L.  aqua  water. 

GUIENNE  {ge-yen),  a  province  of  France.  The  name  is 
corrupted  from  Aquitania,  thus,  Aquitania,  Quitania,  Quiania, 
Guienna,  Guienne.  Chartier  says  Aquitania  was  so  named  from 
its  abounding  in  springs  and  rivers  (aquse)  ;  upon  which  Fauchet 
observes,  that  it  was  called  Aquitania  before  the  coming  of  the 
Romans,  and  before  the  Gauls  spoke  Latin.  See  Chartier, 
Descr.  de  la  Gaule  ;  Valois,  Notice  des  Gaules,  and  Menage. 

GUIPUZCOA  {gepoosko'a),  in  the  Basque  provinces  of  Spain  ; 
found  written  Lepuzcoa,  Ipuzcoa,  Ipuzca,  and  Puzico.  Larra- 
mendi  thinks  Guiputzua  is  the  correct  orthography.  No  ety- 
mology has  yet  been  suggested. 

GULISTA'NI,  a  town  in  Persian  Armenia  ;  from  Fers.  gulistdn, 
a  rose-garden ;  J^ gul  a  rose,  ^UL:  stdn  a  place,  country. 

GULNilR.  "  The  name  given  by  the  Turks  to  a  harbour  and 
surrounding  district  (on  the  sea  coast  of  Asia  Minor),  containing 
only  some  dispersed  cottages,  and  the  remains  of  the  ancient 
Celendris,  still  called  Kelenderi  by  the  Greeks."  The  Turc. 
gidnar  is  a  cherry,  but  the  name  may  have  been  corrupted  from 
Celendris. 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  123 

GURH,  GURGH,  GHUR,  iu  local  names  in  Hindustan  (as 
in  Kishenghur,  properly  Krishna  Ghur,  in  the  Punjab  ;  Ram- 
gurgh,  in  the  hill  state  of  Hindoor  ;  Rajgurh,  in  Sirmoor ;  Chu- 
nargurgli,  in  ^Nlirzapoor  ;  Gawilgurgh,  in  Hyderabad  ;  Futihgurh 
(which  Gilchrist  translates  "  Fort  Victoria"),  is  the  Hind,  garh, 
(jurh,  a  fort,  hill  fort,  mud  fort, 

GUZERAT',  or  GUJERAT',  a  principality  in  the  W.  of  India, 
also  a  district  in  the  Punjab.  Mr.  Elliot  considers  the  appel- 
lation to  be  derived  from  the  Gujar,  a  numerous  class  in  the 
N.  W.  provinces,  chiefly  engaged  in  agriculture,  though  for- 
merly notorious  for  their  martial  and  predatory  character.  "  In 
the  Dakhin,  says  "Wilson,  the  term  Gujar  is  considered  synony- 
mous with  Gujarati,  and  applied  to  any  native  of  Guzerat,  but 
more  especially  to  the  traders  and  dealers  from  that  country." 
Guzar  in  Pers.  is  a  passage,  transit,  a  broker,  factor,  pasturage  ; 
guzurd  a  ferry,  ferry-boat ;  guzdridan  to  cause  to  pass,  transact, 
pay  ;  mdl-guzur,  a  farmer,  or  renter. 

GW'EN  DWR,  CO.  Brecknock,  N.  Wales,  synonymous  with 
Wendover,  i.e.  fair  water.     (W.) 

GWY,  in  names  of  rivers  in  Wales — as  Edwy,  Efyrnwy,  Elwy, 
Llugwy,  ^lawddwy,  IVIynewy,  Trydomwy — is  the  W.  givy  or  wy, 
the  primary  signification  of  which  is  "water." 


H. 


HACKNEY,  near  London ;  in  ancient  records  written 
Hackenaye  and  Hacquenye ;  in  a  patent  of  Edward  IV. 
Ilackeney  otherwise  Hackney ;  and  in  Index  to  Rolls  of  Parlia- 
ment, Ilackenayes  and  Ilackenay.  "  It  may  have  been  so  called 
from  a  Dane  or  Saxon  of  the  name  of  Ilacon  or  Hakon,  and  be  a 
corruption  of  Ilacon-eij,  i.e.  Ilacon's  ey  or  place  near  water,  or 
his  domain."  Hackney  is  reputed  as  the  first  place  near  London 
provided  with  coaches  let  out  for  hire  ;  whence,  it  is  said,  arose 
the  term  hackney  coaches,  hackneys,  or  hacknics  ;  but  the  cache- 


124  LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY. 

a-haquenee  originated  iu  France  in  the  early  part  of  the  l/th 
century ;  and  haquende,  in  French,  is  a  sort  of  cob-horse.  See 
Robinson,  Hist.  Hackney ;  Month.  Mag.,  vol.  xvii.,  582  ;  vol. 
xviii.,  126. 

HADDEBY,  formerly  Haithaby,  a  town  in  Denmark,  on  the 
river  Schle,  and  opposite  to  Schleswig ;  from  Sax.  cut,  at,  by,  had 
heath,  Dan.  by  a  town — "  town  by  the  heath  ;"  so  called  from 
the  heath  abounding  in  the  neighbourhood.     (Bosiuorth.) 

HAGUE  (haig)  ;  Fr.  La  Hmje,  a  city  in  Holland.  The  Hague 
owes  its  origin  to  a  hunting-seat  built  there  by  the  counts  of 
Holland  in  1250,  and  is  named  from  Graven  Haage,  i.e.  the 
counts'  hedge,  which  surrounds  their  park.  D.  graaf,  earl,  count, 
hang  a  hedge.     See  St.  Graavenzande. 

HAINAUT,  or  HAINAULT  (highnoj,  formerly  Henault  and 
Hainoum  ;  in  G.  Hennegau,  L.  Hannonia,  a  frontier  province  of 
Belgium.  It  is  said  to  take  its  name  from  the  river  Haine,  which 
runs  through  it.  There  is  also  Hainault  Forest  in  England,  co. 
Essex.  Hainault  may  be  from  the  Celt,  hen-ault,  an  old 
wood,  and  Haine  may  come  from  hen,  old. 

HALSTEAD,  Essex,  in  records  found  written  Halsed,  Hausted, 
Hawlstede,  and  Howsted,  and  in  modern  writings  sometimes 
named  South  Halstead,  to  distinguish  it  from  Halstead  in  Suffolk. 
From  A.  S.  halstede,  "  healthy  place"  (from  heel,  and  sted  a 
place)  :  a  term  said  to  be,  with  great  propriety,  applicable  to  the 
pleasant  eminence  it  occupies. 

HAM,  in  local  names,  as  East  Ham,  Rainham,  Farn- 
hara,  Waltham,  Debenham,  Cheltenham,  Burnham,  Tyneham, 
Swineham,  Gillingham,  Odiham,  Hamnioon  (i.e.  Ham-mohun), 
is  the  A.  S.  ham  (Plat,  ham,  Fries,  hatn,  hem,  G.  heim,  M.  Goth. 
haim,  Dan.  hiem,  Sw.  he7n.  Mid.  L.  hama),  a  habitation,  house, 
home,  dwelhng,  farm  ;  perhaps  from  O.  G.  heimen,  to  cover. 
Norden  says  ham,  in  some  names,  is  from  L.  amnis  a  river. 

HAMBURG,  according  to  Dresser  and  others,  was  anciently 
called  Augusta  Gambriviorum,  or  Gambrivia ;  but  Tacitus, 
speaking  of  the  Gambrivii,  does  not  mention  it.  Its  origin  is 
ascribed  to   Charlemagne,  who,  to  arrest  the  incursions  of  the 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY,  125 

northern  Slavonic  nations,  in  the  year  808,  built  two  forts 
upon  the  Elbe,  one  of  which  became  Hamburg.  Albert  de  Staade 
says  its  ancient  name  was  Hochbuchi  or  Hochburi ;  Lambecius, 
that  it  had  both  a  Saxon  and  a  Vandal  name,  the  latter  in  ancient 
monuments  written  Huobbuocki,  Hobbouch,  Hochbuch,  Hoch- 
buri, Bochburi,  Buchburi,  Buchborg,  and  Buchborch  ;  and  that 
the  derivation  of  the  first  syllable  Buck,  from  the  Pol.  Boij,  or 
Bohem.  Buh,  God,  agrees  with  the  stiitement  in  preface  to  ancient 
Droit  Civil  of  Hamburg,  that  this  city  was  called  Ville  de  Dieu  in 
the  Vandal  language.  The  Slav,  has  also  bog  war.  The  name 
may  have  come  thus : — Bogborg,  Bockborg,  Buckborg,  Huck- 
borg,  Huhborg,  Hubbouch,  Humbouch,  Humbourg,  Hambourg, 
Hamburg.  See  Lambecius,  Orig.  Kamb.  p.  3  ;  Eghiuard,  ad 
ann.  808  ;  Dresser,  de  Urb.  Germ.  p.  304  ;  Cluvier,  Germ.  Ant. 
lib.  iii.,  c.  27,  p.  605  ;  Albert  de  Staade,  Chron.  ann.  810. 

HAMMERS^NIITH,  found  written  Hamersmith.  Faulkner 
{Hist.  Hammersmith)  derives  the  name  from  Sax.  hum,  a  town  or 
dwelling,  and  hijde  or  hyfhe,  a  haven  or  harbour  ;  therefore,  says 
he,  Ham-hythe,  signifies  a  town  with  a  harbour  or  creek ;  which 
here  connects  the  river  with  the  centre  of  the  town,  and  forms  a 
convenient  quay  or  dock  for  the  landing  of  various  kinds  of  mer- 
chandise, coals  and  corn.  Bowack  says  it  is  called  in  Domesday 
Hermoderwode,  and  in  ancient  deeds  Hermoderworth,  which  is 
an  evidence  of  its  antiquity,  because  it  was,  at  that  time,  a  place 
well  known.  He  says,  "  We  shall  not  attempt  accounting  for  the 
present  name  of  it,  Hammersmith,  which  is  somewhat  odd,  unless 
we  suppose  that  time  has  melted  those  rough  Saxon  sounds,  which 
indeed  seems  more  probable  than  several  conjectures  we  heard 
about  it,  or  that  ridiculous  account  firmly  believed  by  some  of 
the  inhabitants  of  Fulham  and  Putney,  as  well  as  of  this  place,  viz. 
that  the  two  churches  of  the  two  first  named  places  were,  many 
ages  since,  built  by  two  sisters  of  gigantic  stature,  who  had  but  one 
hammer  between  them,  which  they  used  to  throw  across  the  river, 
but  that  one  time  it  happened  unfortunately  to  fall  upon  its  claws 
and  broke  them,  so  that  the  pious  wish  must  have  unavoidably 
stood  still,  if  they  could  not  have  got  it  mended,  but,  going  to  a 


126  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

smith  that  lived  at  this  place,  he  set  all  to  rights  again,  and,  for 
such  good  service  it  has  ever  since  retained  the  name  of  Hammer- 
smith. This  fantastic  relation  is  inserted  only  for  the  reader's 
diversion,  and  to  let  him  see  the  force  of  tradition,  and  how 
strangely  the  ignorant  may  be  imposed  upon,  especially  if  there  is 
the  least  shadow  of  truth  to  support  it,  as  there  is  here,  the 
towers  of  the  two  churches  being  exactly  alike,  and,  by  the  con- 
dition of  both,  built  about  the  same  time  ;  and  the  name  of 
Hammersmith  colours  the  whole  story  admirably  well,  and  puts 
the  certainty  with  them  out  of  doubt."  Antiq.  Midd,  p.  47, 
Lond.  170.5. 

HAMPSHIRE.     See  Southa-mpton. 

HAMPSTEAD,  formerly  Hamestede,  the  old  form  of  "  home- 
stead," which,  says  Lysons,  means  the  site  of  a  house  with  its 
appurtenances — a  name  which  may  have  been  sometimes  applied, 
by  way  of  pre-eminence,  to  the  residence  of  the  lord  of  the  manor. 

HAMPTON-ON-THAMES,  according  to  some,  was  called 
Avona,  from  Anc.  Brit,  avon,  water,  river,  whence  Avona-ton,  i.e. 
"  river-town,"  afterwards  corrupted  into  Hampton.  Others  say 
the  name  means  "home-towii,"  from  A.  S.  ham,  used  in  the  sense 
of  "  home,"  and  tun. 

HANSE  TOWNS  {hanz).  The  Hanse  Towns,  in  Germany, 
were  cities  associated  for  the  protection  of  commerce,  as  early  as 
the  12th  century.  This  confederacy  has  now  ceased;  and  its 
remnants,  Lubeck,  Hamburg,  Bremen,  and  Frankfort,  are  called 
Free  Cities.  Some  say  "Hanse"  means  "maritime,"  from  «m 
see,  "  upon  the  sea ;"  others  derive  the  name  from  O.  Goth. 
ansi,  "  the  upper  classes  ;"  or  from  hansa,  a  multitude ;  but 
the  most  probable  derivation  is  from  O.  G.  hanse,  a  society,  from 
Hans  a  companion,  which  may  be  the  G.  and  D.  hans  (John), 
The  D.  has  hansbeker,  a  large  drinking  cup ;  hansen,  to  drink 
a  bumper;  hanssen,  great  men.  The  O.  Fr.  marchand  hanse 
or  anse,  is  a  privileged  merchant,  or  one  received  into  the 
number  of  the  privileged  ;  the  O.  G.  h'unseln  meant  "  to  initiate," 
to  admit  into  a  society  or  company.  See  also  Ducange,  and 
Wachter,  Gloss. 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  127 

HARBOTTLE,  Northumberland,  so  called,  says  Bailey,  be- 
cause it  was  a  place  where  soldiers  kept  their  quarters ;  from 
A.  S.  here  an  army,  botl  a  house.     See  Bolton. 

HARTLEPOOL  (Jiar'tl),  co.  Durham.  Cooke  is  of  opinion 
that  Hartland  Point  is  a  corruption  oi  Hercules  Promontorium  and 
Hartlepool,  of  HeradeopoUs,  and  that  the  early  inhabitants  of  this 
part  of  the  country  were  a  trading  colony  of  lonians  who  wor- 
shipped Hercules  (see  Hutchinson's  Northumb.  p.  161);  and 
he  speaks  of  an  inscription  on  an  altar  to  Hercules  in  Corbridge 
church-yard.  Cade  thinks  Hartlepool,  or  the  port  of  the  Hart, 
at  Hartness,  may  be  named  from  the  redness  of  the  stone  or  soil 
(see  Hertford)  ;  others,  that  it  has  been  the  peculiar  haunt  of 
deer,  as  evidenced  by  the  numerous  antlers  and  teeth  discovered 
hereabouts.  Bede  calls  it  Heortu  or  Heortea,  "the  place  where 
the  harts  drink  ;"  and  Huntingdon,  "  the  island  of  harts."  The 
name  is  derived  by  some  from  the  long-submerged  Hart  Forest, 
the  adjunct  "  in-pool"  or  "  le-pool,"  showing  its  vicinity  to  the 
sea.  Dufresne,  however,  says  hart  is  a  Teutonic  word  for  "  forest," 
in  a  general  sense.  On  the  town  seal  a  stag  is.  represented  in  a 
pool ;  but  as  the  historian  justly  observes,  this  (like  the  arms  of 
Hertford  and  Oxford)  can  only  be  considered  as  a  rebus  on  the 
ancient  appellation. 

HARWICH  (harridj),  co.  Essex,  from  A.  S.  here-wic,  her-wic, 
from  here  an  army,  ivic,  a  port,  bay,  residence  ;  '*  a  place  where 
an  army  encamps  or  is  in  garrison,  a  station,  camp."  (Bosworth.) 
It  is  supposed  that  a  Saxon  army  was  always  stationed  here,  to 
oppose  the  descent  of  the  piratical  Danes.  See  Morant's  Essex, 
vol.  i.,  p.  499. 

HARZ  {hartz)  ;  the  Harz  mountains  and  forest  in  N.  W.  Ger- 
many. Lamartinit*re  says  the  old  Teut.  word  harz,  a  forest,  is  still 
preserved  in  Speshart,  Neustadt-an-der-//ar^,  &c.  ;  but  the  forest 
may  be  named  from  the  large  quantity  of  resin  (G.  harz)  which 
it  produces,  or  from  the  number  of  its  deer  (Teut.  hart,  a  stag). 
But  see  Spcncr,  Not.  Germ.  Ant.,  p.  83  ;  also  Wachter,  Gloss. 

HASTINGS,  CO.  Sussex,  called  by  the  Saxons  Hastinga. 
Somner  writes  Ila-rting  and   Hscrtingaceastcr,  which  he  derives 


128  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

from  Sax.  hcerte  heat,  because  of  the  bubbhng  or  boiling  of  the 
sea  in  this  place.  Camden  says  from  one  Hasting,  a  Dane, 
a  great  robber,  who  either  seized,  built,  or  fortified  it.  "  In 
893  the  Danes,  in  250  ships,  commanded  by  the  pirate  Hastinge, 
landed  at  the  mouth  of  the  river  Rother,  near  Romney  Marsh, 
and  immediately  possessed  themselves  of  Apuldore,  where,  and 
at  Hastings  (so  called  from  their  leader)  they  constructed  forts 
and  ravaged  all  the  coast  to  the  westward  of  the  country." 
{Dallaway).  Kemble  thinks  Hastings  was  the  fortress,  and  pro- 
bably at  one  time  the  town,  of  a  tribe  called  the  Hcestingas.  See 
also  Moss,  Hist.  Hastings. 

HATCH,  an  adjunct  to  many  local  names  in  Essex,  as  Kelve- 
don  Hatch,  West  Hatch,  Abury  Hatch,  How  Hatch,  Pilgrim  Hatch, 
Fox  Hatch  ;  also  Colney  Hatch,  near  Muswell  Hill,  Middlesex ; 
Hatch  House  and  Manor,  Wilts,  standing  upon  a  high  hill.  Morant 
(Hist.  Essex,  p.  185)  says  hatch  means  a  low  gate  towards  the 
forest.  A  learned  annotator,  referring  to  Hatch  in  Essex,  says  : 
"Hatches  has  also  the  signification  of  flood-gates,  but  no  flood- 
gates exist,  or  ever  could  have  existed,  in  many  of  the  places  having 
the  name  of  Hatch,  no  water  of  any  kind  being  near  them."  See 
also  Cowel,  Law  Diet.  ;  27  Hen.  8,  23  ;  and  Survey  of  Corn- 
wall. 

HATFIELD,  Herts,  found  written  H^d-feld,  Heat-feld,  Hedt- 

felt,  and  Hat-feld,  from  A.  S.  hcBcl  heath,  feld  a  field. 

HA  UGH  (haw),  a  low-lying  meadow ;  another  orthography 
of  Haw. 

HAVAN'A,  or  THE  HAVANNAH,  in  the  Island  of  Cuba ; 
from  Sp.  Habana,  "The  harbour."  {Johnston.)  Neither 
habana  nor  havana,  for  a  harbour,  is  found  in  the  Spanish  dic- 
tionaries. Habana  may,  however,  have  been  formed  from  haven, 
or  G.  hafen.  Dan.  havn,  D.  haven. 

HAVERING- ATTE-BOWER,  Essex.  Atte  is  a  corruption 
of  " At  the;"  "Havering  at  or  near  the  king's  or  queen's 
bower." 

HAVRE  (hahver),  Fr.  Le  Havre,  a  seaport  of  France  ;  from 
O.  G.  Aff/en,  a  port,  or  the  Celtic  aber,  the  embouchure  of  a 


LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY.  129 

river.  See  Bochart,  Colon.  Phoen,  liv.  i.  ch.  42;  Syl.  Giraldus, 
Itin.  Carab.  liv.  ii.  ch.  1  ;  also,  Menage  ;  and  voc.  Aber. 

HAW,  in  English  local  names,  means  lit.  inclosed  land,  a  small 
field  ;  from  A.  S.  haga,  hagen.     In  Chaucer  it  signifies  a  dale. 

HAYNE,  a  terminal  of  English  local  names,  is  probably  a 
contraction  of  A.  S.  hagen  (haga)  a  hay,  hedge,  meadow.  "Hage, 
hagen,  tot  oppidorum  nominibus  hinc  annexum."  {Somner.) 
"Nigan  et  xx.  hagena  syndon  ;  novem  et  viginti  praedia  sunt." 
{Bosworth.)  "Grete  hertes  in  the  haynes,  fair  bares  in  the 
playnes  ;"  MS.  Line.  (Halliwell.)  Willhayne,  well  inclosure  ; 
Woodhayne,  wood  inclosure  ;   Cownhayne,  cows'  inclosure. 

HAYTI  (hag'te),  an  island  in  the  West  Indies.  The  name 
signifies  "high  land." 

HEARN,  formerly  Hern,  is  sometimes  found  in  local  names. 
Some  translate  the  Sax.  hern,  a  cottage  ;  others  a  house  ;  as  Whit- 
hern,  a  "  white  house."  Hern  may  sometimes  be  another  ortho- 
graphy of  Em,  Erne  (q.  v.). 

HELICON,  a  mountain  of  Bceotia,  sacred  to  Apollo  and  the 
Muses  ;  from  Gr.  'EXixcuv,  which  Le  Clerc  derives  (rom  Phoen. 
hhalik  or  hhalikon,  a  high  mountain.  Bochart  (Chan,  lib,  i.  c.  16) 
shows  that  Boeotia  was  full  of  Phcenician  names  and  colonies. 

HEL'IGOLAND,  found  written  Helgoland  ;  an  island  near  the 
mouth  of  the  Elbe,  and  anciently  called  Hertha,  after  the  goddess 
of  that  name,  whom  the  Saxons  worshipped  there.  From  G.  Heili- 
gesland,  i.e.  holy  land. 

HEL'SINGFORS,  in  Finland  ;  said  to  be  named  after  a  colony 
from  the  province  of  Helsing-land,  in  Sweden,  which  had  been 
established  in  the  neighbourhood  for  several  centuries.  Qu.  Sw. 
fors,  stream,  'waterfall.  There  is  Helsing-borg  in  Sweden,  oppo- 
site Ilelsing-cir,  commonly  Elsinore  and  Elsineur,  in  Denmark. 

IIELSTOX,  a  village  in  Cornwall ;  contraction  of  Corn,  ha-las- 
ton,  "  the  hill  by  a  green  moor.'' 

IIEM'EL  HEMPSTED,  Herts,  formerly  Ilcmel  Ilamsted. 
Heme!  may  have  been  originally  the  name  of  the  owner.  In  the 
neighbourhood  is  Wheal  Hempsted.     See  Hampstead. 

in:\LRY-Ox\-TIIAMES.      Dr.  Plr.t  calls  it  "the  ancientest 

K 


130  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

town  in  the  country,"  but  has  not  adduced  any  fact  or  argument 
to  support  his  conjecture.  He  derives  the  name  from  Celt,  lien 
old,  ley  a  place.  In  an  inspeximus  granted  by  Queen  Eli- 
zabeth to  the  corporation  of  Henley,  it  is  called  Hanlegauz  and 
Hanneburg.  {Rees.) 

HENTLAND,  a  parish,  co.  Hereford,  derives  its  name  from 
the  old  church,  in  W.  hen-llan. 

HEREFORD  {her nj ford).  Leland  says  "  in  Welsh  this  place 
is  called  Hewr-ford,  of  an  old  ford  by  the  castle,  by  the  which 
many  passed  over,  or  ever  the  great  bridge  on  the  Wye  at  Here- 
ford was  made."  Camden  says  "  the  similarity  between  the 
names  of  Ereinue,  Arcenfeld,  the  town  of  Ariconium,  mentioned 
hereabouts  by  Antoninus,  and  Hariford  or  Heriford,  now  the  metro- 
polis of  the  county,  have  led  me  to  think  that  all  are  derived  from 
Ariconium  ;  not  that  I  believe  Ariconium  and  Hereford  the  same 
place,  but  as  Bazil  in  Germany  took  the  name  of  Augusta  Raura- 
corum,  and  Baldach  in  Assyria  that  of  Babylon,  because  they 
arose  out  of  the  ruins  of  those  places,  so  our  Hariford  (as  it  is 
commonly  pronounced)  derived,  in  my  opinion,  its  name  and 
existence  from  the  Roman  Ariconium."  Duncumb,  however, 
prefers  the  derivation  from  A.  S.  /lere  an  army,  hndford  a  ford  ; 
the  place  being  near  a  ford  frequently  crossed  by  armies  of  Britons 
and  their  invaders  ;  and  he  considers  all  prior  etymologies  doubt- 
ful, no  evidence  having  been  adduced  to  prove  that  Hereford 
existed  as  a  town  before  the  Saxon  Heptarchy. 

HERMANN  or  ERMINE  STREET,  one  of  the  four  great 
roads  or  military  ways  constructed  by  the  Romans  in  Britain,  and 
extending  through  the  entire  length  of  the  kingdom  ;  from  A.  S. 
here  an  army,  or  heretnan  a  soldier.     See  Hereford. 

HERTFORD  (har/ord)  ;  found  written  Heorot-ford,Heort-ford, 
and  Herudford ;  perhaps  from  A.  S.  heort,  a  hart,  stag,  ford 
a  ford  ;  "  the  hart's  ford."  Bede  says  from  herudford,  "  the  red 
ford."  The  historian  thinks  it  was  named  from  its  situation  on 
the  Roman  Vadum  Militare,  or  the  ford  of  the  Roman  military 
way,  called  by  the  Saxons  Herman  Street,  which  extended  from 
Newhaven,  in  Sussex,  to  Castor,  in  Norfolk.  See  Herman 
Street. 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  131 

HIBERNIA.     See  Ireland. 

HIMALA'YA  signifies  "  the  abode  of  snow  ;"  from  Sans,  hima 
snow,  &laya  an  abode. 

HIN'DOO  KOOSH,  i.e.  the  Hindoo  or  Indian  Caucasus,  a  range 
of  mountains  in  India. 

HINDUSTAN',  i.e.  the  stan  or  country  of  the  Hindus.  Gil- 
christ says  *'  Hind,  the  ancient  term  for  India,  perhaps  signifies  '  a 
black'  («?^er),  which,  with  the  comraonadjunctoo,  makes  *  blackey,' 
*  negro,'  &c.;  so  that  we  might  translate  Hindostan  '  negro-land.'  " 
He  adds  that  Sind  and  Hind  are  synonymous.  "  India,  in  the 
Zend  and  Pehlvi  languages  is  called  Heando,  and  in  Hebrew  -nn 
hoddu  (Esther,  i.  I);  and  by  the  Persian  and  Arabian  geographers 
Hend''     See  Indus  and  Stan. 

HIS'SAR,  in  local  names  in  Turkey  and  India,  is  the  Turc.  and 
Hind.  jLjir^  hisdr  a  fort,  as  Bala  Hissar,  Cabul ;  Kara  Hissar, 
the  black  fort ;  Koyla  Hissar,  Sultan  Hissar,  Ghieuzel  Hissar, 
Kizhissar,  in  Turkey. 

HITHE,  a  termination  of  local  names  in  England,  denotes  a 
situation  on  the  shore,  and  convenient  for  landing  goods  {Bos- 
worth),  as  Greenhithe,  Queenhithe,  Rotherhithe,  from  A.  S.  h%jth 
a  port,  haven.  Hythe,  Hithe,  is  the  name  of  one  of  the  Cinque 
Ports,  in  Kent. 

HO,  in  local  names  in  China,  generally  signifies  a  river.  The 
Yellow  River  is  also  called  "Ho,"  as  being  the  river,  by  way  of 
eminence. 

IIOANG-HO,  a  river  in  China.     See  Hwang  Ho. 

HOCIIST  {hexi),  near  Frankfort.  Hochst  in  G.  signifies 
"highest,"  but  it  may  be  here  a  contraction  of  Ilochstiidt,  from 
hack,  high,  stadt  a  town.  We  have  Hochstiidt  in  Bavaria,  near 
which  is  the  little  village  of  Blenheim,  [)ropcrly  Blindheim,  noted 
for  the  famous  victory  of  Marlborough  and  Eugene,  over  the 
French  and  the  Bavarians. 

IIOLBORN  {ho'bern).  "  Oldborne  or  Ililbourne  was  the  like 
water  breaking  out  about  the  place  where  now  the  bars  do  stand, 
and  it  ran  down  the  whole  street  till  Oldborne  Bridge,  and  into 
the  river  of  the  wells,  or  turnemill  brook.     This  bourne  was  like- 


132  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

wise  long  since  stopped  up  at  the  head  and  in  other  places  where 
the  same  hath  broken  out,  but  yet  till  this  day  the  said  street  is 
there  called  High  Oldborne  Hill,  and  both  the  sides  thereof, 
together  with  all  the  ground  adjoining  that  lie  betwixt  it  and  the 
river  Thames  remain  full  of  springs,  so  that  water  is  there  found  at 
hand  and  hard  to  be  stopped  in  every  house."  (Stoio.)  Lemon 
(quoting  Cle.  Voc.  73  and  131  n.)  says  Hol-boum  means  "the 
bounds  or  limits  of  the  college,"  and  is  consequently  a  Greek 
word(!).  The  true  derivation  is  from  A.  S.  eald,  celd,  old,  burn,  a 
stream,  brook. 

HOLDERNESS  {hoal' denies),  co.  York  (called  by  Ptolemy 
Ocellum ;  from  Anc.  Brit,  ykill,  a  foreland),  from  A.  S.  Hold- 
deor-nesse,  the  promontory  of  hollow  Deira.  {Bailey.)  The  pro- 
vince or  kingdom  of  Deira  was  part  of  Northumberland,  situated 
between  the  Tyne  and  Humber.  Dr.  Bosworth  gives  the  "  A.  S. 
Holdeoranes,  hoi  deora  nesse,  cavse  Deirse  promontorium  ; "  hoi 
hollow,  ncesse,  nesse,  promontory,  headland,  cape.  See  Spurn- 
head. 

HOLLAND.  According  to  some  authors,  the  name  may 
denote  a  very  low  country  ;  from  O.  G.  hoi  low,  land,  id.  Dr. 
Bosworth,  quoting  Halbertsnia,  says  the  meaning  of  Holland 
exactly  suits  the  fenny  and  boggy  soil  which  it  designates ;  that 
the  oldest  Dutch  authors  write  Ollant ;  but  that  the  word  ol  in 
the  sense  of  dirty  or  glutinous  matter,  mud,  does  not  appear  in 
A.  S.,  although  it  is  found  in  a  derived  signification.  Van  der 
Schueren  says,  "  Beven  daveren  als  eyn  ollant,  scaler e — tremble 
under  the  feet  as  a  marshy  ground."  The  name  Holland  is  not 
heard  of  before  a.d.  1064.  (See  Wachtendonk's  Rhym.  Chron. 
and  Hnydecoper  on  Melis  Stoke.) 

HOLM  {home),  in  local  names  in  England,  is  the  A.  S. 
holm  water,  island,  low  ground  by  water  ;  thus,  the  Steep  and 
Flat  Holmes,  and  Holme,  Dorset;  and  Axholm.  In  Sweden 
and  Denmark  holm,  is  "  a  small  island  ;"  as  Stockholm,  Rydbo- 
holm,  Gripsholm,  Bornholm,  Drotnlngholm  (i.e.  queen's  island). 

HONG-KONG',  a  Chinese  island ;  said  to  be  corrupted  from 
Chin,  heang-keang,  "  the  valley  of  fragrant  waters." 

HOO,  HOE  {ho),  in  local  names  in  England,  as  Prud-hoe, 


LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY.  133 

Shaft-hoe,  Sand-hoe,  Tud-hoe  in  Durham  and  Northumberland  ; 
Hoc,  Herts  ;  Hoe,  Kent ;  may  have  originally  signified  a  hill, 
perhaps  from  G.  hohe,  height,  elevation.  Hohe  is  found  in  Ger- 
man names  of  places,  as  Hohenliuden,  Hohenwart,  Hohen 
Staufen,  HohenzoUern,  Hohenwerfen,  &c.  Baxter  translates 
Icanhoe,  "  j4r.v  Icenorum." 

HOPE,  in  local  names  in  England,  is  said  to  signify  a  sloping 
hollow  between  two  hills,  and  is  derived  by  some  from  the  Celt. ; 
but  it  is  more  probably  a  corruption  of  haw,  hauffh,  hawgh, 
hough,  from  the  A.  S.  hapa,  a  small  quantity  of  enclosed  land,  a 
dwelling-house.  Halliwell  gives  "  Hope,  a  valley,  also  a  hill." 
(North.) 

HORNCHURCH,  Essex,  "  hath  its  denomination  from  the 
horns  of  a  hart  that  happened  to  be  killed  by  a  king's  dog  near 
the  church,  as  it  was  building ;  and  the  horns  were  put  in  the 
wall  of  the  church."  Mr.  Estest  of  Trinity  College,  Oxford,  went 
to  school  here,  and  said  that  the  stumps  of  the  horns  were  extinct 
in  his  time.     (Cam.  Soc.) 

HORNSEY,  Middlesex;  from  the  13th  to  the  IGth  century 
called  in  public  records  Haringee,  Haringhee,  or  Haringay ; 
about  Queen  Elizabeth's  time  usually  written  Harnsey  or  Horn- 
sey.  Its  etymology  must  be  sought  for  in  its  more  ancient  name. 
Har-inge,  *'  the  meadow  of  hares,"  is  not  very  wide  of  its  original 
orthography.  (Lysons.)  Hornsea  is  the  name  of  a  place  in 
Yorkshire,  situated  on  the  sea-coast,  near  a  small  lake  formed 
by  a  breach  from  the  sea. 

HORS'HAM,  Sussex.  The  common  derivation  is  from  the 
Sax.  llorsa,  brother  of  Hengist.  Allan  {Hist.  Sussex),  says  its 
situation  in  that  part  of  the  county  termed  the  weald,  which  was 
formerly  one  continued  forest,  would  authorize  us  to  suppose  that 
the  present  name  is  a  corru[)tion  of  Ilurst-ham,  or  the  town  in 
tlie  wood, 

HOUNDSDITCH.  "  From  Aldgate  north  west  to  Bishops- 
gate,  lieth  tlie  ditch  of  the  city,  called  Houndcsditch,  for  that  in 
old  time,  when  the  same  lay  open,  mucli  filth  conveyed  forth  of 
the  city,  especially  dead  dogs,  were  there  laid  or  cast  ;  where- 
fore, of  latter  time,  a  mud  wall  was  made,  inclosing  the  (htch,  to 


134  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

keep  out  the  laying  of  such  filth   as   had  been   accustomed." 
(Stow.) 

HOUNSLOW,  Middlesex.     See  Low. 

HOXTON,  formerly  Hogsdon,  a  suburb  of  London,  may  have 
been  noted  for  a  hog-market,  or  its  site  may  have  belonged  to  one 
Hogg.  Bailey,  under  Hoxton,  "  a  town  in  Sussex,  remarkable 
for  the  martyrdom  of  St.  Edmund  the  King,"  says,  "  formerly 
Hogilsdon,  perhaps  by  metathesis  for  haligtun,  i.e.  a  holy  tov^n." 

HRADSCHIN,  the  part  of  Prague  situated  on  the  left  bank  of  ' 
the  Moldau  ;  also  the  palace  of  the  Bohemian  sovereigns.    From 
Bohem.  hrad  a  castle  (casfrum,  castellum,  arx). 

HULL,  CO.  York,  formerly  Kingston-upon-Hull,  and  still  so 
called  in  Parliamentary  documents.  It  stands  at  the  confluence 
of  the  rivers  Humber  and  Hull,  the  latter  being  supposed  by 
Bailey  to  derive  its  name  from  Low  S.  hulen  (Teut.  heulen),  to 
howl,  from  the  noise  which  it  makes  on  meeting  the  sea  ;  but  the 
name  is  more  probably  a  corruption  of  one  or  more  Celtic  words. 

HUMBER,  a  river  in  the  N.  of  England  ;  from  Sax.  Humbre, 
so  called,  because  its  waters  make  a  great  humming  at  the  flowing 
and  ebbing  of  the  tide.     (Somner. ) 

HUMMUMS.  The  Hummums,  Covent  Garden,  were  ori- 
ginally celebrated  for  their  hot  baths,  which  were  first  established 
there  by  a  Turk.  From  Turc.  and  Arab.  ^U^..  harmndm  a  hot 
bath.  The  Arab,  hammdmd  is  an  embalming  herb  ;  hamim  hot 
water ;  hamm  hot. 

HUNGARY,  from  L.  Hunydria,  for  Hungavdria,  said  to  be 
from  Hutini  and  Avares,  two  Scythian  tribes  who  invaded  this 
country  about  a.d.  400.     Hungary  was  anciently  called  Pannonia. 

HUNGERFORD,  co,  Berks,  formerly  Ingleford,  for  Engla- 
ford,  "the  ford  of  the  Angles."     See  England. 

HUNTINGDON,  found  written  Huntandun,  Huntendun, 
Huntendune,  Huntadun,  Huntyngdon ;  from  A.  S.  huntan  a 
hunter's,  dun  a  hill.      (Bosworth.) 

HURST,  in  EngUsh  local  names,  as  Sandhurst,  Midhurst,  is 
the  A.  S.  hurst  or  hyrst,  a  wood  or  grove.  Chiselhurst  means 
"  the  chesnut  grove  ;"  Hazelhurst,  "the  hazel  grove." 


LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY.  135 

HURSTMOXCEUX  {herst-mun-zoo),  co.  Sussex.  Prior  to 
the  Conquest,  tbe  estate  then  called  Hyrst  was  the  property  of  Earl 
Godwin,  and  was  then  given  to  Earl  de  Warren  ;  but  a  few  years 
after  we  find  it  transferred,  by  some  means,  to  a  Norman  family, 
who  assumed  its  name  ;  and  one  of  them  added  that  of  Monceux, 
the  name  of  his  mother,  who  was  born  at  Compton  Monceux,  in 
Hampshire.  (See  Parry,  Coast  of  Sussex.)  The  A.  S.  hurst  or 
hyrst  is  a  wood  or  grove.     See  Hurst. 

HWANG  HAY  {ivang-ha),  the  Yellow  Sea,  China;  from 
Chin,  hwang  yellow,  hae  the  sea,  "  nature's  lake,  which  receives 
all  rivers.''  Hae  is  pronounced  igh  or  high,  and  in  the  Canton 
dialect  like  the  English  hoij. 

HWANG  HO  {wang-ho),  a  river  in  China  ;  lit.  "  the  yellow 
river."     Iltvung  is  the  colour  of  the  earth,  yellow.     See  Ho. 

HYDRABAD  {hidruhad'),  "the  city  of  Hyder."  See 
Abad. 

HYERES,  or  HIERES  {he-are'),  a  town  of  Provence,  in 
France  ;  also  a  small  group  of  islands  upon  the  coast  of  Provence. 
The  town  was  anciently  called  Olbia  Arese,  and  the  Islands,  Insulse 
.Vrearum,  whence  the  present  name  has  been  corrupted. 


I. 

IBERTA,  the  L.  name  for  Spain,  or  rather  part  of  Spain ; 
from  the  river  Ibcr  or  Ebro,  which   flows   through  it.     But  see 

Ebro. 

ICELAND,  from  Dan.  lisland,  "  the  land  of  ice."  The 
Swedes  write  Island,  from  is  ice, 

IGUT'IIAM,  a  parish  in  Kent,  found  written  Ehteham,  a  cor- 
ruption of  Eight-ham,  so  called  from  the  eight  boroughs  or  hams 
lying  within  its  boundaries,  viz.,  Eightham,  Ilcdwell,  Ivyhatch, 
Borough-Green,    St.    Clercs,    The    Moat,    Bcaulies,    and    Old- 

Ijorongh. 

ILCIIESTER,  CO.  Somerset ;  a  contraction  of  Ivelchestcr,  i.e. 


136  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

the  fortress  on  the  Ivel.  Nennius  says  the  Brit,  name  was 
Pensavelcoit,  i.e.  *'  the  city  at  the  head  of  the  river's  mouth,  in 
the  wood."  It  was  the  Ischahs  of  the  Romans  ;  and,  according 
to  Ptolemy,  was  one  of  the  chief  towns  of  the  Belgse.  See  Yeovil. 
and  Chester. 

ILEY  MEAD,  near  Meltsham,  found  written  Iglea,  (Eglea, 
CEcglea  and  Ecglea  ;  from  A.  S.  iy  an  island,  leak  a  plain. 

IM'AUS,  in  anc.  geog.  a  chain  of  mountains  traversing  Asia. 
"The  division  of  Asia  into  int)-a  and  extra  Imaum,  was  not 
unknown  to  Strabo  and  Pliny.  The  name  is  from  Sans,  himavat, 
snowy  mountains."  {Humboldt.)  "  It  was  known  to  Pliny  that 
the  word  Imaus  signified  in  the  language  of  the  natives  *  snowy.'  " 
(P.  Cyc.)  Himavat  means  rather  "  abounding  with  snow," 
"  covered  with  snow."  See  also  Plin.  lib.  vi.  c.  17  ;  Ptol.  lib.  vi. 
c.  14. 

IN,  INN,  in  local  names  in  Great  Britain,  is  sometimes  a  con- 
traction of  Gael,  innis  (q.  v.),  a  country,  an  island. 

INDLA.     See  Hindustan. 

INDUS,  the  name  of  a  river  in  India,  is  said  to  be  either  the 
li.  form  of  the  Pers.  Hind,  a  word  having  no  definite  meaning, 
and  apphed  to  the  whole  country  ;  or  a  corruption  of  Siudus  or 
Sinthis,  its  ancient  name.  The  natives  call  it  Seedhu  or  Sinde, 
the  Nilah  or  "  blue  river/'  and  Abi  Hind.  The  most  probable 
derivation  is  from  Sans,  sindhu,  the  sea,  this  river  being  one  of 
the  largest  in  India. 

ING,  at  the  termination  of  local  names  in  England,  is  some- 
times the  A.  S.  ing,  inge,  a  meadow,  pasture  inclosure  (Goth. 
winga)  ;  thus,  Basing,  Kettering,  Reading,  Godalming,  Yelling, 
&c.  In  like  manner,  the  O.  G.  ing,  inge,  now  ingen,  is  a  field, 
tract  of  land  ;  as  Lotharingen,  the  country  of  Lothar  ;  Thiiringen, 
Kitzingen,  Memmingen,  &c.  In  G.  it  is  sometimes  changed  into 
ung,  as  Waldung,  woodland  ;  Holzung,  a  district,  field,  region 
with  wood ;  Hiitung,  pasturage,  meadow ;  Feldnng  a  field  ; 
Stallung,  a  place  on  which  stables  are  built,  &c.  Names  of  places 
in  Sweden  and  Denmark  also  frequently  end  in  ing,  inge.  (See 
Bosworth  and  Lye.)     Briton  says  ing  is  sometimes  affixed  to  the 


LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY.  137 

name  of  a  place  to  form  a  gentile  name,  meaning  a  person  of  the 
place ;  thus,  Learning  (Warwick,  York,  Gloster),  the  Learn 
(river)  people;  Fearnbeorging  (Kent),  Farnborough-men,  &c. 
Ing,  in  some  names,  is  a  corruption  of  e  or  en,  as  Newington  for 
Newenton  or  Neweton. 

INGRAM'S  CROOK,  Bannockburn,  so  called  from  Sir  Ingram 
Umfraville,  an  English  general,  who  was  slain  there. 

INKERMAN,  in  the  Crimea  ;  from  Tart,  in-kerman  ;  lit.  "  the 
town  of  caverns,"  from  the  cells  excavated  within  the  rocks. 
(Pallas.)     It  is  the  Ctenus  (Ktsvovc)  of  Strabo. 

INN,  a  river  in  Switzerland  and  Tyrol.  It  was  called  by  the 
ancients  (Enus  and  Oenus,  from  which  its  present  name  has  been 
corrupted.  But  CEnus  is  probably  only  the  L.  form  of  its  ori- 
ginal name. 

INNIS,  ENNIS,  in  local  names  in  Scotland  and  Ireland,  &c., 
is  the  Gael,  innis,  Ir.  inis,  Corn,  ennis,  W,  \ynis,  Arm.  enes  and 
enesan,  a  country,  an  island  ;  perhaps  from  L.  insula,  an  island  ; 
thus,  Innismore,  the  great  island  ;   Innisbeg,   the  httle  island  ; 
Innishowen,  the  island  of  Owen  ;  and   Enniskillen — all   in  Ire- 
laud.     Armstrong  says  "  ^^^;^^5  does  not  always  mean  an  island, 
but  sometimes  a  headland  or  promontory,  as  Craiginish,  Deiginish, 
Fraisinish,  in  Argyleshire  ;   INIorinish  in  Breadalbane ;  and  that 
there  is  a  strong  affinity  between  innis,   the  Norw.  noes  or  noes 
a  promontory,  and  the  termination  ness  of  many  places  in  Scot 
land,  as  in  Inverness,  Taberness,  Stromness,  and  the   L.   nasinn 
Fr.  nez,  Eng.   nose,  meaning  the  projecting  feature.     The  Sco 
ness  also  means  a  promontory,  as  do  the  A.  S.  ncessa,  nesse,  O 
Sw,  naes,  Belg.  neiis."     But  these  words  are  from  the  Gr.  vvjcoc 
island,  peninsula,  vijtric,  small  island,  as  UsKoirovvrjo-og,  "  the  island 
of  Pelops,"  a  peninsula  in  the  south  of  Greece,  now  the  Morea. 

INNSPRUCK  (—j)roolc),  the  chief  city  of  Tyrol.  The  cor- 
rect orthograjihy  is  Innsbriick,  so  called  from  a  wooden  bridge 
(G.  hrilcke)  which  here  crosses  the  river  Inn. 

INTERLACIIEN  ( — lak'n),  a  village  in  Switzerland,  situated 
between  lakes  Brientz  and  Thun  ;  from  L.  ««/e/- between,  G.  lachen 
lakes. 


13S  LCCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

INVER,  a  prefix  of  names  of  places  in  Scotlautl,  as  luver- 
gordon,  Inverkeithiug,  Inverleithen,  Invertheil,  is  a  corruption  of 
the  Gael,  in-aor.     See  Inverary. 

INVERA'RY,  a  parish,  &c.,  co.  Argyle,  Scotland,  is  said  to 
take  its  name  from  the  river  Aray.  "  The  old  town  of  Inverary 
was  situated  upon  its  banks,  at  its  junction  with  the  sea  ;  and  as 
a  plain'  formed  by  the  deposit  of  mud  and  sand  at  the  mouth 
of  a  river  is  called  in  the  Gael,  in-aor  or  inver,  the  town  took 
its  name  from  its  site,  and  was  called  Inverary,  or  in  Gael. 
Inaoruora.  The  waters  of  the  Aray  flow  rapidly  over  a  rugged 
and  rocky  bed ;  and,  accordingly.  Dr.  Fraser  and  others  think 
Aray  or  Aora  is  from  ab-reidh,  '  not  smooth,'  and  that  as  the 
waters  of  the  Shira,  the  other  principal  stream  in  this  parish, 
flow  gently  over  a  pebbly  channel,  it  is  from  sior-reidh,  *  always 
smooth.' "  {Stat.  Ace.  Scot.)  But  qu.  should  not  ao-reidh  be 
written  neo-reidh,  uneven,  and,  instead  of  sior-reidh,  siorruidh 
(asp.  shiorruidh)  ever-running,  ever-flowing. 

INVERCHAOLAIN,  Scotland,  signifies  in  Gael.  "  the  plain 
or  lands  fit  for  tillage,  on  the  small  stream,"  said  to  be  descriptive 
enough  of  the  situation  of  the  manse  and  adjoining  farm.  {Stat. 
Ace.  Scot.) 

INVER'URY,  Scotland,  formerly  Ennerurie,  "lies  between 
the  Don  and  Ury,  and,  extending  to  the  confluence  of  these 
rivers,  thence  derives  its  name."     But  see  Inverary. 

lO'NIA,  a  country  of  Asia  Minor.     See  Greece. 

IPSWICH,  found  written  Gippeswic,  Gipeswich,  and  Ypes- 
wich,  takes  its  name  from  the  river  Gipping ;  from  A.  S.  ffcap 
winding,  and  ivic  a  village,  residence.     {Bosworth.) 

IRELAND  ;  by  classic  writers  called  lernis,  lerne,  Invernis, 
Hibernia;  in  A.  S.  found  written  Yrlaud,  Yralaud,  Iraland,  Ire- 
land, Hibernia,  Igbernia,  and  Y^bernia.  The  root  of  all  these 
words  is  the  Gael,  iar  the  west,  in  a  country,  island ;  thus  iar-in, 
eir-in,  er-in,  Erin,  "the  western  isle."  From  er  comes  ire,  and 
then  Ireland.  Again,  et'in  becomes  ern,  and  with  the  new  prefix 
hy,  used  by  the  Irish  to  denote  "  a  country,"  hy-ern,  converted  by 
the    Greeks  into   lovkpvx,  and  by  the  Romans  (inserting  b  for 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  139 

euphony)  into  Hibernia.  "  Scotland  was  at  one  time  called 
Igbernia,  Hibernia,  and  from  the  end  of  the  third  to  the 
beginning  of  the  eleventh  century  Scotia  was  used  exclusively  to 
indicate  Ireland."  According  to  Vallancey,  the  most  ancient 
name  of  Ireland  was  Inis-phail  or  -faily  "The  island  of  shep- 
herds." 

IRMAK,  in  local  names  in  Turkey,  is  the  Turc.  ^J^j\  irmah  a 
river,  as  the  Kizil  Irmak,  "  the  red  river,"  which  falls  into  the 
Black  Sea,  near  Sinopc. 

ISCA.  From  the  Anc.  Brit,  word  isca,  use,  probably  meaning 
"water,"  (Gael,  uisff,  iiisge ;  Ir.  uisge,  uisc ;  W.  w^/sff  a  stream; 
Corn,  and  Arm.  isffe ;  Belg.  esc/c,  asch)  are  derived  the  names  of 
many  rivers  in  Great  Britain  ;  thus,  the  Ax,  Esk,  Ex,  Ouse,  Usk, 
Wisk ;  whence  Axley,  Axholm,  Axminster,  the  minster  on  the 
Ax ;  Axmouth,  Exmouth,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Ax  and  Ex ; 
Exeter,  i.e.  Exe-ceaster,  a  fortress  or  city  on  the  Ex  ;  Wisbeach, 
formerly  Ouse-beach ;  Oxford,  Uxbridge,  Osborn,  for  Ouse-ford, 
Ousebridge,  Ouse-bourn.  The  Brit,  isca,  use,  has  also  assumed 
the  forms  of  usa,  wusa,  ose,  use,  ise,  Isis,  ese,  oxe,  wox,  woxe,  and 
wax. 

ISLE  OF  DOGS.  The  story  goes  that  a  waterman  having 
here  murdered  a  man  who  was  accompanied  by  a  dog,  the  latter 
would  not  leave  its  dead  master,  until  through  hunger  it  was  con- 
strained to  swim  over  to  Greenwich,  which,  being  frequently 
repeated,  was  observed  by  the  watermen,  who,  following  the  dog, 
discovered  the  body  of  the  murdered  man.  Soon  after,  the  dog 
returnin''  on  his  usual  errand  to  Greenwich,  snarled  at  a  waterman 
and  would  not  be  beaten  off,  which  caused  the  bystanders,  who 
knew  of  the  murder,  to  apprehend  the  waterman,  who  afterwards 
confessed  the  fact,  and  was  hanged  on  the  spot.  {Coghlan.) 
According  to  others,  this  isle  was  so  called,  because  one  of  the 
kings  of  England  kept  a  pack  of  dogs  here. 

ISLE  OF  ^L\.N.  Some  derive  imin  from  the  Brit,  word  mon, 
isolated,  or  from  W.  maen,  a  stone,  a  pile  of  stones.  Gumming 
says  the  name  means  "a  rocky  island."  Pliny  calls  this  isle 
Monapia  ;   ("icbar,  Mona  ;    I'toleniy,  Monseda  ;  Orosius  and  Bedo, 


140  LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY. 

Menavia ;  Nennius,  Eubonia.  Tacitus  {Ayric),  when  speaking 
of  Mona,  means  Anglesea.     See  Pen-man-mawr. 

ISLE  OF  SKYE  {shy),  from  Ir.  skiach,  cloudy  (Gr.  ckio.  a 
shade,  crxoroq  darkness).     (Bellot.) 

ISLE  OF  TIIANET,  found  written  Tenet,  Tanet,  Tanetlond, 
Tened,  Thenet,  Taneth.  Sohnus  (quoted  by  Camden)  calls  it  Atha- 
natos,  and  Thanatos.  Lewis  derives  Thanet  from  tene,  a  fire  or 
beacon,  and  supposes  the  island  to  have  been  so  named  on  account 
of  the  beacons  or  fires  kei)t  there  to  give  notice  of  Danish  or  other 
pirates,  to  whose  ravages  it  was  greatly  exposed.  He  probably 
refers  to  the  Celt,  tun,  fire.  We  read  "that  the  Danes  in 
general  made  Thanet  their  landing  place,  and  frequently  stayed 
whole  winters  in  it,  so  that  it  became  their  accustomed  rendezvous 
while  in  this  kingdom,  and  that  consequently  it  felt  continued 
scenes  of  misery  and  plunder  during  the  whole  time  of  their 
remaining  in  it."  Some  derive  Thanet  from  Gr.  Savaroe,  death, 
•'  so  called  from  the  death  of  snakes  when  brought  into  it,  no  such 
having  ever  been  able  to  live  in  it."  Lambarde  thinks  it  was  named 
from  the  Sax.  or  O.  Eng.  word  thanet,  moist,  watery,  "  a  name 
well  suited  to  its  situation,  surrounded  by  the  watery  element." 
Modern  writers  consider  this  isle  identical  with  Inis  Ruine  or 
Ruoichim.  Leland  says  "  Tenet, Britannico  sermone  Ruoichum  ;" 
but  by  Ruoichim  is  probably  meant  the  old  Roman  station 
"  Richborough,"  which  was  anciently  an  island.  See  also 
Hasted,  Hist.  Kent. 

ISLE  OF  WIGHT.     See  Oude. 

ISLINGTON ;  in  ancient  records  written  Isendune,  Isendon, 
Iseldon,  Ysledon,  and  Eyseldon.  Skinner  derives  the  name  from 
A.  S.  (jisel  a  hostage,  tun  a  town,  to  which  Bailey  adds,  "  by  reason 
of  the  many  inns  there."  "  It  does  not,  however,  appear  that  this 
place  was  ever  called  Giselton  or  Gistleton  ;  the  name  Isendune 
occurs  in  the  most  ancient  records  belonging  to  the  church  of  St. 
Paul's,  as  well  as  in  Domesday,  and  means  in  the  Saxon  '  the 
hill  of  iron  ;'  in  favour  of  which  etymology  it  may  be  adduced 
that  several  springs  of  water  impregnated  with  that  mineral 
have  been  found  near  the  village."      {Lysons.)      "  It  most  pro- 


LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY.  141 

bably  derives  its  name  from  its  situation  with  respect  to  Tolentone, 
whose  site  was  the  elevated  ground  adjoining  the  woods  of  High- 
bury, the  appellation  Iseldone,  expressing  the  Lower  Town  or 
Fort,  from  the  O.  Brit,  word  ishel,  signifying  lower."     (Leivis). 

ISLIP,  Oxon ;  in  old  documents  written  Yslepe,  Heslepe, 
Ighteslep,  Gythslepe,  Hiltslepe,  Isleslepe,  and  in  Domesday 
Leteslepe.  In  the  last  form  Le  seems  to  be  the  Norm,  or  Fr. 
prefix  le.  Islip  comes  from  A.  S.  eds,  es,  or  is,  of  water,  or  water's  ; 
lij)pe,  a  lip  ;  hence  the  name  means  water's  lip  or  bank.  This 
derivation,  which  is  an  analogy  with  that  of  "  island,"  from  eds, 
es,  or  island,  i.  e.  water's  land,  land  of  water,  is  confirmed  by  its 
position,  which  is  on  the  river  Cherwell.  Islip  in  Northampton- 
shire is  also  on  the  bank  of  a  river,  called  Nen.  (Boswortk.) 
Both  Islips,  however,  may  be  derived  from  Ouse-lij),  i.e.  "lip  of 
the  Ouse  ; "  from  the  Brit.  isca.  "  Ouse  "  may  sometimes  be  traced 
in  2s,  ys,  ese,  use,  and  vjis.  See  Lewes,  Wisbeach,  and  Isca. 
ISPAHAN',  the  ancient  capital  of  Persia.  It  is  written  in 
Pers.  .(Uljk^  sipdhun,  which  is  also  pi.  of  sipdh,  a  soldier. 
Some,  however,  say  Isfahan,  not  Ispahan,  is  the  orthography. 

ISTER  (Gr.  Icrr^'jc),  the  ancient  name  of  the  river  Danube, 
])robably  corrupted  from  the  Celt.  Ys-dwr,  from  dwr  water,  with 
the  prefix  ys.     See  Stour. 

ITALY.  Thucydides  tells  us  that  Italy  was  named  after 
Italus,  an  Arcadian  king,  who  taught  the  Italians  agriculture  ; 
others  that  Italy  was  so  designated  from  abounding  in  bulls  or 
bull-calves,  which  the  Greeks  and  Tuscans  called  itccKoi.  Varro 
and  Columella  state  that  Italy  had  its  name  from  the  number, 
beauty,  and  breed  of  its  calves.  The  Gr.  iraXog  is  a  calf ;  the 
synonymous  word,  the  L.  vitulus,  is  a  bull-calf,  and  the  Etruscans 
called  a  sheep  idulus.  Bochart  says  Italy  aboimded  in  pitch,  and  he 
derives  the  name  from  Phoen.  Itaria  (softened  by  the  Greeks  into 
Italia),  from  itar,  itra,  pitch  ;  he  refers  also  to  the  pitch  of  Brittia, 
a  country  in  the  southern  part  of  Italy,  over  against  Sicily,  and 
inhabited  by  the  Bruttii,  Brutii,  Brutti,  or  Britti.  This  pitch 
{hruttia  pix)  is  said  to  have  been  greatly  esteemed  by  tlie  ancients, 
and  was  used  not  only  for  jiitching  vessels,  but  also  in  medicines. 


142  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

See  Plin.  lib.  xvi.  c.  11;  also  lib.  xxiv.  c.  7.  According  to 
Servius,  some  of  the  most  ancient  names  of  Italy  were  Hesperia, 
Ausonia,  Saturnia,  and  Vitalia. 

ITHACA,  one  of  the  Ionian  Islands,  corrupted  by  the  modern 
Greeks  into  Thiaki.  Bochart  says  «pri''i?,  ithuca,  means  a  hard 
and  rugged  island,  and  the  Heb.  pni*,  athac,  hard,  and  athaca  or 
ithica,  that  which  is  hard  and  rugged  ;  and  that  old  authors  with 
common  consent  describe  Ithaca  to  be  such.  See  Odys.  i.  ver. 
242 ;  iv.  ver.  60.5  ;  also  Plutarch,  and  Cic.  de  Orat.  lib.  i. 

IVIZA,  IVIC^A,  or  IBIZA  (evee'tzd),  the  ancient  Ebusus,  one  of 
the  Balearic  Isles.  Pliny  informs  us  that  the  figs  of  Ebusus 
were  very  large  and  excellent,  and  that  the  inhabitants  used  to 
dry  and  send  them  to  Rome  in  cases.  Bochart  accordingly 
derives  Ebusus  from  Phoen.  ntl^ll'',  iebuso  or  ibuso,  dried 
("figs"  understood).  In  confirmation,  Lamartinifere  says  that 
dried  figs  were  called  caunce,  from  Caunus,  in  Caria,  whence  they 
were  first  brought ;  and  that  certain  plums  were  called  brignoles, 
because  they  grew  in  the  environs  of  Brignoles  in  Provence. 

IVY  LxlNE,  Paternoster  Row,  "  so  called  of  ivy  growing  on 
the  prebendal  houses  of  St.  Paul's." 


J. 


JACK  STRAW'S  CASTLE.  Lambarde,  speaking  of  Black- 
heath,  says,  "  It  bathe  borne  thre  severall  rebellious  assemblyes, 
besides  the  burden  of  the  Danes  campe.  The  first  was  in  the 
tyme  of  Rich.  II.,  moved  by  Jack  Straw,  whom  William  Wal- 
worthe,  then  maior  of  London,  slew  in  Smythefeild  with  his 
dagger  ;  in  memorie  whereof,  the  citie  had  given  them  for  increase 
of  honour  a  dagger  in  their  sheild  of  armes." 

JAMAICA  (Ja-ma'-ka).  The  early  Spanish  historians  for 
Jamaica  write  Xaymaca,  which,  in  the  native  language,  is  said  to 
mean  "  a  country  abounding  in  springs." 

JANINA  (Jan'ena),  the  chief  town  of  Albania.  The  name  is 
found  written  Jannina,  Janna,  and  Yanina,  all   corrupted  from 


LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY.  143 

Joannina,  its  former  appellation.     It  may  have  been  named  after 
one  of  the  emperors  Icwawijc  (John). 

JAPAN,  formerly  Gepen,  corresponding  with  the  Chin. 
GejJuen,  or  Jejiuen,  "  the  kingdom  of  the  rising  smi."  It  has 
also  been  called  Zipangu,  Zipangri,  Cyampagu,  and  Cimpago. 
The  natives  call  it  Niphon,  the  basis  of  excellence  ;  Awadslma, 
the  land  that  springs  from  the  mouth  of  the  sea  :  Tonsio,  the 
true  morning  ;  Teuka,  the  empire  only  inferior  to  heaven  ;  and 
Sinkoxa  Kaminokuni,  the  habitation  of  the  gods. 

JELALABAD',  in  Afghanistan  ;  "  the  dbdd  or  city  oi  Jeldl," 
a  famous  warrior.  Jalal,  in  Arab,  means  "majesty,"  "power." 
See  Abad. 

JEREZ  {heereth),  formerly  written  Xerez,  a  town  in  Spain. 
"  This  place  is  said  to  have  been  called  by  the  jNIoors,  Sherish 
Filistin,  because  allotted  to  a  tribe  of  Philistines."  By  Sherish, 
perhaps  the  Arab.  1  •  'arsh  a  throne,  or  ^Ji.<  -  'arish  a  taber- 
nacle, is  meant. 

JERICnO  {jerryko),  a  city  of  Palestine,  near  the  Jordan  and 
the  Dead  Sea.  Some  write  the  name  in  Heb.  in"'  y'rehho,  which 
they  translate  "  city  of  the  moon;"  others,  ^rv^^  y'riyhho,  "a 
place  of  fragrance."  In  the  Septuagint  it  is  written  Ispiy^u},  in 
Strabo  (xvi.  c.  41)  IsptKoug,  and  in  Arab,  l^o  ,\  Eriha,  also 
Rrha. 

JERSEY  {jer'ze),  found  written  Gearsey,  Gersey,  Jereseye  ; 
supposed  to  be  a  corruption  of  Ccesarea,  the  name  by  which  it 
was  known  to  the  Romans. 

JERUSALEM,  a  royal  city  of  the  Canaanites,  who  called  it 
Shalem.  The  name  is  derived  from  Ileb.  CPtinT'  y'rushalaim, 
signifying  "foundation  of  pccice "  from  yardh  a  foundation, 
and  shalalm,  for  shuUm,  peace,  perfect,  whole.  Others  trans- 
late, "  possession  of  peace  ;"  "  men  or  people  of  peace ;" 
"house  or  habitation  of  peace,"  "dwelling  of  peace."  The 
Latins  corrupted  the  ITeb.  word  into  Solyma,  and  the  Greeks 
into  Ispicro/.tjfAa  and  Ispoua-aXriix,  which  some  imagined  to  be  com- 
pounded of  Upoc  sacred,  and  Y.oKviJ.a.  Solyma  ;  and  in  corrobora- 


144  LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY. 

tion,  they  state  that  Chserilus  and  others  mention  a  people  called 
the  Solymi,  whom  Tacitus  and  Josephus  took  to  be  the  Jews, 
and  to  be  so  called  from  Solyma  their  capital.  See  Tacitus  ;  also 
Josephus,  Cont.  Ap,  lib.  I.  xix.  2/. 

JORDAN  (lopSavyjg),  the  largest  river  in  Palestine  ;  from  Heb. 
p'T'  yarden,  which  Robinson  translates  "  the  flowing,"  "  the 
river,"  from  the  idea  of  descending,  flowing  down,  from  yaradh, 
to  go  down  ;  "  like  G.  Rhein,  from  the  verb  rinnen."  In  Arab,  it 
was  called  El-urdun,  and  at  present  Eshsherfah,  watering-place. 

JUGGERNAUT',  a  temple  at  Puri,  in  Orissa,  Hindustan. 
The  Hind.  Jaganndtha  means  "lord  of  the  world,"  from  Sans. 
jagat  the  world,  and  natha,  or  ndth,  lord. 

JUMNA,  or  JAMUNA,  a  river  in  India,  which  rises  in  the 
Himalayas ;  corrupted  from  Sans.  Yatnund.  "  In  mythology 
the  personified  river  is  considered  as  the  daughter  of  Siirya  or 
the  sun,  and  sister  of  Yama"  {ShaJtespear),  "  who  corresponds 
to  the  judge  of  hell,  Minos  "   {M.   Williams). 

JUTLAND,  the  Danish  peninsula.     See  Oude. 


K. 

KAISARIEH  (ka-sa-re'a),  a  town  in  Asiatic  Turkey,  the 
ancient  Csesarea;  named  after  Caesar.     See  Saragossa. 

KALEH,  in  local  names  in  Turkey,  &c.,  as  Yeni  Kaleh,  in  the 
Crimea,  Hassan  Kaleh,  Sukhum  kaleh,  Redut  kaleh,  in  Asia 
Minor,  is  the  Turc.  ^oJi  kal'eh,  a  fortress. 

KAR'AH,  in  local  names  in  Turkey,  is  the  Turc.  i^i  karah 
black,  as  Karah  Dengiz,  the  Black  Sea;  Karah  Su,  the  black 
water,  the  western  Euphrates ;  Karah  Hissar,  the  black  fortress. 
Karah  means  also  a  continent. 

KARDUANSKOI  ILMEN,  a  bay  or  lake  in  Russia  through 
which  the  Kigatsh  rushes.  "  On  the  shore  of  this  bay  a  guard 
is  stationed,  on  account  of  the  salt  lake  in  the  steppe,  called  Karr- 
duan,  a  compound  of  the  Tartar,  from  kan-  snow,  duan  thaw  ; 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  145 

and  the  place  has  been  thus  denominated,  because  along  the  high 
sandy  steppe  the  snow  soon  dissolves."     {Pallas.) 

KA.RS,  a  town  in  Asiatic  Turkey,  said  to  derive  its  name  from 
tlie  river  upon  which  it  is  situated,  which  name  may  possibly  be  a 
corruption  oUiarah  su,  "black  water;"  the  designation  of  many 
rivers  and  streams  in  Turkey.  Erzeroum  is  situated  on  the  western 
Euphrates,  which  the  Turks  called  Karah  sii,  and  near  Kars  is  a 
place  called  Karah  hamza.  The  Arab,  /cars  signifies  "  very  cold," 
"  freezing,"  and  the  town  is  situated  6000  feet  above  the  sea 
level.  The  Turks,  however,  write  ^jOj[s  kdrs.  Others  say 
Kars  is  situated  on  the  Arpeh-tchai  i.e.  the  Arpeli  river. 
Baudraud  writes  Cars  or  Chiseri. 

KEANG  HO,  a  river  in  China.  The  name  means  "  a  rapid 
river." 

KELVEDON,  Essex,  found  written  Kilwendun,  Chellendana, 
Keluedon,  and  Kellevedon.  It  was  anciently  called  Easterford, 
from  a  ford  there,  which,  in  relation  to  some  other  ford,  lay 
in  an  easterly  direction.  Morant  derives  Kelvedon  from  Sax. 
dun  a  hill,  and  celd  (pron.  keld)  a  spring  ;  Dr.  Stukely  from 
Celt,  celn,  mysterious,  or  to  conceal  (whence  Cell,  the  name  of 
God),  according  to  which  it  signifies  "  God's  hill."  See  Wright, 
Hist.  Essex. 

KEMPTEX,  a  town  in  Bavaria,  is  considered  to  have  been  the 
Roman  station  Campodinum  ;  from  L.  campus,  a  plain,  down, 
open  field  ;  and  dinum,  Latinized  from  the  Celt,  din,  dinas,  a 
city. 

KENDAL,  CO.  Westmoreland,  more  correctly  Kirby  Kendal, 
or  Kirby-in-Kendal,  i.e.  the  church  town  {kirk-hy)  in  the  dale 
of  the  Ken  or  Kent. 

KEXMORE,  a  village  on  the  eastern  shore  of  Loch  Tay,  in 
Scotland.  The  name  signifies  a  high  promontory ;  from  Gael. 
ceann-mbr,  from  ceann,  dun  (Ir.  ceann,  W.  cwn  and  cyn,  Corn. 
kijn),  head,  point,  top,  high  headland,  promontory;  and  7nbr 
(Corn,  and  Arm.  rnuur,  W.  mawr,  Ir.  mor)  great. 

KENXET,  a  river  in  Wdts  ;  dim.  of  Brit,  cuin,  wliite,  clear, 
i.e.  beautiful       Conf.  W.  canaid,  white,  briglit. 

L. 


146  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

KENSINGTON  ;  in  Domesday  written  Cheuesiton  and  Cheni- 
situn ;  in  a  charter  of  Henry  I.,  Chesnetuna ;  and  in  other  an- 
cient records,  Kensitune,  Kinsintuna,  Kensintuna,  Kensintune, 
and  Kenesitune.  Some  say  that  one  Chenesi  held  the  manor  of 
Huish,  in  Somerset,  in  the  reign  of  Edward  the  Confessor,  and 
that  this  place  might  have  been  originally  called  Chenesi  Tun, 
i.e.  the  town  or  village  belonging  to  Chenesi.  See  Faulkner's 
Kensington  ;  also  Lyson's  Environs,  2,  126. 

KENT ;  the  name  of  this  county  is  said  to  be  derived  from 
Anc.  Brit,  kani  a  corner,  or,  when  applied  to  a  country,  a  headland. 
The  Romans  converted  Kent  into  Cantium,  and  called  the  people 
Cantii.  The  North  Foreland  is  mentioned  by  Ptolemy  under  the 
name  of  Kocvi'iov  or  Ay.xvnov  ay.^o-/,  the  promontory  Cantium  or 
Acantium.  Lambarde  derives  Cent  (Kent)  from  W.  cenne,  a 
leaf,  because  this  part  formerly  abounded  in  woods  ;  Camden, 
from  canton  a  corner,  "  because  England  in  this  place  stretcheth 
out  itself  in  a  corner  to  the  north-east."  Csesar,  Strabo,  Dio- 
dorus  Siculus,  Ptolemy,  and  others  call  Kent,  Cantium;  and  the 
Saxons,  as  Nennius  tells  us,  named  it  Cantgear-lantd,  i.e.  the 
country  of  men  inhabiting  Kent.  In  Domesday  it  is  written 
Ghent.  The  most  probable  derivation  is  from  the  position 
of  the  county,  the  land  here  extending  itself  with  an  angle  or 
corner  eastward  towards  France.  In  Scotland  such  a  corner  is 
called  Cantir  ;  the  inhabitants  of  another  corner  in  that  part  of 
the  island  are  called  Cantse  by  Ptolemy,  and  the  Cangani  were 
possessed  of  another  corner  in  Wales ;  to  which  may  be  added 
the  Cantabri,  inhabiting  a  corner  among  the  Celtiberians  in 
Spain,  and  Kent  is  called  Angulus,  or  a  corner,  by  all  our  old 
geographers,  as  a  name  aptly  denoting  its  situation.  (Hasted, 
Hist,  of  Kent.)  Others  derive  Kent  from  Celt,  cean  head. 
The  W.  cant  is  a  circle;  cantref,  the  division  of  a  country,  a 
canton  or  hundred ;  cwn  is  the  head,  top,  or  summit,  and  cyn 
the  first  or  foremost  part. 

KESTON,  a  village  in  Kent  where  Caesar  is  said  to  have 
fought  the  Britons ;  from  A.  S.  Cesars-tun.  Caesar's  town,  in 
imitation  of  Ccesarea. 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  147 

KEV'ENON,  in  Wales,  from  W.  cevn-on,  "the  asli-tree 
ridge  ;"  cevn  a  ridge,  onen  the  ash-tree. 

KEW.  The  most  ancient  record  in  which  I  have  seen  this 
place  mentioned,  is  a  court  roll  of  the  manor  of  Richmond,  in  the 
reign  of  Henry  VII.  It  is  there  written  Kayhough  ;  in  subse- 
quent records  its  name  is  varied  to  Kayhowe,  Kayhoo,  Keyhowe, 
Keye,  Kayo,  and  Kewe.  Its  situation  near  the  water-side  might 
induce  one  to  seek  its  etymology  from  the  word  '*  key,"  or 
"  quay."     (Lijsons.) 

KHORASSAN  (khur-a-sdn),  a  division  of  AfTghanistan. 
D'Herbelot  derives  this  name  from  Pers.  khiir  the  sun,  and  assan 
a  habitable  place.  He  says,  that  by  khorassan  is  understood  "  a 
great  extent  of  country  well  peopled  du  cote  du  soleil,  i.e.  du 
soleil  levant."  "  Aussi  les  Persans  de  I'lraque  Persique  disent 
que  le  Khorassan  s'etend  depuis  Rhei,  ville  de  la  Perse  mou- 
tagneuse,  qui  s'appelle  aussi  Erak-A'gem  [Irac-Agemi]  ou 
Iraque  Persique,  jusqu'a  Mathla-Asitah,  i.e.  jusques  au  lever 
du  soleil." 

KIEL  {keel),  in  Holstein,  Denmark.  This  town  may  have 
been  named  Kiel  on  account  of  its  magnificent  bay  or  harbour, 
from  Teut.  kille,  kielle.     Sec  Calais  and  Cala. 

KIL,  KILL,  KILLI,  KILLY,  GILLY,  is  sometimes  found 
in  local  names  in  Cornwall.  The  Corn,  chil  means  "  the  hinder 
part  of  the  neck ;  also  a  neck  of  land  or  promontory,  as 
Kilsey  or  Kelsey,  i.e.  the  dry  neck  of  land.  Kil,  kill,  killi, 
^ilfy>  ui^^V'  "^  *^he  following  names  means  "a  grove,"  as 
Killgorick,  the  grove  on  the  water  side  ;  Killyverth,  the  white 
thorn  grove  ;  Killigrew,  the  eagle's  grove ;  Killoch,  Killyoke, 
the  oak  grove  ;  Kilmar,  Kilmarh,  Kilmarth,  the  great  grove, 
the  horse  grove,  the  wonderful  grove ;  Roskilly  ( — gillij),  the 
grove  in  the  valley. 

KILDARE,  KILFINAN,  KILKENNY,  KILKERRAN, 
KILLALOE,  KILLARNEY,  KILMADOCK,  KILMAR. 
NOCK,  KILMORE,  KILPATRICK,  &c.     See  Kill. 

KILL,  KIL,  in  local  names  in  Ireland  and  Scotland,  is  the 
Gael,  cill,  a  burying-ground,  cell,  chapel,  grave  ;   from    L.  cella. 

\.  2 


148  LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY. 

(See  Zell.)  It  generally  means  "church,"  perhaps  originally 
"cell;"  thus  Kilbridge,  the  church  of  St.  Bride  or  Bridget; 
Kildare,  the  church  of  the  oak  (others  say,  "  wood  of  oaks," 
from  Gael,  coille  a  wood,  and  darecJi)  ;  Kilfinan,  Scotland,  the 
church  or  burying-place  of  St.  Finan,  who  lived  in  the  7th 
century,  and  was  a  disciple  of  St.  Columba  ;  Kilkenny,  the  church 
of  St.  Kenny,  or  Canice,  from  the  cathedral  church  of  the  diocese 
of  Ossory,  founded  there  about  the  end  of  the  12th  century; 
Kilkerran,  the  church  of  Ciarain  (according  to  others  "the  circle 
or  sepulchre  of  Ciarain,"  from  ajlch  a  circle)  ;  Killaloe  from 
St.  Lua,  called  Mo-Lua,  who  founded  a  cell  there  about  the  be- 
ginning of  the  7th  century  ;  Kilmadock,  co.  Perth,  Scotland, 
the  chapel  of  St.  Madock,  Madocus,  or  Modocus,  one  of  the 
Culdees ;  Kilmore,  the  great  church  ;  Kilpatrick,  the  church  of 
Patrick,  the  patron  saint  of  Ireland,  to  whom  it  was  originally 
dedicated. 

KINGSTON-ON-THAMES,  "famous  for  being  the  seat  of 
the  English  Saxon  kings  in  the  Danish  wars,  and  for  the  coro- 
nation of  three  kings."  (Bai/ei/.)  From  A.  S.  ci/n(/es-tun,  kiugs 
town. 

KINROSS,  in  Scotland,  formerly  Kynross  or  Kynrosse, 
named  from  its  situation  on  a  point  of  land  running  into  Loch 
Leveu  ;  from  Gael,  ceann,  a  head,  point,  high  headland,  ros,  a 
promontory,  isthmus. 

KINSALE',  Ireland.  The  name  may  have  been  corrupted  from 
Jr.  cean-tail,  "  the  head  of  the  sea." 

KINTIRE,  or  KYNTIRE,  the  Mull  of,  Scotland ;  from  Gael. 
ceann- tire,  a  Tpeninsula,  promontory,  headland,  land's  end;  ceann, 
cinn,  head,  point ;  tir,  lire,  country,  region,  territory,  land  in 
opposition  to  water  (Fr.  terre.  Corn.  W.  and  Arm.  tir,  Ir.  tior 
and  th-),  from  L.  terra,  from  Sans,  dhara.     See  itluLL. 

KIRKALDY  {kerJiawl'de),  a  parish  and  district,  co.  Fife, 
Scotland ;  from  A.  S.  eirce,  eyrie,  church,  Celedei  or  KeJedie, 
the  Culdees.  "  Prior  to  the  introduction  and  establisliment  of 
Roman  Catholicism  in  Scotland,  the  Culdees,  who  had  erected 
several  religious  establishments  in  Fife  and  Kinross,  had  one  of 


LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY.  149 

their  houses  called  cells  here ;  hence  the  place  was  called  Kil- 
celedei.  During  the  Scoto-Saxon  period,  the  name  was  changed 
to  Kirk-caledie,  subsequently  contracted  into  Kirkcaldie  and 
Kirkaldy." 

KISTNAH,  a  river  of  Hindustan,  rising  in  the  Deccan  ;  from 
Krishia,  the  popular  divinity  among  the  Hindus,  named  from 
his  black  complexion  (Sans,  krishna,  black). 

KLAUSEN  (Jilowsn),  a  little  town  in  Tirol,  lying  S.  of  Brixen, 
and  N.  of  Bozen  ;  jammed  in  between  the  river  Eisack  and  the 
mountains  ;  from  its  L.  name  Clausum,  from  clausum,  shut  up, 
inclosed. 

KONG  MOUNTxlINS,  in  the  north-west  of  Africa.  Kong  in 
the  Mandingo  language  means  "  mountains." 

KREMLIN,  the  ancient  citadel  of  Moscow,  now  containing  an 
imperial  palace,  &c.  The  word  is  used  in  Russia  to  denote  the 
citadel  of  any  town  or  city,  from  krem,  a  fortress. 

KUNCHINJINGA  {konchinjong),  a  snow-clad  mountain  in  the 
Sikkim  Himalaya.  The  name  is  Tibetan,  and  signifies  "covered 
with  snow." 

KUND,  a  termination  of  local  names  in  India,  as  in  Rohilcund 
or  -kund,  Bundelcund  or  -kund  (an  api)ellation  given  to  this  pro- 
vince from  the  Bundclas,  a  tribe  of  Rajputs),  is  a  corruption 
of  the  Hind,  khand,  khund,  khund,  a  district,  province  ;  lit.  a 
piece,  a  portion. 

KUTA'YA,  a  large  town  in  Asia  Minor,  the  ancient  Kuroax, 
Cyttca,  a  town  of  Colchis,  famous  for  the  poisonous  herbs  which 
it  produced,  and  as  the  birthplace  of  Medea. 


L. 


L  ABU  AN   (lahooun),  an  island   in  the  mouth  of  the   River 
Borneo    proper.     The   !Mal.     ,^>  »jj    lahuh-an  is  an  ancborage, 

an  anchoring  place  ;  from  htJxili  or  hi'jit/i,  to  drop  anchor. 

LADRONES.     These  islands  were  named  from  tbe  thievish 


150  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

disposition  of  the  natives  at  the  time  of  their  discovery  by  Magal- 
haens  (1521)  ;  from  Sp.  ladron,  a  thief,  robber,  from  L.  latro, 
-onis.  They  are  also  called  Marianne  Islands,  in  honour  of  the 
Queen  of  Philip  IV.  of  Spain,  by  which  king  they  were  settled. 

LAGO  DE  MERIM,  a  lake  in  Brazil,  near  the  mouth  of  the 
Rio  de  la  Plata,  on  the  sea-coast.  Merim  is  a  Brazilian  word 
signifying  "  little :  "  a  European  would  call  this  lake  a  very 
considerable  one. 

LxlIBA.CH  (Jye-lak),  the  chief  town  in  Carniola,  Austria, 
situated  on  a  river  of  the  same  name,  or  rather,  perhaps,  on  the 
Laib-ach,  i.e.  the  Laib-brook.     In  Italian  it  is  called  Lubiana. 

LAKE  TAHOO  or  TAI,  in  China,  means  the  "  Great  Lake." 

LAIMBETH.  By  ancient  authors  this  name  is  written 
Lamhee,  Lamheth,  Lamhyth,  and  Lamedh.  In  the  earliest 
record,  a  charter  of  Edward  the  Confessor  in  1062,  it  is  called 
Lambe-hithe,  and  in  Domesday  Lanchei,  which  latter  is  most 
probably  a  mistake.  Dr.  Ducaret  derives  Lambeth  from  A.  S. 
lamb  a  lamb,  hyth  a  haven ;  the  objection  to  which  etymology, 
as  Lysons  observes,  is  that  it  has  no  meaning.  Dr.  Gale  says 
it  was  named  from  its  contiguity  to  a  Roman  road,  or  leman, 
which  is  generally  supposed  to  have  terminated  at  the  river,  at 
Stangate,  whence  there  was  a  passage  over  the  Thames  ;  but 
the  most  reasonable  etymology  is  that  from  A.  S.  lam  mud,  hyth 
a  haven  or  port.  Lye  writes  "  Lamb-hythe,  Lambhith,  hodie 
Lambeth." 

LAMB'S  CONDUIT  STREET.  The  Old  English  Herbal, 
speaking  of  winter  rocket  or  cresses,  says,  "  It  groweth  of  its 
own  accord  in  gardens  and  fields  by  the  way  side  in  divers  places, 
and  particularly  in  the  next  pasture  to  the  Conduit  Head,  behind 
Gray's  Inn,  that  brings  water  to  Mr.  Lamb's  conduit  in  Holborn." 
"The  fields  ai'ound  Lamb's  Conduit  formed  a  favourite  promenade 
for  the  inhabitants  of  St.  Andrew's  Holborn  and  St.  Giles  in  the 
Fields.  They  were  first  curtailed  in  1714,  by  the  formation  of  a 
new  burying  ground  for  the  parish  of  St.  George's,  Bloomsbury, 
and  again  in  1739,  by  the  erection  of  the  Foundling  Hospital. 
The  conduit  was  taken  down  in  1746."   {Cunningham^s  London.) 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  151 

At  the  north  end  of  Lamb's  Conduit  Street  is  a  tavern,  which 
formerly  had  for  its  sign  a  "  lamb  !  " 

LAMMERMOOR  HILLS,  situated  in  the  comities  of  Edin- 
burgh, Berwick,  and  Haddnigtou.  Some  translate  Lammermoor, 
or  rather  Lammermuir  ( — mweer),  "  the  moor  that  reaches  to 
the  sea."  But  does  it  not  rather  mean  the  hills  "  near  the  sea- 
side? "  The  Gael,  laim-ri  is  near,  hard  by,  beside,  at  hand  {lanih 
the  hand,  ri  at),  and  mu'ir  the  sea. 

LAMPE'TER,  S.  Wales,  a  corruption  of  "W.  Llan  Bedr, 
"  Church  Peter." 

LAMPLUGH,  a  parish,  co.  Cumberland ;  said  to  have  been 
named  by  its  Irish  inhabitants  Glan  Jlough  or  Glan  fillough  ("wet 
dale"),  of  which  Lamplugh  is  a  corruption.  See  Nicolson  and 
Burn,  Hist.  \\^estm.  &  Cumb. 

LANCASTER,  found  written  Longcaster.  Camden  contends 
that  the  Roman  name  of  this  place  was  Longovicum,  "  long  street." 
Whitaker  says  it  was  the  Ad-Alaunum  of  Richard  of  Cirencester's 
Itinerary.  It  was  anciently  a  Roman  station,  and  was  doubtless 
a  considerable  fortress  under  the  Saxon  dynasty.  Some  derive 
the  name  from  A.  S.  lang,  long,  long,  and  ceaster  a  fortress. 
The  more  reasonable  etymology  is  from  Lan  or  Lune,  and  ceaster; 
"a  camp  or  fortress  on  the  river  Lune." 

LANDEK,  a  village  in  Tirol,  situate  at  the  corner  of  three 
roads  ;  from  G.  land,  id.,  eck  corner. 

L ANDES  (lonyd).  The  Landes  are  wild  sterile  districts, 
stretching  along  the  coast  of  Guyenne  and  Gascogne,  in  France, 
between  the  Gironde  and  the  Adour.  The  name,  which  denotes 
heath  or  waste  open  country,  is  sufficiently  descriptive  of  its 
natural  character,  though  it  varies  considerably,  the  part  near  the 
coast  being  the  wildest.  {P.  Cyc.)  Cotgrave  says,  "  the  Fr. 
lande  is  a  wild,  untilled,  shrubl)y,  bushy  plain."  Camden  calls  it 
"  a  j)l;iine  among  trees."  The  Sp.  has  Idnda,  an  extensive  tract 
of  heath  land.  The  landa  is  a  plain,  common,  field.  The  French 
word  is  derived  from  the  G.  land,  country.  "  C'est  probable- 
mcnt  par  allusion  a  la  stdrilit(S  d'une  grande  partie  des  terres  de 
rAllernagne  que  nous  avons  appele  lande,  une  grande  etendue  de 


152  LOCAL  ETYMOLOGY. 

terre  qui  ne  produit  que  des  bruyeres."  (Noel.)  The  G.  land 
may  come  from  the  Celt,  llmi,  a  clear  place  or  area,  or  from  L. 
planus,  plain,  flat,  level ;  thus,  planus,  plana,  planata,  planada, 
lanada,  landa,  Land.  Larraraendi  derives  the  Sp.  landa  from 
the  Basq.  Ian,  labour,  work,  and  da  is ;  and,  says  he,  "  the 
earth  and  the  fields  are  the  theatre  of  labour  and  work." 

LANGUEDOG  {long'gwedok),  a  province  of  France.  The 
dialects  called  Langue  d'oc  and  Langue  d'oi,  or  d'oil,  are  derived 
from  oc  and  oui,  the  affirmatives  peculiar  to  each  dialect.  The 
langue  d'oil,  was  used  by  the  Trouveres,  north  of  the  Loire, 
and  has  expanded  into  the  modern  French  ;  the  Langue  d'oc  or 
Provencal,  was  spoken  by  the  Troubadours  south  of  the  Loire, 
and  in  the  11th  century,  was  more  employed  in  the  language  of 
poetry  and  sentiment  than  the  Langue  d'oil.  [For.  Quar.) 
Others  derive  Languedoc  from  lande  de  Goth,  i.e.  country  of 
the  Goth. 

LARISSA,  a  city  of  Thessaly,  on  the  River  Penens ;  also  a 
Pelasgian  town  in  the  Troad,  which  assisted  Troy  ;  also  the  name 
of  other  ancient  towns.  Bochart  says  Vicnya  was  the  name  of 
a  city  situated  between  Edessa  and  Mount  Masius,  in  Mesopo- 
tamia, and  Pafcrsva  that  of  another  city  between  the  rivers  Chabora 
and  Saocora,  also  in  Mesopotamia  ;  and  that  there  was  also  a  city 
called  Resen  (see  Genesis  x.  12),  lying  between  Nineveh  and 
Calach,  in  Assyria.  He  thinks  it  very  probable  that  when  the 
Greeks  asked  of  the  Assyrian  rabble  the  name  of  their  city,  they 
should  have  answered  "  pi!?  "  le-resen,  i.e.  "  of  Resen,"  which 
the  Greeks  may  have  changed  to  Aaficrcrav. 

LATAKLA,  in  Asiatic  Turkey,  said  to  be  a  corruption  of 
Laodicea,  a  city  of  Phrygia ;  also  the  name  of  other  Asiatic 
cities;  from  Gr.  AaoSiKsia,  perhaps  named  after  Aao5i?c>j  (Laodice), 
one  of  Priam's  daughters  ;  also  a  daughter  of  Agamemnon,  better 
known  as  Electra  ;  from  Xaoc  people,  Sikyj  justice,  &c. 

LATH,    a     part    of    a    county,    contaming    three    or    more 
hundreds  or  wapentakes ;  from  A.  S.  leth,  lath  (Low  L.  IcBstum, 
leda.)     Webster  thinks   lath  may  come  from  lathian,  to  call 
together,   and  that  the  primary  meaning   may  have   been    "u 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  153 

meeting  or  assembly."  According  to  the  Laws  of  Edward  the 
Confessor,  the  lath  in  some  counties  answered  to  the  trithing  or 
third  part  of  a  county  in  others.  The  term  is  common  in  Kent. 
A  lathe  or  leath  in  S.  Lancashire  and  in  Craven  in  Yorkshire 
means  "a  barn,"  from  Dan.  Jade.  See  Carr's  Craven  Dial., 
Quar,  Rev.  vol.  ex.  380;  Halliwell ;  Spelman ;  Blackstone ; 
and  Cowel,  Law  Diet. 

LAUNCESTOX  (lanson),  in  Cornwall,  was  anciently  called 
Dunheved,  "  the  swelling  hill."  Its  modern  name,  a  contraction 
oi  Lan-cester-ton,  means  "the  church  castle  town." 

LAW,  LAWE,  a  designation  of  many  hills  or  mounds  in  Scot- 
land and  in  Northumberland,  whether  natural  or  artificial,  as 
Berwick-law,  &c. ;  from  A.  S.  hlfeio,  hlaiv,  a  mound,  heap,  a 
small  hill.     See  also  Jamieson,  Sco.  Diet,  and  voc.  Low. 

LAWND,  LOWND,  LAUND,  in  names  of  hamlets,  &c.,  in 
England,  as  Chipping  Laund,  Craize  Lownd  (Isle  of  Axholme), 
New  Laund  Booth  (Lancashire),  generally  means  plain  lands, 
lands  untilled,  extending  between  planted  lands  or  woods  ;  an 
open  field  between  woods  ;  whence  the  smooth  grass-plats  about 
houses  and  mansions  in  the  country  are  called  "lawns."  Cowel 
defines  fa/ula  "  a  laund  or  open  field  without  wood."  The  word 
is  derived  from  G.  land,  signifying  land,  country.  But  see  voc. 
Landks,  and  Ducange,  Gloss. 

LAYTON,  CO.  Essex  ;  found  written  Lightun,  and  Ligetuue  ; 
from  Liffa  the  River  Lea,  A.  S.  tun  an  enclosure,  town. 

LE  M.\NS  (lemomj),  chief  town  of  the  department  of  the 
Maine.  Mans  is  a  corruption  of  Cenomanum,  capital  of  the 
Cenomani  or  Ccnbmanni,  a  peoi)le  who  anciently  dwelt  in  this 
•part  of  France.  These  Cenomanni,  or  "head  men,"  seem  to  be 
the  same  as  the  Cenomanni,  Iceni,  Y-ceni,  Ceni,  or  Cenones,  who 
ia'.iabitcd  Norfolk,  Suffolk,  Cambridge,  &c.  Cenomanum  was 
called  by  the  Romans  Suindinum.  The  original  Celtic  name  may 
have  been  S.ryn-din,  i.e.  holy  town. 

LEADEXIIALL,  the  name  of  a  market  and  street  in  London, 
is  a  corruption  of  Leather  Hall ;  a  large  market  for  hides  and 
leather  haviii;;  been  formcrlv  held  here. 


154  LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY. 

LEAMINGTON,  or  LEAMINGTON  PRIORS  {Jem—),  co. 
Warwick,  is  named  from  the  river  Leam,  in  the  vale  of  which 
it  is  situated,  and  from  its  having  originally  helonged  to  the 
Priory  of  Kenilworth.  Dugdale  thinks  the  river  may  have  its 
name  from  Gr.  Aia-j^x,  a  pool,  lake.  He  says,  "  this  river  is  of  a 
muddy  disposition,  having  some  standing  holes,  in  the  nature  of 
lakes  or  ponds,  in  sundry  places  thereof;  and  we  find  at  this  day 
that  divers  of  those  artificial  rivers  in  Cambridgeshire,  anciently 
cut  to  drain  the  fens,  bear  the  name  of  Leame,  as  Watersey 
Leame,  New  Leame,  Moston's  Leame,  &c.,  being  all  muddy 
channels  through  which  the  water  hath  a  dull  or  slow  passage." 
The  Gr.  Aiavjv  is  a  haven,  seaport,  harbour,  refuge  ;  Dugdale 
probably  means  Xiy.vrj,  a  marsh,  lake,  stagnant  water.  The  A.  S. 
has  lam,  D.  leem,  G.  le/itn,  loam,  Dan.  liii/i,  Sw.  li?n,  lime,  glue, 
L.  limits,  slime,  mud,  Gr.  Aujaa,  filth.  We  find  Limene  or 
Lhnine-muth,  "  mouth  of  the  River  Limine,"  in  Kent.  The  g  iu 
Leamington  is  perhaps  of  modern  introduction,  like  that  in 
Lymington ;  or  Learning-tun  may  translate  "  the  town  of  the 
Leam  river  people."     See  Ing. 

LEB'ANUN,  or  Lib' anus,  Gr.  AifSocvog,  a  celebrated  mountain 
on  the  confines  of  Syria  and  Palestiae,  described  as  abounding  in 
cedars  and  various  kinds  of  fragrant  plants.  "  Libanus  is 
so  called  from  the  milky  whiteness  of  its  perpetual  snow." 
{Richardson.)  "  The  name  Libanon  comes  from  the  whitish  colour 
of  the  limestone  rock."  (Robinson's  Palest,  lib.  iii.  p.  439.)  Jere- 
miah (xviii.  14)  speaks  of  the  snow  of  Libanus.  Tacitus  (Hist, 
lib.  V.  cap.  6)  says  "  Preecipuum  montium  Libanum  erigit,  mirum 
dictu,  tantos  inter  ardores  opacum  fidumcpie  nivibus."  The  name 
in  Arab,  is  written  AJuJ  lubndn,  which  seems  to  come  from  * 
lahan  milk.     The  Ileb.  pb  laban  signifies  "  white." 

LECH  or  LLECII  {lelt),  in  local  names  in  Wales,  is  the  W. 
llech  ,  a  flat  stone,  slate  stone,  slate  rock,  slate  ;  thus,  Llechvaen, 
near  Brecknock,  fiom  llech,  and  vaeti,  for  maen,  a  stone. 

LECHLADE  {lek'lade)  CO.  Gloucester,  named  from  its 
situation  on  the  River  Lech,  and  A.  S.  ladian,  to  empty.  North- 
lech  is  near  the  source  of  the  Lech.     See  Cricklade. 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  155 

LEEDS,  formerly  Loidis,  which  some  derive  from  A.  S.  ledd, 
a  people.  Whitaker  considers  Loidis  the  genitive  case  of  Loidi, 
the  name  of  the  first  Saxon  possessor  of  the  place.  He  says  this 
kind  of  ellipsis  was  very  frequent ;  thus  iVIelsis,  the  dwelling  of  the 
Melsi;  and  in  N.  Lancashire,  Levens  (the  Lefuenes  of  Domesday), 
the  habitation  of  LeofFwine. 

LEICESTER  {tester),  found  written  Ligora-ceaster,  Liggora- 
ceaster,  Liecestre,  and  Leicestre;  from  A.  S.  Legre-ceaster ; 
named  from  the  river  Legre  or  Leir  (now  the  Soar),  on  which  it 
stands. 

LEIGHTON  BUZZARD,  co.  Beds,  a  town  of  Norman  origin, 
on  the  River  Ouse.  It  was  formerly  called  Leiton-Beau-Desart, 
said  to  be  derived  from  leiton  grassy  ground,  beau  fair,  desart 
woody.  The  name  is  found  written  Leiton  Bosart,  and,  in  the 
Chronicles  of  Dunstable,  Leyton, 

LEINTWARDINE,  co.  Hereford;  Bradwardine,  &c.  See 
Wardine. 

LEIPZIG  or  LEIPSIC  {hjpe-tzig),  originated  in  the  Slavonian 
village  situated  in  the  angle  where  the  Parde  falls  into  the  Pleisse. 
It  is  said  to  have  received  its  name  from  the  lime-trees  (Slav,  lips, 
lipa,  or  lipsk)  growing  about  it. 

LEXHAM,  Kent,  named  from  its  situation  on  the  Len,  which 
falls  into  the  Medway  near  Maidstone  ;  A.  S.  ham,  a  dwellin>-. 

LEOMINSTER  (lemster),  co.  Hereford,  from  A.  S.  leof,  loved, 
beloved,  dear,  mynster  a  monastery. 

LESLIE  {lez'le),  a  parish,  co.  Fife,  said  to  be  from  Gael. 
lis  a  garden,  or  enchanted  spot,  and  Leven,  the  name  of  the 
river;  thus,  lisleven,  lisleen,  lislie,  LesHe.  "This  derivation 
corresponds  witii  the  beautiful  table-land  on  which  the  villao-e  is 
built,  originally  the  scene  of  royal  and  noble  games,  and  the 
resort  of  all  that  was  royal  and  noble  in  Scotland,  to  enjoy  those 
games  in  safety  ;  hence  the  name  still  retained  by  many  a  con- 
tiguous field  and  croft,  where  each  noble  family  erected  tlieir  own 
pavilion,  such  as  Bin-ard-ri,  pronounced  binyarbree,  '  high 
station  of  the  king.'  Every  name  of  standing  in  the  parish  is 
Gaelic,  and  many  evidently  connected  with  royalty,  as  Straliondry 


156  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

for  Strath-an-ri,  '  the  king's  park  or  forest ;'  Balquhonvie,  for 
Bal-quhom-ri,  'the  king's  grass  town.'  BalsilUe,  for  Bal- 
shieUie,  '  corn  town  ;'  Ingri,  for  Eglisi-an-ri,  '  the  king's 
chapel.'  "  {Stat.  Ace.  of  Scot.)  By  //*  is  meant  the  Gael,  lios, 
a  garden,  lit.  a  court,  palace,  house,  fortified  place.  Cf.  Ir.  lios, 
a  court  ;  W.  llys,  Arm.  les,  a  court  ;  Corn.  Ilys,  a  manor-house. 
LEWES  {hois),  Sussex,  "  hath  its  name  of  pastures  called  by 
the  English  Saxons  Leswa."  {Camden.)  "  From  O.  Fr.  Les 
ewes,  waters,  as  expressive  of  its  state  when  the  levels  north  and 
south  of  the  town  were  flooded  for  the  greater  part  of  the  year." 
{Rome.)  "  In  ancient  times  the  valley  to  the  north  and  south 
of  the  town  was  undoubtedly  one  continued  lake  ;  hence  the  L. 
denomination  of  Laquis,  given  to  it  in  Domesday ;  hence  also  the 
names  of  the  town  and  of  the  river,  both  of  which  are  but  corrup- 
tions of  the  equivalent  French  word  Eaux."  (Allen,  Hist.  Surr. 
and  Suss.)  It  has  heen  likewise  suggested  that  a  Belgic  tribe 
named  the  Levaci,  and  mentioned  by  Cfesar,  may  have  settled  in 
this  district,  and  that  Lewes  may  have  derived  its  name  from  them; 
which  is  considered  the  more  probable,  from  the  Belgse  having 
formerly  possessed  the  whole  of  our  maritime  coast.  {Elliott's 
MSS.)  A  Brit,  etymology  from  glids,  shining  or  bright,  has 
been  hazarded  by  a  passage  from  Camden  ;  but  the  only  reason 
given,  is,  the  neighbouring  chalk-pits  and  the  chalky  tracts  pro- 
bably worn  by  the  Britons,  and  which,  seen  at  a  distance,  would 
appear  as  bright  spots  in  contrast  with  the  green  Downs,  This 
derivation,  however,  has  been  considered  too  general,  since  every 
inhabited  spot  on  the  slope  of  the  Downs,  standing  npon  a  chalky 
soil,  might  for  the  same  reason  be  designated  "  Gluis."  Baxter, 
under  "  Lagentium,"  says  Lewes  was  probably  called  by  the 
ancients  Laiiisca,  as  much  as  to  say,  "  the  hand  upon  the  water  " 
(from  Anc.  Brit,  lau  a  hand,  isca  water),  and  under  "  Clauanis," 
he  remarks,  that  the  largest  of  the  Hebrides,  which  shoots  for- 
ward its  arms  or  promontories  into  the  sea,  is  called  "  Lewes  ;"  that 
its  former  name  was  Clauanis,  from  clau  or  lau  an  arm,  inis 
an  island — "  an  island  like  an  arm."  Horsfield,  the  historian, 
assures  us  that  the  derivation  of  Lewes  from  lau  and  ese  (which 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  157 

seems  to  be  merely  another  form  of  isca),  strictly  agrees  with 
the  face  of  the  comitry  and  the  situation  of  the  town,  and  that 
several  remains  of  the  termination  ese  are  to  be  found  in  the 
immediate  neighbourhood  of  Lewes  river,  as  Isefield,  Lewese, 
Southese,  Northese,  all  of  which  take  their  names  from  their 
relative  situation  near  the  river  anciently  called  Ise,  Ease,  Esse, 
Eyse,  Use,  and  now  the  Ouse.  For  our  part,  we  think  the  most 
reasonable  derivation  is  that  from  the  A.  S.  hlcBW,  "  a  word 
expressive  of  the  gradual  ascent  which  the  eastern  termination  of 
the  Down  makes  from  the  river,"  joined  to  the  old  Brit,  name  of 
the  stream,  Tsca  or  Ise ;  whence  JilcBw-ise,  hlew-ese,  or  Lewes. 

LEWISHAM,  Kent,  formerly  Lewsham,  and  before  that 
Levesham,  said  to  be  named  fiom  its  situation  ;  from  A.  S. 
Iceswes  pastures,  ham  a  habitation.  The  O.  Eng.  word  leasoio  is 
still  used  for  a  pasture  in  Herefordshire  and  some  other  counties. 

LEY,  LEA,  LEE,  LAY,  LEIGH,  in  local  names  in  England, 
as  in  Bletchingley,  Bletchley,  Botley,  Dudley,  Dursley,  Hanby, 
Helmsley,  Lee,  Layton,  Leighton,  means  an  open  field,  or  large 
pasture ;  from  A.  S.  leay,  legh,  leak,  lega,  ley,  a  ley,  field,  place  ; 
(W.  lie,  Fr.  lieu,  a  place)  from  L.  locus,  a  place. 

LEYDEN  {la'-dn),  a  town  in  Holland  ;  a  corruption  of  Lug- 
clv.num,  the  L.  form  of  its  original  name.  The  Romnns  called  it 
Lugduuum  Batavorum.     See  Lyons  and  Dun. 

LIBYA  {Ub'-e-a),  L.  Libya,  Gr.  A/Sdt;,  a  part  of  Africa  now 
called  Abyssinia.  An  ancient  writer  says  Libya  has  its  name 
from  the  colour  of  its  inhabitants,  and  that  Xi^vq  is  an  old  Gr. 
word  for  "  black."  AA'arburton  derives  Libya  from  llcb.  leh, 
heat  ;  Bochart  from  Heb.  217  luh,  thirst,  from  the  quality  of  the 
soil  of  the  country.  He  says  laab  is  the  same  as  lub,]\x%t  as  laat 
is  the  same  as  lut ;  that  from  laab  comes  ha-lab-oth,  which  means 
drv  and  thirsty  places  ;  and  that  therefore  lub  signifies  a  thirsty 
land.     He  quotes  Lucan,  who  says, 

"  per  calidas  Libyte  sititntis  arenas." 

LICHFIELD  {litchfield),  co.  Stafford ;  from  A.  S.  lie,  lice,  a 
body,  dead  body,  corpse,  and  feld  a  field  ;  lit.  "  the  field  of  dead 


158  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

bodies"  ("because,"  saysBailey,  "a  great  many  suffered  martyrdom 
there  in  the  time  of  Dioclesian");  or  "from  lie,  wet.  from 
leccian,  to  irrigate  ;  from  the  stream  which  divides  the  city,  and 
feld  a  field.  (See  Bosivorth.)  The  name  of  this  place  is  found 
written  Licedfeld,  Licetfcld,  Liccetfeld,  Licitfeld,  Licethfeld, 
Lichesfeld,  Lichfeld,  Lychefeld,  and  Lichfelde.  Bede  writes  it 
Licid-feld. 

LIDFORD,  CO.  Devon  ;  found  written  Hlida-ford,  Hlydanford, 
Lideforda,  and  Lideford  ;   "  Ford  of  the  Lida." 

LIGURIA,  a  country  of  ancient  Italy,  extending  from  the 
Apennines  to  the  Tuscan  Sea.  An  inhabitant  of  Liguria  was 
called  Ligus  and  Ligur.  Some  derive  Ugur  from  Basq.  li-gora,  a 
mountaineer,  from  li,  ilU,  people,  country,  goi'a  high,  elevated. 
The  L.  name  for  the  river  Loire,  in  France,  was  Liger. 

LILLA,  LILLE,  in  local  names  in  Sweden,  Norway,  and 
Denmark,  is  the  Sw.  liUa,  Dan.  lille,  lille,  as  Lilla  Edet,  in 
Sweden  ;  LiUehammer  and  Lillesand,  in  Norway  ;  the  Lille  Belt, 
between  Slesvig  and  the  island  of  Fyen  or  Funen  in  Denmark. 

LILLE  (Jeel),  formerly  L'Isle,  a  town  of  France.  It  was 
anciently  called  Insula — from  its  situation;  being  built  between 
two  rivers,  the  Lys  and  the  Deule — whence,  by  corruption, 
its  present  name.  Thus  insula,  insel,  isel,  isle,  L'Isle,  Lille. 
The  Germans  and  Flemings  call  it  Ryssel,  which  may  be  a  cor- 
ruption of  Lys-insel,  or  Rys-insel.  Mijs,  in  Dutch,  means  brush- 
wood.    The  French  pronounce  it  Lil. 

LI^IA  (Jeema),  the  capital  of  Peru,  was  formerly  called  Rimac, 
from  the  name  of  a  famous  idol,  represented  under  the  figure  of 
a  man,  and  uttering  oracles.  To  this  idol  the  incas  and  grandees 
of  Peru  were  in  the  habit  of  sending  ambassadors  to  consult  upon 
the  most  important  affairs.  From  the  responses  which  it  gave, 
they  called  it  Rimac,  i.e.  "he  who  speaks."  The  Indians,  or 
more  probably  the  Spaniards,  corrupted  Rimac  into  Lima. 

LINCOLN  (lingkon),  called  by  the  Romans  Lindecollina  ;  by- 
Ptolemy  and  Antoninus  Lindun  ;  by  Bede  Linde  Collinum  and 
Linde  CoUina ;  and  by  the  Saxons  Lincolen,  Lincylen,  Lindcy- 
len,  Lyndcylene-ceaster,  Lincol,  Lincolla,  and  Lyndcolla.   Having 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  159 

the  privilege  of  a  Roman  colony,  it  was  also  styled  Lindun 
Colonia,  whence  possibly  its  present  name.  Lindun  or  Lindin 
may  come  from  Auc.  Brit.  Uyn,  a  lake,  pool,  and  din  a  town. 
Others  derive  Lincoln  from  LyndecoJline,  becanse  the  principal 
part  of  t]]e  town,  in  Saxon  times,  stood  upon  a  collyne  or 
hill.  According  to  Camden  it  was  named  Lindcoit  from  the 
woody  neighbourhood  (W.  coed  a  wood).  Under  the  Nor- 
man dynasty,  Lincolnshire,  according  to  some  writers,  was 
called  Nicolshire,  which  Gough,  however,  supposes  to  be 
either  a  mistaken  reading  of  Lncol,  or  Lincol,  or  to  have 
arisen  from  the  imperfect  pronunciation  of  the  Normans.  The 
ancient  inhabitants  of  Lincolnshire  were  the  Coritaui  or  Coriceni, 
"  a  name  of  uncertain  derivfition,  but  which  probably  h;id  its 
origin  in  the  Brit,  word  corani  or  coranaie,  appellations  denoting 
men  that  are  liberal,  generous  or  lavish.''     (Cam.  Reg.  vol.  xi.) 

LING,  in  local  names  in  China,  generally  means  "  a  chain  of 
mountains  ;  "  thus,  Pih-ling,  the  northern  chain  ;  Nan-ling,  the 
southern  chain. 

LIP,  a  termination  of  many  local  names  in  England,  as 
Hindlip,  Postlip,  Birdlip,  Counterslip,  Wanlip,  is  the  A.  S.  hhjp, 
hlip,  hleop,  a  leap,  jump.  Ilicks  translates  Hindlip,  "■  track  of 
hounds  ;  "   Nash  says  "  harts'  leaps." 

LIPARI  ISLANDS  {le-pa-re),  near  Sicily,  in  L.  Lipara  and 
Lipare ;  and  in  Gr.  AiTixor,  and  Anruf-iQ.  The  L.  liparis  is  a 
kind  of  lizard  or  fish,  also  a  sort  of  gem  ;  the  Gr.  KntapoQ  is  fat, 
greasy,  rich,  fertile,  shining,  &c.  The  name  of  the  islands  may 
have  been  derived  from  Kntapoc,  and  the  Latins  may  have 
called  a  lizard,  and  also  a  particular  sort  of  gem,  liparis,  because 
these  islands  abounded  with  both  of  them.  According  to  Pliny, 
(lib.  iii.,  cap.  9),  the  Lipari  islands  were  named  after  King 
Liparus.  They  were  anciently  called  l^lEKiyowig,  Meligunis. 
Sec  Diod.  Sic,  lib.  i.,  and  P.  Sab. 

LISBON ;  Port,  and  Sp.  Lishoa,  Fr.  Lisbonne,  It.  Lisbona. 
It  is  related  that  Ulysses,  after  the  destruction  of  Troy,  sailed 
hither,  and  laid  the  foundation  of  this  city,  which  was  called  after 
him    Ulyasipone,    U/yssipo,   or   0/yssipo ;    but,  as   Lamartinicre 


160  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

observes,  the  resemblance  of  the  names  might  have  occasioned 
this  opinion,  and,  besides  the  difficulty  of  proving  that  Ulysses 
ever  left  the  Mediterranean  Sea,  the  true  name  was  neither 
VIyssij)o  nor  Ohjssipo,  but  Olisipo,  as  proved  by  an  inscription 
found  at  Lisbon.  There  is  an  ancient  tradition  that  this  city 
was  first  designated  Ehjsea,  after  its  founder  Elisa,  brother  of 
Tubal,  and  grandson  of  Noah.  It  was  with  equal  probability 
called  E'.ysa,  from  the  Elysian  fields  which  were  supposed  to 
have  been  here.  Others  say  that  the  harbour  of  Lisbon,  which 
is  spacious  and  deep,  was  called  by  the  Phceiiicians,  who  first 
traded  there,  OUsippo,  i.e.  "agreeable  bay,"  whence  its  present 
name  has  been  corrupted.  This  last  derivation  seems  the  most 
reasonable. 

LISIEUX  {liz-yu),  a  town  in  the  department  of  Calvados,  in 
France.  It  existed  at  the  time  of  the  Roman  conquest,  when  it  was 
called  Noviomagus,  or  Nceomagus.  It  subsequently  took  the 
name  of  Lexovii,  from  the  people  to  whom  it  belonged,  whence 
its  present  name  is  derived.     (P.  Ct/e.) 

LISKEARD  (liskeerd),  in  Cornwall ;  one  of  the  ancient  seats 
of  the  Dukes  of  Cornwall.  Liscard  or  Lcs-keard  in  Corn,  means 
a  fortified  court  or  palace,  or  refiner's  court  or  green.  Leslis,  is 
the  Arm.  les,  Us,  a  court,  hall.     See  Pnjce. 

LIVERPOOL,  found  written  Lyrpul,  Litherpul,  Lyrpole.Lyver- 
pool,  Livrepol,  Ly verpol,  Liverpole,  Lerpoole,  Leerpole,  Leverpole, 
and  Leverpool.  Camden  writes  the  name  Lithere-pool ;  Baxter 
Lither-pool,  and  Leland  Ly'rpoU.  In  popular  belief,  the  name 
is  derived  from  that  of  a  bird  called  a  liver  or  lever,  which  used 
to  frequent  the  site  of  the  town,  a  great  part  of  which  was  for- 
merly a  marshy  pool.  The  corporate  seal  of  the  town  bears  the 
figure  of  a  bird,  which,  however,  as  there  represented,  is  said  to 
be  of  a  species  wholly  unknown  at  the  present  day.  The  historian 
says  "  the  borough  of  Liverpool  beareth  argent  a  lever  azure,  the 
family  of  Lever  beareth  three  levers'  heads  couped,  and  Lever  of 
Liverpool  argent  a  lever  azure,  the  beak  and  legs.  In  truth  the 
lever,  if  such  a  bird  really  exist  in  nature,  appears  to  be  no  other 
than  the  blue  duck  which  sometimes  frequents  our  coasts  and  is 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  161 

also  found  in  the  river  Ribble,  known  at  present  by  the  name  of 
the  "  blue  shoveller,  the  a?ias  clypeater  of  Linnaeus,  which  agrees 
in  form  with  that  represented  on  the  borough  seal ;"  and  he  thinks 
the  lever  was  chosen  as  an  emblem  for  the  seal  in  imitation  of  the 
Lever  family  and  others.  That  there  was  anciently  a  bird  called 
the  lever  seems  probable,  from  the  fact  that  in  D.  we  have 
lepeler,  "  a  bird  somewhat  like  a  heron,  having  a  long  bill  round 
at  the  end,"  evidently  derived  from  lejiel,  G.  Idffel,  a  spoon. 
The  name  of  Liverpool  has  also  been  derived  from  the  "W.  lUr- 
pwll,  i.  e.  "place  on  the  pool :  "  and  in  confirmation,  it  is  stated 
that  anciently  the  whole  estuary  of  the  INIersey,  as  far  as  Run- 
corn, was  called  Lyrpul  or  Lyrpoole,  and  that  Liverpool  is  pro- 
nounced lerpool  by  many  of  the  country  people  in  the  neighbour- 
hood. In  the  original  charter,  however,  of  Henry  IL,  in  1173, 
this  town  is  described  as  a  place  "  which  the  Lyrpool  men  call 
Litherpool."  In  the  subsequent  charter  of  King  John  it  is 
called  Lyrpool.  According  to  others,  in  the  provincial  dialect 
lither  signifies  lower,  and  they  say  that  Lither-pool  may  mean 
simply  the  "  lower  pool,"  and  hence  the  name  of  the  village 
Litherland,  or  "lower  land,"  and  of  a  passage  still  called  Lither- 
land  Passage,  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Pool  Lane.  We  are 
inclined  to  think  that  the  true  derivation  of  the  name  has  not 
yet  been  given.  The  original  appellation  was  probably  either 
Litherpool  or  Latherpool.  Litherpool  would  translate  "  sluggish 
pool."  Lither  is  a  north  country  word  signifying  idle,  lazy,  slug- 
gish, and  may  come  from  A.  S.  hlithe.  Latherpvoll  would  signify 
in  the  Anc.  Brit,  "smooth  pool."  The  W.  llathr  is  glossy, 
])olished,  glittering;  llathrii,  to  make  smooth;  Uithriy,  sliding, 
gliding,  slippery,  the  A.  S.  lith,  hlith,  gentle,  compar.  lithra, 
lithre.  When  speaking  of  "  pool,"  we  refer,  of  course,  to  the 
pool  which  encircled  the  ancient  town,  and  not  to  the  pool  of  the 
Mersey. 

LIVONIA  or  LIVLAND,  G.  Lie/land,  one  of  the  Baltic  pro- 
vinces of  Russia,  derives  its  name  from  its  inhabitants,  the  Liven, 
a  rinnish  tribe,  now  cither  extinct,  or  confounded  witli  the  Es- 
thoniaus  and  the  Lettonians  or  Lcttcn. 


162  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

LLAN,  LAN,  in  local  names  iu  Wales,  is  the  general  prefix  of 
Welsh  churches,  coupled  with  the  name  of  some  native  pastor. 
The  pi.  llanau  signified  sacred  enclosures  or  churchyards.  Owen 
translates  llan,  a  church-village,  a  church  or  place  of  meeting,  a 
clear  place,  area,  or  spot  of  ground  to  deposit  anything  in,  a  yard, 
or  a  small  enclosure,  a  place  of  gathering  together.  The  primary 
signification  is  probably  a  yard  or  enclosure.  Among  local  names 
having  the  prefix  llan,  are  Llanarth  ;  Llanasaph,  the  church  of  St. 
Asaph ;  Llanberis  and  Llandaff  (q.  v.)  ;  Llanidloes,  church  of 
St.  Idloes ;  Llandovery,  said  to  be  a  corruption  of  Llan-ym-ddy- 
froed,  "the  church  among  the  waters,"  derived  from  its  situation 
near  the  confluence  of  several  streams;  Llandudno;  and  Llan- 
gollen (q.v.)  ;  Llanhidrock,  church  of  St.  Hidrock  ;  Llanthony, 
i.e.  Llan-Anthony ;  Llanymynech,  the  village  of  the  miners. 
Launceston,  in  Cornwall,  also,  was  anciently  called  Llan  Stephadon, 
church  of  St.  Stephen. 

LLANBER'IS,  near  Caernarvon,  N.  Wales.  The  church  was 
dedicated  to  St.  Peris,  a  Cardinal  missioned  from  Rome,  who  settled 
and  died  here.     From  W.  llan  a  church,  and  Beiis  for  Peris. 

LLANDAFF,  co.  Glamorgan,  for  Llan  David,  i.e.  the  church 
of  St.  David.     Others  say  "  church  on  the  River  Taff." 

LLANDUDNO  {landid'no),  co.  Caernarvon,  from  W.  llan  a 
church,  and  Tudno,  "  the  name  of  a  saint  who  chose  for  his  retreat 
the  precipitous  eminence  known  as  the  great  St.  Orme'sHead,  on 
which  the  sacred  fire,  after  being  borne  across  the  Menai  from  An- 
glesey, was  first  exhibited  on  the  vernal  festival  of  the  first  of  May, 
and  from  which,  by  the  enactments  of  the  Druidic  religion,  every 
family  in  the  kingdom  was  obliged  to  re-kindle  its  hearth-stone  or 
domestic  fire,  extinguished  under  the  operation  of  the  same  laws 
the  preceding  night."     (See  N.  c^-  Q.,  2d  S.  ii.  230.) 

LLANGOLLEN  {langoth'len),  co.  Denbigh,  N.  Wales  ;  "  the 
church  of  St.  CoUen,"  whose  Latin  legend  is  still  extant.  See 
Llan. 

LLWCH  {lookh),  in  local  names  in  Wales,  is  the  W.  llivch,  a 
lake,  as  Llwch   Lawc,   Llwch  Sawdde,   Llwch   Cyhirych,   Llwch 


LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY.  163 

Amlwch ;  also  Tal-y-Uychau,  Llan  Llwch  ;  places  situated  near 
lakes. 

LOCH  (lok)  in  local  names  in  Scotland,  as  Loch  Tay,  Loch 
Fine,  Loch  Awe,  Loch  Ness,  &c.,  means  a  lake,  a  bay  or  arm  of 
the  sea;  from  Gael,  loch,  locha  (W.  Uivch,  Arm.  Ictgen,  Manx 
hich  a  lake,  G.  lack  a  pool,  Bisc.  and  Fr.  lac,  Sp.  and  It.  lago, 
Eng.  laJce),  from  L.  lacus  a  lake,  Gr.  AaK/ioe  Aax-oe,  a  pit,  cistern, 
pool,  lake ;  allied  to  Chal.  lachah,  a  marsh,  and  Heb.  lekee, 
to  hold. 

LOCH  KATRINE  {kat'reen)  or  CATHARINE,  one  of  the 
largest  and  most  interesting  of  the  Scottish  lochs.  Sir  Walter 
Scott  calls  it  Katterin,  and  in  some  maps  the  name  is  written 
Katherine.  The  people  pronounce  the  word  hutteren.  "The 
wdMiQ  Katrine"  says  Kohl,  "occurs  more  than  once  in  Scotland ; 
thus,  the  castle  of  the  Stuarts,  in  Ayrshire,  is  called  Catrine  ; 
hence  it  is  reasonable  to  suppose  that  both  the  castle  and  lake  were 
named  in  honour  of  the  Catcrans,  those  famous  freebooters  who,  for 
a  long  time,  played  such  an  important  part  in  Scottish  history."  A 
Gael  told  our  author  that  the  lake,  in  Gaelic,  is  properly  "Loch 
Cearn"  (pronounced  kairn),  meaning  "the  lake  of  lords  or  heroes," 
which  became  afterwards  corrupted  into  Katrine. 

LOCH  LOMOND.  Armstrong  says  "Lomond"  is  synony- 
mous with  Lacus  Leman-us  in  Helvetia,  in  the  time  of  Caesar. 
But  see  Ben  Lomond. 

LOE  {16),  EAST  LO,  LOO,  or  LOE,  a  village  in  Cornwall. 
The  name  in  Corn,  means  "  a  lake  or  pond." 

LOMBARDY.  Some  say  Lombardy  is  the  country  of  the 
Longobardi,  or  long  beards  ;  but  hardi  means  bards,  not  beards, 
which  would  be  harhce.  Vossius,  with  more  I'cason,  derives  the 
name  from  lonyis  hardis,  or  hartis,  i.  e.  long  battle-axes,  which 
these  people  carried  ;  and  he  says  the  word  is  found  in  Teut,  helle' 
Inert,  perhaps  from  hel,  bright,  splendid,  flaming,  and  haerd,  a 
halberd,  battle-axe. 

LONDON.  Tacitus  and  other  Roman  writers  call  it  Londi- 
nium  ;  tlic  Saxons  Liuidun,  Luiulcn,  Linidon,  Londone,  Luiulon- 

M    2 


164  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

burgh,  Lundunes,  Lundun-ceaster.     Some  derive  the  name  from 
Anc.  Brit.  lyn,  a  lake,  din,  a  town  or  harbour  for  ships  ;  "  as  until 
recent  dates,  the  south  side  of  the  river  was  often  a  lake  in  some 
parts,  and  a  swamp  in  others,  the  name  might  easily  be  changed 
from  Lyndin  to  London,  and  be  descriptive  of  its  local  position." 
{Encyc.  Brit.)     Somner  gives  W.  llawn,  populous,  dinas,  a  city. 
Many  other  etymologies  have  been  suggested,  as  that  from  Lima, 
another  name  for  Diana ;  or  from  Lindus,  a  city  of  Rhodes  ;  or 
Lugdus,  a  Celtic  prince  ;  or  from  the  Brit.  Uan-Dijn,  "  the  temple 
of  Diana;"  or  from  Ilwyn  a  wood  or  grove,  dinas  a  town;  or 
llong  a  ship,  and  dinas,  i.  e.  town  or  harbour  for  ships.      Mait- 
land  derives  it  from  Anc.  Gael.  Ion  a  place,  dun  or  don,  an  eminence 
or  hill ;   "  than  which  no  denomination  can  better  suit  the  city  of 
London."     Stow  says,   "King  Lud  (as  Geffrey  of  Monmouth 
noteth)  afterwards   repaired  this   citie,  but   also   increased   the 
same  with  fair  buildings,  towers   and^  walks,  and  after  his  own 
name   called   it    Caire-Lud,    as    'Lud's   town,'    and   the    strong 
gate  he  builded  in  the  Welsh  part  of  the  citie  he  likewise  for 
his  own    honour   named  Ludgate  ;"    and  that  Cair   Lunden  is 
mentioned  by  Nennius    in   the  list  of  Anc.    Brit,   cities.     This 
derivation   of  Stow  will  do   very  well  for  Ludgate,  but  not  for 
London.     The  most  reasonable  etymology  is  that  from  lyn  and 
din,  and  the  name  may  have  come  thus :   Lyndin  (pron.  lundin), 
Lundinium,  Londiuium,  Londin,  Lundin,  Lundun,  Lundon,  Lon- 
don.    Dr.  Pughe  says  *'  Llundain  {llun-tain)  '  the  form  or  bend  of 
the  Tain  ;'  Caer  Lundain,  or  more  properly,  perhaps,  Llydain  '  the 
spread  of  the  River  Tain,'  the  Welsh  name  for  London.    It  was  so 
called  on  account  of  its  being  situated  on  a  large  expanse  of  the 
River  Thames,  or  Tain,  beginning  about  Battersea,  and  including 
all  the  present  low  grounds   on  both  sides,  to  Erith  ;  by  which 
place  the  water  ran  in  a  narrow  channel,   made  by  its  own  force 
through  a  chain  of  hills,  lying  in  a  transverse   direction  to  the 
stream  :   and  it  would  seem  that  a  memorial   of  such  an  event  is 
preserved  in  the  name  of  the  place,  for  erth  implies  a  bursting 
through,  or  a  rupture ;  whence  Erith,  the  present  name,  differs 
scarcely  anything  in  sound." 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  165 

LOO,  LO,  a  not  unfrequeut  termination  of  local  names  in  the 
Netherlands,  particularly  in  Gelderland  and  Overyssel ;  as  Almelo, 
Borkulo,  Dinxperlo,  Eckelo,  Ermelo,  Groenlo,  Hetloo,  Humelo, 
Lillo,  Peterloo,  Ruerlo,  Tesseuderlo,  Venlo,  Waterloo.  Lo  or  loo, 
according  to  some,  is  a  wood  ;  others  say  a  marsh.  Wachter 
thinks  lo,  loo,  means  a  plain  ;  and  he  cites  Toxanderlo,  which  is 
now  called  Kempen,  not  hecause  it  is  surrounded  with  marshes,  but 
with  plains.  Verelius  translates /a  "  tnare,  the  sea  ;"  and,  says 
Wachter,  this  la  may  be  from  Gr.  Xsiqq,  smooth ;  and  lo  may  mean 
the  smooth  surface  of  a  plain,  and  la  that  of  the  sea  ;  and  he  refers 
to  the  L.  cequor,  which  means  the  smooth  surface  of  the  land, 
as  well  as  of  the  sea.     See  Venlo. 

LOODIA'NA,  a  town  in  Sirhind,  Hindustan ;  so  called  from 
having  been  founded  and  principally  inhabited  by  the  Lodi 
{Lodhd,  Lodhi),  a  tribe  of  Afghans.     {Thornton.) 

LORCH,  {lork)  a  village  near  Enns,  on  the  Danube,  corrupted 
from  Lauriacum,  a  Roman  station,  on  the  site  of  which  Enns  now 
stands. 

LORRAINE  (Zorram),  a  province  of  France,  formerly  Lorrene  ; 
from  O.  Fr.  Loheri-egne,  from  Lotharingia,  i.e.  Lotharii  Recjnum, 
the  kingdom  of  Lotharius,  son  of  the  emperor  of  the  same  name. 

LOSTWITIIIEL  ilost'mthel),  a  village  in  , Cornwall,  formerly 
Lestwithicl.  Les  utJuel,  or  Les  uhal,  in  Corn,  means  "  the  lofty 
palace."     Uchel  in  W.  is  high,  lofty,  and  llys,  a  palace. 

LOTHBURY,  London.  Stow,  speaking  of  one  of  the  city  wards, 
says  "  of  the  antiquities  to  be  named  therein  are  these  : — First,  the 
street  of  Lothberie,  Lathberie,  or  Loadberie  (for  by  all  these  names 
have  I  read  it)  took  the  name,  as  it  seemeth,  of  berie,  a  court  of  old 
time  there  kept,  but  by  whom  is  grown  out  of  memory.  This  street 
is  possessed  for  the  most  part  by  founders,  that  cast  candlesticks, 
chafing-dishes,  spice  mortars,  and  such  like  copper  and  laton 
works,  and  do  afterwards  turn  them  with  the  foot,  and  not  with  the 
wheel,  to  make  them  smooth  and  bright,  making  a /oa^/csow^e  noise, 
to  the  by-passers,  that  have  not  been  used  to  the  like,  and  therefore 
by  them  disdainfully  called  Lothberie."  liOthbury  may  have  been 
originally  called  Latonbury.     The  word  Intone,  now  lullen,  was  a 


166  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

term  used  in  the  middle  ages  for  a  fine  kind  of  brass,  or  copper  very 
much  resembling  brass,  used  for  making  crosses,  candlesticks,  &c.; 
from  Fr.  leton  or  laiton,  D,  latoen.  Arm.  laton. 

LOUGH  (/o/),  in  Ireland,  means  a  lake,  or  arm  of  the  sea ;  as 
Lough  Allen,  Lough  Erne,  Lough  Foyle,  Lough  Neagh,  Lough 
Swilly.    It  is  merely  another  orthography  of  the  Gael.  loch.  (q.  v.). 
LOUVRE   (loo'ver).     The  etymology   of  Louvre,   the   royal 
palace  at  Paris,  is  variously  explained  by  French  writers.     Some 
assert  that   the    early  French  mouarchs,  who  delighted  in  the 
chase  of  the  wolf,  erected  a  hunting  seat  here  at  a  time  when 
the   country  about    Paris    was    covered   with   imm.ense   forests 
infested  by  wolves ;  and  they  derive  Louvre  from  louve  or  loup, 
a  wolf.      Others   say   from  the  Sax.   leower  (perhaps  Maw  a 
mound),  a  fortress  ;    or   from  the  O.  Fr.  word   rouvre,    (from 
roboretum),  a  forest   of  oaks  ;  or  from   L'oeuvre,    the  work   or 
building,  j^ar  excellence.      Mons.  Clarac  considers  the  last  to  be 
the  least  probable   etymology,  because  in  ancient  documents  this 
building  is  called  Lupara,  perhaps  pronounced  loupara  (which 
might  be  easily  changed  into  Louvre),  at  a  time  when  it  is  doubt- 
ful if  the  word  ceuvre  was  in  use.     Besides,  he  observes,  would 
they  have   applied   the    pompous  term,   "L'oeuvre,"  par  excel- 
lence to  a  hunting-seat,   while  the  king  had  already  a  palace  in 
Paris  itself,    and  the   vast    Thermae    of   Julian   were  in    exist- 
ence?   Mons.  Clarac  inchnes  to  the  derivation  from  "the  hunting 
of  the  louve."     If  this  be  correct,  the  word  may  have  been  formed 
thus  :  XVA.OQ,  lupus,  lupa,  lupara.  Louvre.      The   old   word  lover, 
loover,  or  louver,  was  applied  to  a  chimney,  or  rather  to  an  open- 
ing in  the  roof  of  old  houses  through  which    the  smoke  was 
emitted.     This  word  is  by  some  derived  from  the  Fr.  Vouverf, 
open,    or   from     the    Ice.    lidri    (pronouned    liotvri   or    liovri), 
Norw.  liori,  W.  Goth,  liura;  which,  in  the  statistical  accounts  of 
the  northern  countries,  is  described  as  a  sort  of  cupola  with  a  trap- 
door, serving  the  two-fold  purpose  of  a  chimney  and  a  sky-hght  ; 
and  they  derive  libri  from  libs,  hght,  analogous  to  the  Fr.  lucarne, 
from  L.  lucerna.    See  also  Musee  du  Louvre,  par  Clarac,  p.  248  ; 
Duchesne  ;  Dallaway,  Disc,  cd.  1833,  p.  1741;  and  Craven,  Gloss. 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  167 

LOW,  LOWE,  au.l  LOE  (lo),  found  in  local  names  in  England, 
is  the  A.  S.  hlcew,  hhno,  M.  Goth,  hlaiw,  a  heap,  burrow, 
small  hill,  tract  of  ground  gently  rising.  Thus,  Houuslow,  from 
hnndes-hlaw,  hound's-low ;  Winslow,  from  winnes-hlaw,  mound 
of  battle,  or  ivindes-hlaw,  the  windy  mound  ;  also  Barlow,  Bed- 
low,  Eastlow,  Ludlow,  Mcrlow  (qu.  Marlow),  Taplow,  Westlow, 
Wicklow.     (See  Bosworth.) 

LOWESTOFT  (lo'stof),  co.  Suffolk.  Some  translate  this 
name  "  toft  of  the  lakes,"  there  being  two  lakes  in  the  vicinity. 
According  to  others,  Lowestoft  or  Lowestoffe  is  Loweti  s  hof,  from 
the  Viking  named  Lowen,  i.  e.  lion.     See  voc.  Tot. 

LUCKNOW,  the  chief  city  of  Oude.  The  name  is  properly 
written  J*^  lachiau,  perhaps  contracted  from  its  ancient  Sans. 
name  Lakshmanavati,  signifying  fortunate,  lucky,  thus ;  Laksh- 
manavati,  Laksmanauti,  Laksm'naut,  Laksnaut,  Laksnau,  Laknau. 
Gaur  Lucknauti,  or  Gaur,  a  ruined  city  in  the  presidency  of 
Bengal,  may  derive  its  name  from  the  same  root ;  although,  ac- 
cording to  some,  it  was  named  after  Lakshmana,  who  ruled  over 
it  in  the  12th  century.  Both  names,  however,  appear  to  be  con- 
nected with  Lakshmi,  goddess  of  wealth  and  prosperity. 

LUDGATE,  formerly  one  of  the  western  gates  of  the  city  of 
London.  "  Either  of  Lud,  a  king  of  the  Britons,  who  built  it,  as 
some  say  ;  or  q.  d.  Flood-gate,  from  a  little  river  that  ran  under 
it ;  or,  as  Dr.  Th.  H.  supposes,  of  Sax.  lead  the  people,  and  galey 
as  Porto  del  Popolo,  at  Rome."     {Bailey.) 

LUDLOW,  CO.  Salop  ;  found  written  Leod-hlaw,  and  Lude- 
hlaw ;  from  A.  S.  leod  people,  a  nation,  and  hlaw,  Maw,  a  heap, 
barrow,  small  hill,  a  tract  of  ground  gently  rising.  "  Ludlow, 
2Jopiili  tu7nidus."     (Bosworth.) 

LUND,  in  local  names  in  the  N.  of  England,  as  in  Plumbelund, 
a  village  near  Cockermouth,  co.  Cumberland  ;  also  in  Denmark, 
as  Cliarlottenlund,  Christianslund,  Frydculuud,  Frederickslund, 
Lundigt,  &c.,  villages  near  Copenhagen  ;  is  the  Dan.  and  S\v. 
lund,  a  grove  or  wood  dedicated  formerly  to  some  god.  In  Lan- 
cashire /ir/id  also  signifies  a  township,  and  is  a  family  name. 

LUNDY  SIND,  or  Kabul  Kivcr.      The  name  in  Puyhto  signi- 


168  LOCAL   ETYIVIOLOGY. 

fies  "the  little  river;"  in  contradistinction  to  Abu  Sind,  or 
"father  of  rivers,"  as  the  Indus  is  termed. 

LUSITANIA,  the  ancient  appellation  of  Portugal.  Varro  and 
others  derive  the  name  from  Lusus,  son  of  Bacchus ;  Bochart 
from  -,)b  luz,  a  word  used  by  the  Hebrews  and  Syrians  for  an 
almond.  He  says  the  Phoenicians  often  named  places  fi'om  their 
abounding  in  fruit ;  that  there  were  two  places  called  Luza,  one 
in  the  tribe  of  Benjamin,  and  the  other  in  the  tribe  of  Ephraim, 
both  probably  named  from  the  fruit  which  they  produced  ;  and 
why  not  also  Lusitania,  which  yields  to  no  place  on  the  globe 
in  the  abundance  and  excellence  of  its  almonds  ?  Further, 
that  writers  speak  of  the  great  quantity  of  wine,  oil,  oranges, 
citrons,  and  almonds,  produced  in  Lusitania;  and  that  there  are 
several  places  in  Portugal,  which  were  uamed  on  that  account,  as 
Calmende,  for  Casalmende,  "  the  almond  house  ;"  Castelmondo 
for  Castro  almendro,  "the  almond  fort."  The  Arab,  has  jj 
lawz  (lawcat),  an  almond. 

LUTON,  CO.  Beds,  found  written  in  Domesday  and  in  different 
charters,  Loitoine,  Loyton,  Luytone,  Luyton,  Lewton,  and  Loton. 
The  Saxons  called  it  Lygetune.  Davis  tells  us  it  has  its  name 
from  the  River  Lyge,  now  called  Lea,  which  rises  near  Houghton 
Regis,  and  runs  through  the  whole  extent  of  Luton  parish.  It 
appears  to  have  been  an  ancient  town  of  the  Britons.  Its  oldest 
name  was  Lygea-byrig,  or  -burg.  The  Brit,  name  was  nearly  the 
same  as  the  Sax.  Lygea,  which  means  "  a  river  in  an  open  field." 

LUXEMBOURG,  a  grand  duchy,  takes  its  name  from  the  old 
chateau  of  Lucili  hurgum,  which,  in  963,  was  acquired  by  Sigfried, 
Count  of  Ardennes  ;  whose  descendants,  from  1 1 20,  took  the  title 
of  Counts  of  Luxembourg  (Jnirg,  a  castle). 

LUXOR;  El  Kns7\  "  the  palaces  ;"  a  village  of  Upper  Egypt, 
on  the  right  bank  of  the  Nile,  occupying  partly  the  ancient  site  of 
Thebes,  and  having  one  of  the  most  magnificent  ancient  temples 
extant.  {Johnston.)  It  is  called  "The  Palaces"  from  the  temple 
erected  thereby  Amunoph  III.  and  Rameses  II.     The  name  is 

derivedfrom  Arab.  A\  al  the,  ^  kasr  (pi.  htsur),  a  dwelling, 
every  edifice  built  with  stones,  a  palace,  a  citadel. 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  169 

LYME  REGIS,  co.  Dorset.     See  Regis. 

LYM'INGTON,  a  town  in  Hants,  situate  on  the  river 
Lymingtou.  The  manor  is  in  Domesday  called  Lentune ;  temp. 
Edvv.  I.  Lemynton,  and  in  several  charters  Liminton,  which  War- 
ner {Hist.  Hants)  considers  the  proper  orthography  ;  and  he 
derives  it  from  Brit,  limii  a  stream,  and  A.  S,  tun  a  town.  See 
also  Baxter,  Etym.  in  voc.  Limia. 

LLYN,  in  local  names  in  Wales,  is  the  W.  llyn  a  lake  ;  as  Llyn 
Coch,  the  red  pool ;  Llyn  Flynnon  y  Gwas,  the  servant's  pool ; 
Llyn  Glas,  the  blue  pool ;  Llyn  y  Cae,  the  inclosed  pool ;  Llyny 
Cwm,  thepoolof  the  dogs  ;Llyn  y  Dwarcheu,  the  pool  of  the  sod; 
Llynn  y  Nadroedd,  the  adder's  pool. 

LYNN,  LYNN  REGIS,  or  KING'S  LYNN,  co.  Norfolk. 
This  ancient  town  was  named  by  the  Britons.  It  is  called 
Lena  and  Lun  in  Domesday,  and  Lunea  in  the  foundation  deed  of 
Wm.  de  Warrena  (Earl  Warren),  of  the  Priory  of  Lewes  in 
Sussex,  in  the  reign  of  Wm.  I.  Hen.  VIII.  emancipated  the 
corporation  from  the  feudal  supremacy  of  the  bishops  of  Nor- 
wich, and  changed  the  name  from  Lynn  Episcopi  (Bishop's 
Lynn),  to  Lynn  Regis,  or  King's  Lynn.  Qu.  W.  hjn,  a  lake, 
pool.  See  Parker,  Hist.  Norfolk ;  also  Leland,  Itin.  vol.  .5, 
p.  44  ;  Selden,  notes  on  Drayton's  Polyolbion,  p.  78 ;  and 
Camden. 

LYON  {le'ong),  Anglich  Lyons,  It.  Lione,  G.  Lyon,  a  city  of 
France,  was  built  in  the  year  B.C.  41  or  42,  by  Lucius  Munatius 
Plancus.  It  did  not  receive  a  Roman  name,  but  was  called 
Lugdun,  from  the  name  of  the  hill  upon  which  it  was  built. 
Lugdun  is   said  to    have    meant  in  the  O.   Gaul.   "  hill  of  the 


M. 


MACAO  (macow'),  a  peninsula  near  Canton.  Vieyra  (Por^.  Die.) 
says  "Macao,  i.  e.  a  seaport."  This  is  not  satisfactory,  macdo 
not  meaning  a  seaport  in  Portuguese.     It  is  related  that  on  the 


170  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

site  of  the  present  city  there  was  formerly  a  Chinese  temple, 
sacred  to  an  idol  named  Atna,  and  as  the  port  was  called  Gao, 
the  name  Amagao  was  applied  by  the  Portuguese,  and  subse- 
quently corrupted,  first  into  Amacao,  and  afterwards  into  Macao. 
Some  write  the  Chinese  name  of  Macao,  Gannan ;  others  Gaou- 
mun.  Gaou  {gao,  ngao,  goto)  signifies  land  near  a  shore  or 
coast;  a  bay;  kow,  or  rather  hae  how,  is  a  port  or  harbour  for 
ships. 

MADEIRA  (inadeerd),  an  island  in  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  so 
called  from  having  been  originally  very  woody ;  from  Port. 
madeira  (Sp.  madera),  timber,  wood,  from  L.  materia,  materials, 
stuff,  matter,  especially  materials  for  building,  timber. 

MADEN,  in  local  names  in  Turkey,  is  the  Turc.  moHden,  a 
mine  ;  as  Keban  Maden,  Arghana  Maden,  between  Erzeroum  and 
Kaisariyeh. 

MADRAS',  formerly  Madras-patan,  or  Madras-pattan  ;  from 
Arab,  ^^ji^^  madrasa,  a  university,  college,  school  for  the 
diffusion  of  Muhammadan  learning,  and  Sans,  pattuna,  a  town, 
city. 

MADRID'.  This  city  being  built  in  an  open  country,  2412 
feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea,  some  have  derived  the  name  from 
majerit,  which  in  Arab,  is  said  to  signify  "  a  current  of  fresh  air." 
Sousa  prefers  the  Kv&b.  maajurit,  "running  waters,"  of  which, 
however,  there  are  scarcely  any  in  this  part  of  the  country.  The 
name  may  come  from  Arab.  iJ  .a.c  madarat,  a  city,  a  town,  lit.  a 
single  clod,  a  lump  of  dry  clay  of  which  walls  are  built,  from 
madar,  id. ;  also  the  name  of  a  city  in  Arabia.  Medina,  in  like 
manner,  means  a  city.  Some  assert  that  Madrid  is  the  Majoritum 
and  Mantua  Carpentanorum  of  the  Romans.  The  Arab,  majara 
is,  to  be  thirsty  ;  mdajrad,  is  "  naked." 

MAELSTROM,  a  celebrated  whirlpool  on  the  coast  of  Norway, 
at  the  south  end  of  the  Luffoden  Isles ;  from  Dan.  mulstrum,  a 
whirlpool,  gulf,  abyss  ;  lit.  a  mill-stream. 

MAEN,  in  names  of  places  in  Wales,  is  the  W.  maen  a  stone, 
as  Pen-maen-mawr.  Maen  is  sometimes  changed  into  vaen,  as 
Kist-vaen,  &c. 


LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY.  171 

MAESTRICHT  {ma'strikt),  the  capital  of  Limburgin  Belgium, 
is  situated  on  the  River  Maes,  Maas,  or  Meuse,  and  was  called  by 
the  Romans  Trajectus  Superior,  i.  e.  the  upper  ford.  The  name 
is  contracted  from  Maes  and  trajectus,  "  ford  of  the  Maes."  See 
Meuse  and  Utrecht. 

MAG'DEBURG,  on  the  Elbe,  found  written  Maydenburg. 
Heylin  'says  "  it  is  a  Saxon  name,  taken  from  its  site,  as  was  the 
custom  of  the  Saxon  age,  and  before.  Mai/  or  inaff  signifies 
some  considerable  water  or  river ;  thus,  Mayence  or  Mentz,  on 
the  Rhine,  Maestricht,  on  the  River  Maes  ;  that  den  bespeaks  a 
low  situation  in  a  valley,  and  boivi'e  is  from  how-re,  that  is,  where 
the  water  makes  a  bow,  a  turn,  or  winding."  Pomarius  derives 
the  name  from  Magada,  under  which  name  Venus  was  known 
and  worshipped  in  this  part  of  Germany  ;  and  he  informs  us  that 
she  had  here  a  famous  temple,  respected  both  by  the  Huns  and 
the  Wends  or  Vandals,  when  they  ravaged  this  country ;  and  exist- 
ing up  to  the  time  of  Charlemagne.  Boethius  and  others  reject 
this,  and  derive  Magdebourg  from  magd  a  virgin,  and  hurg  a  town  ; 
and  they  state  that  it  was  named  by  the  Empress  Edith,  who  had 
received  this  town  as  a  marriage  portion  from  the  Emperor  Otho, 
her  husband.  This  accounts  for  the  names  Parthenopyrga, 
Parthenope,  and  Parthenopolis,  given  to  it  by  the  savants. 

MAGEL'LAN.  These  straits,  at  the  extremity  of  S.  America, 
were  so  called  from  the  Portuguese  navigator  Magalhaens  or 
Magellan,  by  whom  they  were  discovered. 

MAIIA,  MAIIADEO,  MAHANUDDY.  Maha  occurs  in  lo- 
cal names  in  India,  as  the  Mahadeo  Mountains,  a  cluster  of  con- 
siderable height  in  the  N.  part  of  the  Nag{)ore  territory,  and  so 
called  from  a  celebrated  Hindoo  temple  of  the  same  name  ;  Maha- 
nnddy,  a  large  river.  Maha  is  the  Sans,  muhu  (whence  L.  mag- 
nii.8,  Gr.  [uyc/.c),  from  muhat,  great.  The  Sans.  Mahddeva  or 
Mahadeo  means  "The  Great  God,"  from  ma hii  and  deva,  vulg. 
dewa,  dev,  deb,  or  deo  (whence  Gr.  deoc,  L.  dens),  ii  god,  divinity, 
an  idol.     See  also  Nuddy. 

MAIDENHEAD,  co.  Berks,  acquired  its  name,  says  Leland, 
from   the   picat  veneration   paid  licrc  (o  (lie  licad  of  a  British 


172  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

virgin.  In  the  most  ancient  "records  says  Lysons,  it  is  called 
Maydenliithe,  or  Maidenhead,  and  it  may  have  been  originally  the 
name  of  the  spot  where  the  bridge  now  is,  and  where  there  was 
anciently  a  great  wharf  for  timber.  Some  of  the  principal  inhabi- 
tants were  incorporated  in  1352,  as  the  fraternity  or  guild  of  the 
brethren  and  sisters  of  Maydeneth  or  Maidenhithe.  In  the  parish 
of  East  Garston,  in  the  hundred  of  Lambourn,  is  the  manor  or 
farm  of  Maidencote.  Hithe  is  an  old  word  for  a  port  or  haven, 
from  A.  S.  hyth. 

MAIDSTONE,  a  town  in  Kent,  on  the  Medway.  According 
to  Nennius,  this  place  was  called  by  the  British,  Caer  Meguaid  or 
Medwag,  i.e.  the  town  or  city  of  the  Medway.  It  was  probably 
named  by  the  Belgse,  Midweg ;  thus,  Midweg,  Medwag,  Med- 
wagstun,  Maidston,  Maidstone.  Richard  of  Cirencester  speaks 
of  a  town  supposed  to  have  been  situated  on  the  Medway,  and 
which  he  calls  Ad  Madum,  or  Madis,  which  probably  refers  to 
Maidstone. 

MAJOR'CA,  MINOR'CA,  and  IVIZA  {e-ve'-tza),  islands  on 
the  coast  of  Spain.     See  Balearic  Isles  and  Iviza. 

MALAGA,  a  sea-port  of  Spain,  anciently  Malaca  (MaAaxa), 
which,  according  to  Pliny,  belonged  to  the  allies  of  the  Romans. 
Bochart  says  it  was  called  by  the  Carthaginians,  Malacha,  on 
account  of  its  salted  or  pickled  fish,  from  nba  malach  to  salt, 
rap j%£t;£iv,  "  sale  condire"  and  he  quotes  Strabo  as  to  its  being 
famous  for  salted  fish.  The  Heb.  has  malahh,  the  Arab,  milkh, 
for  "  salt." 

MALAKOFF,  the  name  of  a  fortification  at  Sebastopol.  "  Some 
ten  years  ago,  a  sailor  and  ropemaker,  named  Alexander  Ivano- 
vitch  MalakoflF,  Hved  in  Sebastopol,  and  by  his  good  humour, 
jovial  habits,  and  entertaining  qualities,  became  the  centre  of  a 
select  circle  of  admiring  companions.  Like  many  great  conver- 
sationalists and  wits,  MalakoflP  contracted  most  intimate  relations 
with  Bacchus,  and,  under  the  influence  of  the  latter,  he  partici- 
pated, in  1831,  in  some  riots  which  broke  out  in  the  town,  and 
which  had  one  result — that  of  the  dismissal  of  Malakoff  from 
the  dockyard  in  which  he  was  employed.     Being  incapable  of 


LOCAL   ETYIiIOLOGY.  173 

turning  himself  to  any  more  reputable  trade,  he  opened  a  low 
wine-shed  on  a  hill  outside  of  the  town,  and  introduced  into  prac- 
tice the  theoretical  notions  which  he  had  acquired  by  a  long  and 
zealous  study  of  the  nature  of  beer-houses  and  wine-shops.  His 
trade  prospered,  his  old  admirers  crowded  round  him,  and  in 
their  enthusiasm  christened  the  wine-shed — which  soon  expanded 
into  a  decent  public-house — and  the  hill  on  which  it  was  built,  by 
the  name  of  the  popular  host.  In  time  a  village  grew  around  the 
public-house,  and  was  likewise  called  by  the  name  of  INIalakoff. 
But  the  entertaining  and  imaginative  founder  of  the  place,  in  his 
deepest  cups,  could  never  have  dreamt  that  one  day  his  name 
would  be  in  the  mouths  of  all  men,  and  that  one  of  the  heroes  of 
a  great  war  would  esteem  it  as  an  inestimable  title  of  honour." 
{Gazette  de  France.) 

MALDON  {mawl^n),  co.  Essex  ;  found  written  Mealdune. 
"  It  consists  of  two  principal  streets  at  right  angles  to  each  other, 
and  their  figure  has  led  some  authors  to  suppose  that  the  name 
of  this  town  is  derived  from  A.  S.  mcddune,  "the  hill  of  the 
cross ;"  from  mcel  a  cross,  dune  a  hill.  The  name,  however,  is 
more  probably  a  contraction  of  Camalodunum,  the  L.  form  of  its 
orio-inal  British  name.  Some  assert  that  Camalodunum  means 
"  the  hill  of  Camalus  or  Mars,"  who  was  worshipped  by  the 
Britons. 

MALPAS,  CO.  Chester.  The  name  means  a  dangerous  or 
difficult  way,  from  Fr.  mal  evil,  and  pas  a  step.  Before  the 
Conquest,  it  was  distinguished  by  a  British  name  of  similar  sig- 
nification, viz.,  Depenbech.  Ormerod  {Hist.  Chester),  says  that, 
from  this  circumstance  of  local  strength,  produced  partly  by  the 
yielding  nature  of  the  soil,  and  partly  by  the  inequality  of  sur- 
face, but  more  particularly  from  its  position  on  the  enemy's 
frontier,  Malpas  was  selected  by  the  first  Norman  earl,  as  the 
site  of  one  of  the  numerous  fortresses  with  which,  at  regular  in- 
tervals, he  strengthened  his  Welsh  border. 

MALTA,  an  island  in  the  Mediterranean  Sea,  mentioned  by 
Homer  {Odys.)  imder  the  name  of  Ilyperia.  Malta  is  a  contrac- 
tion of  Melita,  the  name  by  which  it  was  known  to  the  Greeks 


174  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

and  Romans.  Some  derive  Melita  from  L.  mel,  Gr.  /^aA*,  honey, 
for  which  it  was  celebrated.  Bochart  says  it  does  not  derive  its 
name  from  the  nymph  Mehte,  as  some  assert,  but  from  Phcen. 
TV'ah'O  refuge,  retreat,  or  from  melet,  a  cement  much  used  in 
making  Maltese  linen  ;  and  he  refers  to  the  Arab,  milut,  sig- 
nifying clay  or  cement.  Conf.  Heb.  melet,  mortar,  cement,  Gr. 
fj^aX^rj,  L.  maltha,  It.  malta. 

MAMELON,  a  fortified  mound  at  Sebastopol.  This  is  a 
French  word,  nreaning  lit.  a  nipple.  By  extension,  it  is  applied 
to  any  round  protuberance  rising  up  in  the  middle  of  any  surface 
whatever ;  and  in  geography,  to  a  little  isolated  mount,  or  to  the 
upper  part  of  a  mountain  which  terminates  in  a  point.  From 
Fr.  mamelle,  from  L.  mamilla,  dim.  oi  tnamma,  a  breast. 

MANCHA  (mantsha) ;  La  Mancha,  a  province  of  Spain. 
Larramendi  derives  the  Sp.  mancha,  "a  piece  of  ground  covered 
with  copse  and  weeds,"  lit.  a  stain,  a  spot,  from  Basq.  mancha, 
7nanchea  for  macacha,  macachea,  dim.  of  inacd  a  spot. 

MANCHESTER.  In  Antoninus  this  place  is  called  in  different 
copies  Manaurium  and  Manutium,  "  which  old  name,"  says  Cam- 
den, "  is  not  quite  lost  at  this  day,  the  place  being  now  called  Man- 
chester." "  This  town  seems  to  have  been  destroyed  in  the  Danish 
wars ;  and  because  the  inhabitants  behaved  themselves  bravely 
ao-ainst  them,  they  will  have  their  town  called  Manchester,  i.e.  as 
they  explain  it,  a  city  of  men  ;  and  of  this  notion  they  are 
strangely  fond,  seeming  to  contribute  much  to  their  honour,  but 
Mancuniura  was  its  name  in  British  times  ;  from  main  {maen)  a 
stone,  for  it  stands  upon  a  stony  hill,  and  beneath  the  town,  at 
Colyhurst,  there  are  noble  stone  quarries."  {Marianus.)  "  In 
the  present  Castle  Field,  then  the  site  of  the  Roman  castrum,  but 
before  the  construction  of  the  castrum,  was  the  town  of  Mancu- 
nium,  all  built  upon  the  rocky  height  that  forms  the  northern 
bank  of  the  Medlock,  and  was  distinguished  among  the  Britons 
of  this  region  by  the  general  appellation  of  Man-cenion,  or  the 
place  of  tents."  {Whitaker.)  The  present  name  is  found  written 
Manige-ceaster,  Manne-ceaster,  INIanner-ceastre,  and  Manne- 
ceastre,  which  some  derive  from  A.  S.  manige  many,  ceastre  a 


LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY.  175 

castle ;  but  the  first  part  of  the  name  is  the  Brit,  maen,  a  stone 
or  man  (a  place),  in  Mancenion. 

MANFREDO'NL\,  a  citj^  in  Itah%  was  named  after  Manfred, 
son  of  the  Emperor  Frederick  11.,  who  built  it  in  the  year  12.56, 
principally  out  of  the  ruins  of  Lipoutum. 

MANTUA.  "Ocnus,  son  of  the  prophetic  Manto  [/xavnc], 
and  the  Tuscan  river  [Tiber],  who  gave  thee  walls,  O  Mantua, 
and  his  mother's  name."  {Virgil.)  Bocliart,  citing  Servius, 
says  Mantua  was  so  called  after  Mantu,  the  Etruscan  name  for 
Pluto,  to  whom  also  other  cities  were  consecrated.  The  Etruscan 
mantisa  means  "addition,  increase."  Pliny  says  (lib.  iii.  c.  19), 
Mantua  belonged  to  the  Tuscans :  "  Mantua  Tuscorum  trans 
Padum  sola  reliqua."  (Phny,  hb.  iii.  c.  19.)  Virgil  was  either 
born  at  Mantua  or  in  the  neighbouring  village  of  Andes. 

MAPLEDURHAM,  co.  Oxon,  formerly  Mapplederham,  i.e. 
the  maple-tree  habitation  ;  from  A.  S.  mapuldei' {ox  mapul  Ireow, 
a  maple  tree,  ham,  a  habitation.  There  is  also  Mappledurwell, 
in  Hants. 

MARATHON,  a  small  plain  in  the  N.E.  of  Attica,  memorable 
for  the  victory  which  the  Athenians  under  Miltiades  gained  over 
the  Persians,  b.c.  490.  According  to  Plutarch,  it  derived  its 
name  from  the  hero  Marathos ;  but  Mapa^ujv  was  rather  named 
from  being  productive  of  fennel.  MapaS^wv  is  a  field  abounding 
in  fennel,  and  [/.apadov,  j/^apaSpov  is  fennel,  from  ^ccpccivcu,  to 
wither,  dry  up,  die  away  gradually. 

MARAZION  {mara'zhim),  in  Cornwall,  is  said  to  have  been 
anciently  inhabited  by  Jews,  who  held  markets  here  for  the  sale 
of  tin,  and  named  it  Mara-Zion,  the  "  Bitter-Zion,"  from  being 
their  allowed  place  of  rest.  It  is  sometimes  called  Market  Jew, 
but  the  latter  designation  is  not  in  use  on  the  spot.  "  INIarazion 
vulffo  Market-jew,  *  the  sea-coast  market.'  "  (Pryce,  Corn.  Voc.) 
"  Marca-iewe  signifies  in  English  '  market  on  the  Thursday.'  " 
(Nordcn,  p.  39.)  "  Marcaieiv,  of  ^larhas  Dicw,  in  English,  the 
Thursdaics  market,  for  then  it  useth  this  traffike."  (Carew,  p. 
Ijfj.)  "  Marhiu,  Forum  Jovis,  cpiod  il)i  mercatus  die  Jovis 
liabcatur."     {Camden.)     "  The  name  of  Market-jew   is   the   ori- 


176  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

ginal  and  proper  designation  of  that  town,  which  had  a  market 
conceded  to  it  in  a  concession  to  the  INIount ;  while  the  name  of 
Marazion  is  the  designation  only  of  a  new,  a  Jewish,  and  a 
western  part."  (Leland,  Itin.  vii.,  117.)  See  also  Polwhele's 
Cornwall,  iii.  222,  supp.  p.  13  ;  Kingsley's  Yeast,  a  Problem, 
p.  255  ;  and  Notes  and  Queries,  2d  S.  ii.  432. 

MARGATE,  in  the  Isle  of  Thanet,  formerly  Meregate,  so 
named  from  there  having  been  anciently  a  mere  or  stream  here 
which  had  its  influx  into  the  sea;"  from  A.  S.  mere,  and  ff eat, 
gat,  a  gate,  door. 

MxiRLBOROUGH,  co.  Wilts.  Some  assert  that  this  name  is 
a  corruption  of  "  Merlin^ s  Borough,"  and  that  Merlin  had.  a  cave 
here.  The  more  reasonable  derivation  is  from  A.  S.  marl  and 
burg  a  town,  from  the  chalk  or  marl  in  the  neighbourhood. 
Camden,  who  rather  doubts  this  derivation,  admits  that  the  place 
"  lies  at  the  foot  of  a  hill  of  white  stones,  which  our  forefathers 
called  marie,  before  they  had  borrowed  the  word  chalk  from  the 
Latin  calx."  The  name  is  found  written  Merleberga,  Mearleas 
beorge,  Marleberge,  and  Merleberg. 

MARLOW,  CO.  Bucks,  from  A.  S.  marl  chalk,  leag  a  field, 
place,  or  hlaw  a  hill,  heap,  barrow. 

MARNE,  a  river  in  France.  Armstrong  derives  the  name 
from  Gael,  marbh-an,  "the  dead  water."  In  Low  L.,  however, 
this  name  is  found  written  Matrona  and  Mceterna,  and  in  A.  S. 
Mceterne  and  Meaterne. 

MARSEILLES  {marsayls),  a  city  of  France  ;  a  corruption  of 
Massilia,  its  ancient  name.  It  is  said  to  have  been  founded 
by  Phocseans  from  Ionia.  Cicero  calls  it  the  Athens  of  the 
Gauls.  From  what  nation  it  received  the  name  of  Massilia  seems 
doubtful.     Bochart  suggests  no  derivation. 

MARYLAND,  one  of  the  United  States  ;  named  after  Hen- 
rietta Maria,  queen  of  Charles  I. 

MARYLEBONE,  a  district  of  London,  was  anciently  called 
Tyburn,  from  its  situation  near  a  small  bourn  or  rivulet  of  that 
name,  known  ia  record  as  Ayebrook  or  Eyebrook  ;  and  acquired 
its  present  name  from  the  church  of  St.  Mary-le-bourn  (St.  Mary- 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  177 

on-the-brook),  now  corruptly  written  INIarj'leboue  or  Marebone, 
(^Cunningham. ^ 

MASSACHUSETTS,  one  of  the  United  States.  The  name  is 
corrupted  from  that  of  a  native  chief. 

MAUBEUGE  (mobuzh'),  a  town  in  France.  The  name  is 
corrupted  from  Low  L.  Malbergium,  a  hall  of  justice,  or  place  of 
assembly,  to  which  the  inhabitants  were  summoned  by  the  ring- 
ing of  a  great  bell.  Malbergium  comes  from  L.  malleus,  a  ham- 
mer (bell),  and  Teut.  berg  a  hill.     See  Dufresne. 

MAURITIUS.  The  Mauritius,  sometimes  called  the  Isle  of 
France,  was  discovered  by  the  Dutch  in  1595,  who  named  it  in 
honour  of  their  Stadtholder  Maurice,  Prince  of  Orange. 

MAWR,  in  local  names  in  "Wales,  as  Pen  maen-mawr,  is  the  W. 
maicr,  great. 

MEATH,  a  county  of  Ireland,  Ir.  Midhe,  formerly  known  by 
the  name  of  Mithe,  Methe,  Media,  or  Midia,  perhaps  from  its 
central  situation.  Others  derive  its  name  from  Ir.  maith,  or 
magh,  a  "  plain,"  or  "level  country,"  a  derivation  indicative  of  its 
natural  character.    The  Ir.  midhe  is  a  neck ;  midh  the  sight,  aspect. 

MECKLENBURG,  L.  :Megalopolis,  the  name  of  two  grand 
duchies  in  Northern  Germany,  is  generally  derived  from  Sax. 
michel  great,  burg  town,  and  was  probably  first  applied  to  some 
city  or  fort,  although  there  does  not  appear  to  be  any  place  of 
this  name  at  the  present  day.  There  is,  however,  a  place  called 
Malchin,  and  Lake  Malchin  in  these  duchies. 

MEDIA,  in  anc.  geog.  a  country  of  Asia.  Some  derive  the 
name  from  Madai,  thiid  son  of  Japhet,  whence  they  assert  that 
the  Medes  were  called  Madai  ;  others  from  Medus.  son  of  Medea 
and  Jason.  Again,  others  say  the  Medes  took  their  name  from  a 
city  named  Media,  whence  the  whole  country  was  also  designated. 
(See  Strabo,  i.  xi.)  "The  Medes  were  not  named  from  Medus,  son 
of  Medea,  as  the  Greeks  pretend,  but  from  their  founder  Madai, 
or  from  Ilcb.  nrD,  a  boundary."     (Bochart.) 

MEDINA  (medeena),  a  city  of  Arabia  Petraea,  anciently  called 
Yatrib.  It  is  more  correctly  written  Almadina,  i.  e.  "  the  city," 
from  Aral),  al  the,  ^..jjX<  uiadiiKt  a  city. 

N 


178  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

MED  WAY,  a  river  in  Kent,  in  A.  S.  MedwcBge,  i.e.  the  river 
which  holds  the  7nidwaj,  or  runs  through  the  middle  of  the  coun- 
try. It  is  said  that  the  British  name  was  Vaga,  but  Nennius  calls 
Maidstone,  Caer  Meguaid  or  Megwad,  "  the  town  on  the  Medway." 
These  terms  are  probably  corruptions  of  its  original  Belgic  name, 
which  may  have  been  Midweg. 

MEI-LING,  a  mountain  range  and  a  pass  in  China.  Klaproth 
interprets  the  name  mei-Ung,  "  the  chain  of  the  wild  plum  trees." 

MELBOURNE,  co.  Derby.  The  historian  of  the  place  gives 
several  suggestions  as  to  the  etymology  of  this  name.  He  says 
that  in  the  days  of  William  the  Conqueror,  a  mill  was  considered 
of  great  value,  and  in  Domesday  the  mill  of  Melbourne  was  regis- 
tered with  the  land  and  the  church,  and  therefore  Melbourne  may 
have  been  so  called  from  its  having  had,  at  an  early  period,  a 
mill  turned  by  a  stream  or  bourn,  or  from  its  being  situated  upon 
a  stream  that  turned  a  mill ;  and  that  in  ancient  documents  it  is 
called  INIill-buru.  The  Hon.  G.  Lamb  says  the  church  is  dedi- 
cated to  St,  Michael,  and  that  Melbourne  may  be  a  corruption  of 
"MichaeVs  bourne,'"  or  boundary.  The  Rev.  J.  Deans,  deriving 
the  name  from  Sax.  mael-burn,  "  the  brook  of  the  cross" — which 
would  lead  to  the  inference  that  a  cross  had  been  set  up  here 
by  the  side  of  a  brook  near  the  town — says  it  was  not  unusual 
to  erect  religious  buildings  upon  spots  where  distinguished  per- 
sons had  died  by  violence,  and  to  provide  for  the  residence  of  the 
clergy,  that  prayers  might  be  constantly  offered  up  for  the  soul  of 
the  victim  ;  and  that  whenever  a  church  was  built,  the  emblem  of 
Christianity  was  erected  near  it,  and  sometimes  supplied  a 
distinguishing  name  to  the  place  where  it  was  found.  That 
allowing  the  tradition  which  connects  the  building  of  the 
church  with  the  death  of  Ethelred,  we  have  at  once  a  sufficient 
reason  for  the  name.  Osthrid,  a  Saxon  chief,  was  waylaid  and 
murdered  upon  the  spot,  and  where  the  crime  was  perpetrated,  the 
emblem  of  Christianity  was  set  up,  and  provision  made  for  the 
constant  performance  of  Christian  rites.  According  to  a  local 
opinion,  it  was  once  called  the  "  citie  of  sweete  springes."  If 
so,  it  may  derive  the  first  part  of  its  name  from  L.  mel,  honey. 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  179 

Melbourne,  however,  may  simply  mean  "bourn  of   the   Mel." 
See  also  Briggs  (Hist.  Melb.). 

MELTON  MOWBRAY  (mo'bra),  co.  Leicester.  3Ielton  may 
be  a  corruption  o{ 3Iill-t own,  from  the  conflux  of  the  River  Eye  and 
a  large  brook,  which  breaks  out  with  great  force  north  of  Scalforcl, 
and  supplies  two  mills  before  it  reaches  Melton  ;  and,  says  the 
historian,  "  both  above  and  below  the  town  are  two  capital  mills." 
Others  think  that  as  the  name  in  ancient  writings  is  found 
written  not  only  Meltone,  but  also  IVIedeltone  and  Medeltune,  it 
may  be  from  A.  S.  middeltun,  i.  e.  middle  town,  and  may  have 
been  so  called  from  its  situation  in  the  midst  of  its  various 
hamlets.  The  adjunct  Mowbray  is  from  a  family  who  were  lords 
of  it. 

MEMPHIS.  Tattam  says  the  hieroglyphic  name  of  Memphis 
or  Memphe,  was  read  Ma-m-Phthah,  which  he  translates  "  palace 
of  Phthah  or  Vulcan."  "It  was  afterwards  called  Panuph,  'the 
temple  of  the  Good  God.'  From  the  ancient  form  Ma-m-phthah^ 
came  the  Coptic  M£[j.(3s,  Ms/^cf)/,  Gr.  Ms/xcfxc,  Arab.  i^i\^  menf, 
and  probably  the  Heb.  F]''?d  moph;  and  from  Panuph  came  fji  noph" 
(Gesen.  Robinson.) 

MENAM',  a  celebrated  river  in  Siam  :  "mother  of  waters." 

]MENIL,  MESNIL  {mmjnil),  is  found  very  frequently  in  names 
of  villages  and  manors  in  Normandy  and  elsewhere  in  France, 
either  singly,  or  combined,  as  INIenil-montant,  Paris.  Its  original 
meaning  was  "  a  habitation,"  from  Low.  L.  niansus;  thus,  mausus, 
masnus,  masnile,  maisnil,  Mesnil,  Menil. 

MERE,  MER,  in  local  names  in  England,  as  in  Windermere, 
Merton,  generally  means  a  lake,  pool,  marsh  ;  from  A.  S.  mere, 
mcere,  from  L.  7nare,  the  sea.  Mere,  however,  is  sometimes  used 
to  denote  a  boundary  or  landmark.  Mere-stones  are  stones  set  up 
for  boundaries  or  landmarks  in  open  fields.  In  Wilts  is  a  small 
town  and  parish  called  Mere.  The  parish  is  of  an  angular  shape, 
and  bounded  on  two  sides  by  the  counties  of  Somerset  and  Dorset, 
from  which  circumstance  it  is  said  to  have  been  named.  Mere,  a 
boundary,  comes  from  the  A.  S.  mcera,  gemcera,  from  Gr.  jMSipuj, 
to  divide. 

N  2 


180  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

MERION'ETH  (W.  Meirionydd),  "  is  the  only  county  in  Wales 
which,  with  the  addition  of  shh-e,  retains  its  ancient  appellation. 
It  was  named  from  Meirion,  son  of  Tibiawn,  and  grandson  of 
Cunedda,  a  noble  British  chieftain  who  came  to  N.  Wales  in  the 
fifth  century,  to  assist  in  rescuing  it  from  the  grasp  of  a  set  of 
marauding  Irish,  who,  for  the  sake  of  plunder,  had  nearly  overrun 
the  whole  country.  Having  succeeded  in  his  enterprise,  he  ob- 
tained a  large  portion  of  territory  as  a  boon,  and  gavelled  out  the 
possessions  among  his  ten  sons,  and  two  grandsons,  ]Maelor  and 
Meirion."  This  district  appears  to  have  been  known  to  the 
Romans,  and  was  called  by  them  Mervinia. 

MERSEY  {mer'ze)  in  A.  S.  found  written  Meres-ig,  Meres-ige 
and  Mereis-ige  ;  from  ig  an  island,  meres  of  a  lake.  The  island 
Mersey,  Essex;  the  river  INIersey,  dividing  Lancashire  and 
Cheshire.  (Boswoi'th.)  "The  Mersey,  in  its  whole  course,  divides 
Cheshire  and  Lancashire.  It  is  formed  and  receives  its  name, 
by  the  confluence,  ne.ar  Stockport,  of  the  Thames  and  Goyt." 
(P.  Cyc.)  Armstrong  {Gael.  Diet.)  under  Muir  "the  sea,"  gives 
"  O.  Sax.  mars,  merse,  mere,  a  lake ;  hence  Winder-mere,  Mersey." 

MERTHER,  in  Cornwall ;  from  Corn  mor-dur,  "  on  the  sea 
water."     (Pri/ce.) 

MERTHYR  TIDVIL,  co.  Glamorgan,  N.  Wales.  It  is  related 
that  Tydfil  or  Tudfil  was  one  of  the  daughters  of  Brychan,  the 
Regulus  of  Garthmadrin,  and  wife  of  Cyngen-ap-Cardell ;  that  her 
father,  towards  the  end  of  his  life,  retired  with  some  of  his  family 
to  this  neighbourhood,  and  was  here  attacked  by  a  marauding  party 
of  Pagan  Saxons,  who  slew  Brychan,  her  brother,  Rhun  Dremrudd, 
and  herself ;  that  a  church  was  afterwards  erected  near  the  scene  of 
this  slaughter,  and  called  after  her,  Merthyr  Tydvil,  or  "  Tydvil 
the  martyr."  The  W.  merthyr  is  a  corruption  of  the  Gr.  ij.a^tv§. 
The  W.  word  means  also  a  plain,  a  clear  spot.  There  is  likewise 
Merthyr  Mawr,  on  the  Ogmore  river,  co.  Glamorgan,  where  the 
Stradling  family  formerly  had  a  seat. 

MERTON,  Surrey,  found  written  Merantun,  Meretune, 
Meretun,  Meritonia,  and  Meretone  ;  said  to  derive  its  name  from 
lying  adjacent  to  a  mere  or  marsh,   of  which  there  are  still  some 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  181 


/ 


traces  near  the  River  Wandle,  which  flows  through  the  parisli. 
"  jNIerdou,  Wilts  ;  Mereton,  Oxon  ;  Morton,  Devon  ;  from  A.  S. 
mere,  mcere,  a  mere,  lake,  pool,  marsh,  sea,  tun  a  town."  {Bos- 
ivorth.) 

MESOPOTAMIA,  in  anc.  geog.  a  country  between  the 
Euphrates  and  the  Tigris.  The  name  means  land  lying  between 
two  rivers  ;  from  Gr.  /xecroTroraajoe,  between  rivers  ;  ^asTOg  middle, 
TTorfO.ij.OQ  river. 

MESSINA  (tnesseena),  a  city  of  Sicily,  the  ancient  Messaua ; 
founded  by  the  inhabitants  of  Messene,  chief  town  of  Messenia, 
a  country  of  Peloponnesus. 

MEUSE,  a  river  in  France,  Belgium,  and  Holland  ;  D.  3Iaas 
or  Maes,  L.  Mosa.  Heylin  says  the  Celtic  mat/  or  mai/  was  used 
to  denote  a  large  body  of  water  ;  but  the  primitive  meaning  of 
mag  may  have  been  simply  "  great  "  (from  Gr.  (j.sycce),  and  if  so, 
Maff-ese  would  mean  the  "great  water,"  which  might  easily 
become  corrupted  into  Maas  or  3Iaes ;  thus,  magese,  mages, 
Maes,  Maas.  This  mag  may  be  the  root  of  the  Gael.  ma(/h,  a 
field,  a  plain,  whence  magus  (contracted  in  W.  to  maes),  a  field, 
and  then  a  colony  or  town  in  a  field. 

MEXICO.  According  to  Clavigcro,  the  name  means  "the 
place  oi  Mexitli  or  Huitzilopochtli"  "  the  god  of  war,"  to  whom 
a  sanctuary  was  anciently  there  erected.  This  god  was  most 
honoured  by  the  Mexicans,  and  regarded  as  their  chief  protector. 

MIDDLESEX,  from  A.  S.  Middel  Seaxe,  the  jNIiddle  Saxons. 
In  like  manner,  Essex  from  East  Seaxe,  the  East  Saxons  ;  Sus- 
sex, from  Suth  Seaxe,  the  South  Saxons.  Essex  and  Sussex 
formed  separate  and  distinct  kingdoms  during  a  certain  period  of 
the  Saxon  Heptarchy.     See  Saxony. 

MIDDLETON,  the  name  of  several  places  in  England ;  from 
A.  S.  middel  middle,  tu7i  a  town. 

[MILAN,  It.  Miluno,  G.  Mailand,  a  city  of  L>mbardy.  Some 
authors  tell  us  that  the  name  was  formerly  Melano,  the  deriva- 
tion of  which,  from  mel,  honey,  is  not  worth  refuting.  According 
to  Isidore,  it  was  built  and  named  "Mediolanum"  by  the  Gauls, 
who  estabhshed  themselves  in  Italy,  and  built  other  towns  there. 


182  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

There  were  several  cities  in  Gaul  and  one  in  Britain  called  jNIedio- 
lanum.  Some  translate  Mediolanum  "  mead-land  ;"  others  "  har- 
vest-full," from  the  Celt,  lawn  full,  mediad  the  harvest  (^medi,  to 
gather  in  the  harvest).  This  derivation  is  said  to  be  confirmed 
by  the  fact  that  all  the  towns  called  Mediolanum  were  situated  in 
fertile  spots.  Mediolanum,  miolanum,  miolan,  Milan.  Mediola- 
num is  mentioned  by  Livy,  v.  34,  and  Polybius,  vi.  II. 

JVIILTON,  the  name  of  several  places  in  England  ;  contraction 
of  MiU-totvn,  or  Middle-town. 

MINSTER,  in  local  names  in  England,  denotes  the  church  of  a 
monastery,  or  a  church  to  which  a  monastery  has  been  attached ; 
from  A.  S.  minstre,  mynster,  from  root  of  Monastir  and  Moustier 
(q.  v.).  Among  names  compounded  of  minstei;  are  Axminster, 
Beaminster,  Bedminster,  Charminster,  Kidderminster,  Stur- 
minster,  Warminster,  Westminster,  Yetminster. 

MISR,  the  name  given  to  Egypt  by  the  natives  and  by  the 
Arabs,  is  derived  by  some  from  Misraim,  son  of  Ham,  by  whom 
it  was  peopled.  The  Arab.  ^^^  misr  means  not  only  Egypt,  but 
also  a  limit,  border,  a  large  city,  the  capital  city  of  Egypt.  Web- 
ster says  mesr,  mazor,  means  a  fortress,  from  y^,  to  bind  or 
enclose.  Robinson  thinks  that  under  the  Heb.  mazor  lurks  the 
Egyptian  metoui'o,  a  kingdom,  but  that  the  Hebrews  doubtless 
assigned  to  the  name  a  domestic  origin,  probably  as  signifying  a 
border,  limit. 

MISSISSIPPI,  a  river  of  N.  America.  The  name  means  "  the 
father  of  waters."     (Ind.) 

MITCHAM,  CO.  Surrey,  is  called  in  Domesday  Michelham, 
i.e.  "the  great  dwelling."  In  all  early  and  in  many  recent 
records,  it  is  written  Miccham  or  Micham  ;  the  present  mode  of 
spelling,  which  is  more  remote  from  its  etymology,  was  not  uni- 
versally adopted  before  this  century.     (Lysons.) 

MOEL,  in  local  names  in  Wales,  is  the  W.  moel,  a  mountain, 
a  hill :  as  Moel  Aelir,  the  frosty  hill ;  j\Ioel  Hebog,  the  hill  of 
flight,  so  named  from  Owen  Glendwr  having  once  taken  refuge 
in  a  cave  there  ;  Moel  y  Don,  the  hill  of  the  wave,  celebrated  as 
the  place  where,  in  1282,  part  of  the  English  army  were  defeated 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  183 

by  the  Welsh  with  great  slaughter ;  Moel  Golfa,  Moel  Shiabod, 
Moel  Eryr. 

MOLD,  CO,  Flint ;  a  contraction  of  Mont-hault  (and  so  called  by 
the  Normans)  from  mont,  and  A.  S.  holt  a  wood  ;  or  from  mont- 
haut,  i.e.  mons  alius,  the  high  mount.  The  Welsh,  even  at  the 
present  day,  call  it  Y  Wyddgrug,  the  conspicuous  mount. 

MOLDAVIA  derives  its  name  from  the  River  Moldau,  which  runs 
through  it.  It  is  called  by  the  Turks  and  the  natives  Bogdania, 
from  Bogdan,  a  chieftain  who  colonized  it  in  the  13th  century. 

MOLE,  a  river  in  Surrey,  "  so  called  because,  like  a  mole,  it 
forceth  its  passage  under  ground,  and  thereby  mixes  its  waters 
with  the  Thames."  {Bailey.)  This  was  Camden's  idea,  who 
says,  "  betaking  itself  to  subterraneous  passages  like  a  mole." 
Spenser  says, 

"  And  Mole,  that  like  a  nousling  Mole,  doth  make 
His  way  still  under  ground,  till  Thames  he  o'ertake." 

Mantell  informs  us  that  this  river  was  anciently  called  the 
Emele,  Emelyn,  or  Eraley  stream,  and  that  it  gives  the  name  to 
the  hundred  of  Emley  Bridge  (or  Amele-bridge,  as  it  is  spelt  in 
Domesday),  through  the  whole  of  which  it  flows ;  and  he 
derives  Emele  from  Brit,  y  melin,  the  mill,  i.  e.  the  mill  river. 
He  says  this  is  corroborated  by  Domesday,  in  which  twenty 
places  are  mentioned  as  possessing  mills,  which,  from  their 
respective  localities,  must  have  been  situated  either  ou  this  stream 
or  its  immediate  auxiliary  branches ;  and  that  its  present  appellation 
"mole,"  by  which  it  was  known  prior  to  the  Conquest,  will  admit 
of  a  similar  origin,  viz.,  the  L.  mola,  a  mill.  In  deeds  temp, 
Henry  VIII.,  it  is  called  the  Emley  River,  and  in  the  Leiger 
Book  of  Chertsey,  a  deed  is  recorded  "  of  lands  bounded  on  the 
east  by  the  water  Emele."  Emele  or  Emelyn  may  be  a  con- 
traction of  Brit,  y  melyn  an,  "the  yellow  river." 

MONAS'TIR,  the  name  of  several  j)laces  in  GIreecc  and  Euro- 
pean Turkey  ;  and  of  one  in  Southern  Italy,  dcaotes  the  site  of  a 
monastery  ;    from  Gr.  /xovatrTryfJov,  from  jw,ov«cr7*)jc,  a  monk. 

MCJXMOL'TII  {mon'muth),  stands  on  a  narrow  peninsula 
formed  by   the  rivers  Monnoiv  and  Wye  :  thus  Monnow-tnouth, 


184  LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY. 

Monmouth.     The  Welsh  call  it  Mynwy,  aud  Tre-Fynwy,   and 
the  shire,  Swydd  Fynwy,  Gwent,  and  Gwlad  Went. 

MONTGOMERY,  in  Wales.  The  ancient  name  of  this  town 
was  Tre  Faldwyn,  i.e.  Baldwyn's  town,  from  Baldwyn,  a  lieu- 
tenant of  the  marches,  who,  in  the  time  of  William  the  Con- 
queror, erected  here  a  fortress,  to  further  his  future  designs 
against  the  Welsh.  The  name  was  afterwards  changed  to  Mont- 
gomery, from  Roger  de  Montgomery,  who  built  the  castle  here. 
Montgomery  probably  derived  his  name  from  residing  in  the 
vicinity  of  a  mound  called  Mont  Gomer  (A.  S.  Munt-Gumri, 
"mount  of  Gomer").  The  Welsh  still  call  the  town,  Tre 
Faldwyn,  and  the  shire.  Sir  Drefaldwyn. 

MONTAIARTRE  {tnong-murtr'),  Paris.  Its  ancient  name  is 
said  to  have  been  INIons  Martis  and  Mons  Mercurii,  i.e.  mount 
of  Mars  or  Mercury,  from  the  temple  erected  here  to  these  gods. 
It  was  afterwards  called  ]Mons  ]\lartyrum  (whence  its  present 
name),  because  St.  Denis  and  some  of  his  followers  suffered  mar- 
tyrdom here  about  the  year  260.  See  Bailies,  Topog.  des  Saints, 
631  ;  and  Piganiol,  Descr.  de  la  France,  part  i.,  p.  24. 

MONTSERRAT',  a  small  island  in  the  West  Indies.  There 
is  also  a  convent  and  a  mountain  in  Spain  called  Monserrate. 
The  latter  derives  its  name  from  m6nte  a  mountain,  serrdto,  ser- 
rated, notched  hke  a  saw  ;  "  a  tooth-shaped  mountain." 

MOORGATE  STREET,  "  a  north  gate  of  the  city  of  London, 
so  called  of  a  moor  or  marsh  which  was  formerly  hard  by  it ; 
from  Sax.  tnor  a  moor  or  marsh,  and  (/ate."     {Bailey.) 

MORAST',  in  Sweden,  situated  on  the  frontier  of  Norway; 
from  Sw.  moras  (G.  morast),  a  marsh. 

MORAVIA  (Slav.  Morawa),  a  province  of  the  Austrian 
monarchy,  takes  its  name  from  the  Marsch  or  jNIorawa  (in  L- 
Maro),  the  largest  of  its  rivers.  Armstrong,  imder  Gael,  muir, 
the  sea,  an  ocean,  gives  Mor-awaw,  a  river  in  Moravia ;  but  if 
Morawa  is  from  the  Celt.,  it  would  rather  translate  "great  water 
or  river,"  from  mbr  great,  and  au,  aw,  water. 

MORAY,  Scotland.  The  ancient  province  of  Moray  extended 
from  the  mouth  of  the  Spey  on  the  east,  to  the  river  Beauly  on 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  185 

the  west;  it  therefore  included  the  whole  district  of  country 
stretching  along  the  sea  coast ;  hence  some  derive  its  Gael, 
name  Murar  or  Morar,  from  muir,  the  sea. 

MORE,  in  local  names  in  Scotland,  is  generally  the  Gael. 
mbr,  great  (Corn,  and  Arm.  maur.  W.  mawr,  Ir.  /wor),  as  Glen- 
more,  the  great  glen. 

^lORETOX  VALENCE,  a  parish,  co.  Gloucester,  was  anciently 
called  simply  Moreton,  "  town-on-the-water,"  and  received  the 
addition  of  Valence,  from  a  family  of  that  name  who  were  earls  of 
Pembroke,  and  lords  of  the  manor,  in  the  reigns  of  Edw.  I. 
and  Edw.  II.     {Notes  and  Queries.) 

^MORGAN,  a  place  in  Cornwall.  Pryce  says  the  name  in 
Corn,  means  "by  the  sea,"  from  mor  the  sea,  gan  by.  Some 
derive  the  name  of  Morgan  in  Wales  from  two  Irish  words,  mor 
great,  cean  head  ;  others  from  mor  the  sea,  geni  to  be  born  ;  "  sea- 
born ;"  a  term,  they  say,  which  might  be  applied  to  a  man  or  to 
a  country  on  the  sea  side.  According  to  others  morgan  is  for 
morgant,  a  sea-brink,  from  mor  the  sea,  cant  the  rim  of  anything. 
The  Morgan  in  "Wales  is  probably  derived  in  the  same  way  as 
that  in  Cornwall. 

MORGUE  (morg),  a  place  in  Paris  and  in  many  towns  of  France 
where  the  bodies  of  persons  found  dead  are  exposed  for  the  purpose 
of  recognition.  The  word  inorgne  in  some  of  the  southern  provinces 
means  face,  countenance  (Fr.  visage).  Alberti  translates  morgue 
"  a  grave  and  serious  countenance,  in  which  there  appears  some 
fierceness ;  a  sort  of  place  at  the  entrance  of  a  prison  ;"  morguer, 
"  to  brave  some  one."  The  verb  also  means  "  to  take  the  like- 
ness of  a  prisoner,"  i.e.  to  regard  him  on  his  first  entrance  to  a 
prison  so  fixedly  as  to  know  him  again.  ''Morgue,  Le  second 
guichet  ou  Ton  tieiit  quelque  temps  ceux  qui  entrent  en  })rison, 
atin  que  les  guichetiers  les  regardent  fixement  et  s'impriment  si 
bicn  I'idee  de  leur  visage  dans  I'imagination  qu'ils  ne  puissent 
manquer  de  les  reconnoitre."  From  Gr.  /xut/c,  the  nose ;  thus, 
ivjric,  musus,  murus,  muricus,  murica,  Morgue.  {M/mage.) 

MORTLAKi:,  CO.  Surrey.  The  name  is  said  to  mean  "  dead 
lake,"  (rom  L.  mortuus  lacus. 


186  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

MOSCOW,  called  by  the  Russians  Moskva,  from  the  river  on 
which  it  is  situated. 

MOSELLE  (mo-zeV),  a  river  of  Germany  (G.  Mozel),  is  called 
Mosula  by  Florus,  Obrincus  by  Ptolemy,  Musella  and  Mosella 
by  other  writers,  and  its  modern  name  is  found  written  Mozelle. 
Mosella  is  perhaps  merely  a  dim.  of  Mosa,  the  L.  name  for  the 
River  Meuse  (q.  v.). 

MOULSEY,  CO.  Surrey.  This  place  may  have  been  so  situated 
with  respect  to  the  River  Mole  and  the  Thames,  as  to  have  been 
almost  an  island ;  and  if  so,  the  word  may  be  a  corruption  of 
Moles-ige,  i.e.  island  of  the  River  Mole.  "The  parish  of  East 
Moulsey  or  Molesey,  consists  of  a  triangular  tract  of  land  near 
the  junction  of  the  River  Mole  with  the  Thames,  which  forms 
its  boundary  on  the  north,  as  the  Mole  does  on  the  east  and 
south-east ;  on  the  south  it  borders  on  Esher  ;  and  on  the  west 
on  West  Moulsey."  (MantelL) 

MOUNTNESSING,  co.  Essex,  vulgarly  pronounced  munna- 
zeen.  In  old  maps  the  name  is  written  Munnassing.  In  the 
time  of  Edw.  III.  it  bore  the  name  Ginge  Mounteney,  sometimes 
written  Yng  or  Yeng  Mounteney .  Its  present  name  is  a  corruption 
oi Mountney' s-Ing ,  i.e.  the  ing  or  meadow  of  the  Mountneys,  an 
ancient  family  who  were  formerly  lords  of  the  manor  here. 

MOUSCRON,  a  town  of  France  on  the  frontiers  of  Belgium. 
The  name  is  said  to  be  corrupted  from  Mons  Ceuteron  or  Cen- 
teron,  from  the  old  word  ron  or  ront  a  circle,  ken  or  kern  a  kernel, 
fig.  the  middle  ;  "the  middle  of  the  circle."  The  Centrons  were 
clients  of  the  Nerviens  (Ccesar)  ;  and  they  inhabited  the  centre  of 
the  country  occupied  by  that  people  (Grammage.)  "La  mon- 
tagne  nommee  Ceuteron,  Mont  Ceuteron,  Mouscron."  See 
Lamartiniere  and  voc.  Courtrai. 

MOUSTIER,  MOUSTIERS  {moo'ste-a)  sometimes  Monstiers, 
the  name  of  several  places  in  France  ;  from  Low  L.  monastC' 
rium,  a  monastery.     See  Monastir. 

MULL,  in  local  names  in  Scotland,  means  a  cape,  promontory, 
or  headland  ;  from  Gael,  niaol,  maoil ;  as  Maol  Chinntire,  the  pro- 
montory or  Mull  of  Kintire.     3Iaol  signifies  also  the  brow  of  a 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  187 

rock,  a  bald  hesid ;  maoil,  is  bald,  bare  (Ir.  and  Arm    inoal,  id. 
Corn.  77ioel,  a  bald  top). 

MUNICH  {mu'iiik),  G.  Miinchen,  It.  Monaco,  the  capital  of 
Bavaria,  takes  its  name  from  certain  monks,  who  owned  some 
warehouses  erected  on  the  spot,  for  the  reception  of  salt,  brought 
from  the  mines  of  Reichenhall  and  Salzburg.  From  G.  miinchen, 
mOnchen,  monks,  from  Low  L.  monachus,  from  Gr.  ju,oya%0£,  a 
monk.  The  il  in  IMiiuchen  is  pronounced  somewhat  like  the 
long  French  il. 

MURSHIDABAD,  Hindustan,  i.e.  Murshid-dbud,  the  city  of 
-Murshid  Kuli  Khan,  who  transferred  to  it  the  seat  of  his  govern- 
ment from  Dacca.     See  Abad. 

MYNYDD,  in  local  names  in  Wales,  is  the  "W.  mynydd,  a 
mountain,  as  Mynydd  Mawr,  the  great  mountain ;  Mynydd 
Moel,  &c,,  &c. 


N. 

NABLOUS  (na-bloose),  in  Asia  Minor ;  a  corruption  of  Gr. 
Nsa-rtoXie,  the  new  city ;  vaoe  new,  ttoXiq  a  city.  This  word  is 
synonymous  with  Napoli  and  Naples.     See  Blous. 

NAGORE,  or  NAGUR,  in  local  names  in  Hindustan,  is  the 
Hind.  (J  nayar,  a  town,  city,  from  Sans,  nayara  ;  thus  Barnagore, 
for  Yariiha-nagar,  "city  of  the  boar,"  from  Sans,  vardha,  a  boar; 
Chandernagore,  for  Chandranagar,  "  city  of  the  moon,"  from 
Sans,  chandra,  the  moon  ;  Sirinagur,  for  Suryanagar,  "  city  of 
the  sun,"  from  Sans,  surya,  the  sun ;  or  for  Srinagar,  "  city  of 
Sri,"  goddess  of  prosperity  and  wife  of  Vishnu. 

NAGY,  in  names  of  places  in  Hungary,  means  "great,"  just 
as  kin  means  little  ;  thus  Nagy-Kanizsa ;  Nagy-Ripcny  ;  Nagy- 
Tapolcsan ;  Nagy-Rocze ;  Nagy-Maros ;  Nagy-Nana ;  Nagy- 
Kcs  ;   Kis-Komiironi  ;   Kis-Ber,  &c.,  &c. 

NAN(JE,  or  NANS,  in  local  names  in  Cornwall,  is  a  Corn, 
word  signifying  "  valley,"  as  IVn-nans,  the  head  of  the  valley, 
'I'l (.-nance,  the  town  in  the  valley,  <!(:c.,  iJcc. 


188  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

NAN'KIN',  formerly  the  capital  aud  still  the  second  city  in 
China.     See  Pekin. 

NANT,  in  local  names  in  "Wales,  is  the  W.  nant  (pi.  nentydd), 
a  hollow  formed  by  water,  a  valley,  a  ravine  ;  a  mountain  tor- 
rent, a  brook  ;  as  Nant  Frangon,  the  beaver's  hollow,  so  called 
from  having  been  formerly  frequented  by  these  animals  ;  Nant 
Gwrtheyrn,  Vortigern's  valley  ;  Nant  Gwyrfai,  the  vale  of  fresh 
water ;  Nant  Lie,  the  vale  of  Lie  ;  Nant  y  Bellan,  the  dingle  of 
the  marten  ;  Cornant,  Pennant,  &c. 

NANTERRE  (riangtair)  a  place  upon  the  Seine,  in  the 
vicinity  of  Paris.  The  name  is  corrupted  from  Nemptodorum, 
or  perhaps  Nemetodurum ;  thus,  Nemetodurum,  Nemtodur, 
Namtdur,  Nantur,  Nanturre,  Nanterre.  The  first  part  of  the 
name  may  be  that  of  a  tribe,  and  durum  is  the  Latinized  form  of 
the  Celt,  dwr,  water. 

NANTES  (nanfff),  a  town  of  France  on  the  Loire,  mentioned 
by  Ptolemy  under  the  name  of  Coudevicnum,  as  the  capital 
of  a  Celtic  people  called  the  Namnetes.  After  the  downfall  of 
the  Roman  empire,  its  name  was  altered  to  Namnetes,  of  which 
its  present  appellation  is  a  corruption.  Some  derive  the  name 
from  Celt,  nan,  streams,  and  aid  or  ait,  a  great  number ;  this 
town  being  situated  at  the  confluence  of  several  streams. 

NAVARRE  (navarr),  a  province  of  Spain,  near  the  Pyrenees. 
Larramendi  derives  the  Sp.  Navdrra — which  the  natives  pro- 
nounce nafarroa — from  Basq.  nava,  a  vast  tract  of  level  ground, 
and  the  termination  arra  :  and  the  name,  says  he,  denotes  an 
inhabitant  of  the  plains,  just  as  inendiafra  means  an  inhabitant  of 
the  mountains.     (Basq.  mendia,  a  mountain.) 

NEATH,  a  town  and  a  river  in  S.  Wales.  "  The  river  Nid 
or  Nith  in  Scotland,  like  the  Nidus  or  Neth  in  Wales,  is  from 
the  Brit,  nedd,  pron.  neth,  which  in  W.  means  'circhng,' 
'revolving,'  as  the  fact  evinces."  {Chubnei's.)  Dr.  Pughe  in- 
terprets the  W.  nedd,  "  that  forms  a  whirl  or  turn  ;  also  a  small 
dingle  or  hollow." 

NERA,  a  river  of  Italy  anciently  called  the  Nar.  According 
to  some,   nar  is  a   Sabine  word,   signifying    sulphur,  and  Virgil 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  189 

mentions  the  Nai;  as  "white  with  sulphureous'water  ;"  but  the 
name  may  be  derived  from  the  Phcen.  naharo,  a  river.  Bochart 
derives  the  name  of  the  river  Naron  in  Illyria,  from  Phoen.  naar- 
071,  "the  River  On."     See  Nile. 

NESS,  in  local  names  in  England,  as  Sheerness,  formerly 
Shireness  ;  Dungeness,  Kent ;  Orfordness,  Eastonness,  Suffolk  ; 
generally  means  a  cape  or  headland,  from  A.  S.  neesse,  nesse, 
ness ;  and  sometimes  an  island,  as  in  Foulness,  Essex.  See 
In,  Inn. 

NEVERS  (na'vare),  a  town  of  France.  The  name  is  cor- 
rupted from  Neveris  or  Niveris,  now  the  River  Ni^vre,  on  which 
it  stands,  at  its  junction  with  the  Loire.  The  name  is  also  found 
written  Nivernum  and  Nevernum,  and  the  place  is  called  by 
Ceesar,  Ptolemy,  and  other  ancient  writers,  Noviodunum 
^duorum. 

NEWBURY,  Berks  ;  found  written  Nubiry,  Neubiry,  Neu- 
bury,  Nubury,  Newebury,  Newbery,  Newberye,  Newbir,  and 
Newbiri  i  from  A.  S.  neow  new,  and  hurg  a  town;  "new 
town."  The  conjecture  that  it  was  called  Newbury  from  its 
relation  to  the  old  Roman  town  of  Spinse,  now  the  village  of 
Speen,  Lysons  deems  erroneous,  because  at  the  Norman  survey 
Speen  or  Spene  was  only  a  village,  and  Newbury  a  place  of  con- 
siderable importance,  known  by  its  Saxon  name  of  Uluritone, 
which  may  have  been  a  corruption  of  Ullvvardetone,  from  UU- 
ward,  who  possessed  it  in  the  reign  of  Edward  the  Confessor. 
The  historian,  however,  says  "  this  may  be  quite  compatible  with 
the  above  conjecture,  as  in  the  interval,  the  Roman  town  of 
Spinse  might  have  dwindled  into  a  village,  and  Newbury  might 
have  risen  into  some  importance.  Spinac,  having  owed  its  origin 
to  the  Romans,  was  likely  to  fall  into  decay  on  their  quitting  the 
island,  and  the  more  convenient  village  of  Newbury,  and  its  con- 
tiguity to  the  river,  were  probably  circumstances  to  bring  it  into 
consideration." 

NEWFOUNDLAND  was  known  to  the  Icelandic  and  Green- 
land colonists,  but  its  existence  seems  to  have  been  forgotten, 
until  its  rc-(liscovery  in  112/,  by  John  Cal}o(,  who  was  then    in 


190  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

the  service  of  England  ;  and  on  that  account  the  new  found 
island  has  been  claimed  as  a  British  dependency.  The  name 
was  first  given  by  Cabot  to  the  whole  of  the  territories  which  he 
discovered,  but  was  subsequently  restricted  to  the  island  to 
which  it  is  now  applied. 

NEWGATE  STREET,  London;  "Newgate,  the  fifth  prin- 
cipal gate  in  the  city  wall,  and  so  called  as  latelier  built  than  the 
rest  (Stow),  stood  across  the  present  Newgate-Street,  a  little  east 
of  Giltspur  Street  and  the  Old  Bailey."     {Cunningham.) 

NEWINGTON  BUTTS,  Surrey.  Newington  is  a  corruption 
of  Neweton,  from  A.  S.  neow  new,  tun  a  town.  The  first  record 
of  Newington  Butts  is  in  1558.  In  Henry  VIII. 's  time,  butts, 
for  exercises  in  archery,  were  set  up  in  the  fields  of  London  by 
authority,  and  some  may  have  been  placed  here.  "  Newington 
Butts  is  not  mentioned  in  the  Conqueror's  survey,  but  a  church 
at  Walworth  is  there  noticed,  whence  it  seems  probable,  that  at 
the  rebuilding  of  that  church  upon  a  new  site,  it  was  surrounded 
with  houses,  which  obtained  the  appellation  '  Neweton,'  as  it  is 
called  in  the  most  ancient  records,  which  was  doubtless  afterwards 
spelt  Newenton,  and  then  Newington."    {Lysons*) 

NIAG'ARA,  the  Falls  of.  Niagara,  or  Aghera  is  said  to  be 
an  Indian  word,  signifying  "  hark  to  the  thunder." 

NIGHTINGxlLE  LANE,  East  Smithfield,  London,  formerly 
Cnihtena-guild-lane,  so  called  from  the  men  of  the  Cnihtena- 
guild,  "the  knights'  guild,"  from  A.  S.  cniht,  cneoht,  a  boy, 
youth,  attendant,  servant,  and  guild,  a  company  or  society  of 
men  incorporated  by  the  king's  authority ;  from  A.  S.  geld, 
gield,  gild,  or  gyld,  from  geldan,  gildan,  to  pay,  because  each 
member  of  a  guild  had  to  pay  something  towards  its  charge  and 
support. 

NILE,  a  river  of  Egypt ;  in  L.  Nilus,  Gr.  NhiAoc  ;  from  Heb. 
bm  nahhal  a  stream,  brook,  torrent.  It  means  also  a  valley 
watered  by  a  brook  or  torrent  (Arab.  wadi).  The  Arab,  has  JjO 
nayla.  blue  colour,  and  JjJJ^  an-nayl  the  River  Nile.  In  Heb. 
however,  this  river  is  usually  called  Nhar  Misraim,  "  the  river  of 
Egypt." 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  191 

NING'PO,  a  city  of  China.  The  name  signifies  "repose  of  the 
waves,"  from  Chin,  ning  rest,  repose,  tranquillity,  po  a  wave  ;  also 
the  name  of  a  river  and  of  a  lake.  The  Portuguese  used  to  call  it, 
corruptedly,  Liampo.  The  first  name  of  this  city  was  Jungtung, 
then  Ningcheu  and  Kingyuen,  which  was  afterwards  changed  into 
Ningpo. 

"NO  MAN'S  LAND,"  "NO  MAN'S  WALK."  "The 
term  'No  Man's  Land'  is  applied  to  a  forest  tract  which  is  not 
part  of  any  parish,  as  *  No  Man's  Walk  '  is  one  not  within  the 
jurisdiction  of  any  particular  verdurer."     (Dallaway's  Sussex.) 

NORFOLK,  from  A.  S.  north  id.,  and/o/c  people  ;  in  contra- 
distinction to  the  Suth-folc,  (Suffolk),  or  people  of  the  south. 

NOR]\LANDY,  in  A.  S.  Normandi,  Normandig,  Normandige, 
and  in  L.  Normandia,  the  part  of  France  which  was  occupied 
by  the  Normans  or  North-men,  a  people  originally  from  Scandi- 
na^^a. 

NORTH'AW,  found  written  Northawe,  Herts  ;  from  A.  S. 
north  id.,  and  haga  an  inclosed  piece  of  land,  a  small  field. 
Northall,  Bucks  ;  and  Northall  or  Northolt,  Middlesex ;  from 
north  and  hall,  or  north  and  A.  S.  holt  a  wood  or  grove. 

NORTHUMBERLAND,  i.  e.  North  Humber-land ;  "the 
country  north  of  the  River  Humber." 

NORWAY  (Dan.  and  Sw.  Norge,  G.  Norwegen  L.  Norvegia), 
the  country  of  the  Norwegians  or  Northmen  (A.  S.  Nor-ivcegas), 
from  A.  S.  tiorth  id.  wceg,  weg,  a  way.  Norway  was  known  to 
the  ancients  under  the  name  of  Nerigon.  (See  Pliny,  lib.  iv.  c. 
IG.) 

NORWICH  (norridj),  found  written  Nord-wic,  Norht-wic, 
Nor-wic,  Northwick,Norwyck,  and  Norwic  ;  from  A.  S.  north  id., 
and  wic  a  dwelling,  bay. 

NOTTINGHAM  is  found  written  Snotenga-  Snotinga- 
Snoting-  Snottinge-  Noting-  Notinga-  Nottinga-  and  Notynge- 
ham  ;  and  is  derived  by  Camden  from  the  dwellings  here  exca- 
vated in  the  rocks ;  from  A.  S.  snidan,  snithan,  to  cut,  ham  a 
dwelling.  "  The  caverns  near  Nottingham  are  supposed  to  have 
given  to  that  town  its  name  Suodengahani,  *  the  home  of  caverns.' 


192  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

There  are  under  that  town  many  caves,  some  of  them  of  compara- 
tively modern  date,  but  others  of  considerable  though  unascertained 
antiquity.  There  are  some  caverns  in  the  face  of  a  cliff  near  the 
River  Lene,  vpest  of  Nottingham  Castle,  and  some  remarkable 
excavations  at  Sneinton,  close  to  Nottingham.  These  are  all 
probably  artificial,  or,  if  originating  in  natural  caverns,  have  been 
enlarged  and  modified  by  human  labour."     (P.  Cyc.) 

NOVA  ZEMBLA,  an  island  in  the  Arctic  Ocean,  called  by 
the  Russians  Nov'ia  Zemlia,  "the  new  land  ;"  from  nov'ia  (from 
Sans,  nava),  new,  and  zemlia  (Slav,  semia,  zemla,  Lett,  semme), 
land. 

NUDDY,  in  names  of  rivers  in  India,  is  a  corruption  of  the 
Hind,  ^_^jj  nadi,  from  Sans,  id.,  a  river.  In  the  South  of  India, 
says  Wilson,  it  implies  also  a  river  running  from  east  to  west. 
Mahanuddy  means  "the  great  river"  (Sans,  mahd,  iox  mahat, 
great) . 

NUREMBERG  (G.  NUrnberg),  a  city  of  Germany,  is  supposed 
to  have  been  the  Segodunum  of  Ptolemy,  and  its  name  afterwards 
changed  to  Nahrunsberg ;  or  to  have  been  founded  by  Drusus 
Nero,  brother  of  the  Emperor  Tiberius  Nero,  or  by  Tiberius  himself 
•when  he  led  the  Romans  against  the  King  of  Thuringia  ;  others 
think  it  was  the  metropolis  of  the  Norici,  who  built  it  for  protec- 
tion against  the  Huns,  and  this  opinion  is  confirmed  by  ancient 
charters  which  speak  of  Castrum  Noricum,  in  Franconia,  and  a 
decree  of  the  Emperor  Frederick  against  incendiaries  and  pertur- 
bators  of  the  peace,  dated  "  in  castro  nostro  Norimbercensi,  anno 
1187." 

NYM'EGEN  or  NIM'EGUEN,  a  town  in  Holland,  called  by 
the  Romans  Noviomagus  or  Noviomagus  Batavorum,  and  in  0.  G. 
found  written  Niew-megen,  -meegen,  and  -magen  ;  also  Nimmegen 
and  Nimwegen.  Noviomagus  is  the  appellation  of  many  cities  of 
ancient  Gaul,  and  means  "  a  new  colony  or  town."  Magus  is  a 
Celt,  word,  and  its  primitive  signification,  "  a  field,"  and  then 
"a  colony  or  town  in  a  field  :"  Noviomagus,  Niomagus,  Niraagus, 
Nymagus,  Nymagen,  Nymegen.     See  Meuse. 


LOCAL    ETYMOLOCtY.  193 


0. 


O,  OE,  a  termination  of  local  names  in  Scandinavia,  is  the 
Dan.  and  Sw.  ij,  an  island,  islet  (pi.  oe/')  ;  as  Christianso,  Chris- 
tian's isle  ;  Karlso,  Charles's  isle  ;  Sando,  sand  isle  ;  Storo,  great 
isle ;   Uto,  outer  isle  ;  Ilarto,  Lepso,  Rundo,  Vigeroe,  &c. 

OAKLEY,  the  name  of  several  places  in  England,  but  espe- 
cially of  one  in  Lancashire  and  one  in  Hants  ;  from  A.  S.  ac,  cec, 
an  oak  ;  leag,  leak,  a  meadovp  or  pasture. 

OCHILTRE  {p'Mltree).,  co.  Liulithgovr,  and  Uchiltree,  in 
Ayrshire,  Scotland,  mean  "the  high  dwelling  or  hamlet,"  from 
the  Anc.  Brit,  uchel.  Corn,  uhel,  high,  lofty,  stately.  There  are 
also  the  Ochil  Hills  in  Perthshire.     See  Tre. 

ODENSE  {dd'nsee),  capital  of  the  province  of  Funen  or 
Fyen  in  Denmark,  derives  its  name  from  Odin,  by  whom,  accord- 
ing to  popular  tradition,  it  was  founded,  and  whose  sepulchral 
tumulus  is  shown  near  the  little  lake  of  the  Noesbyhoved  in  the 
vicinity. 

ODES'SA,  a  city  of  Russia  on  the  Black  Sea,  takes  its  name 
from  Odyssora  or  Odi/ssos,  an  ancient  Grecian  colony  that  for- 
merly existed  in  the  neighbourhood.  (Duncan.)  The  name  might 
now  be  appropriately  changed  to  Gliick-stadt. 

OELAND,  OLAND,  or  AALAND,  an  island  in  the  Baltic; 
from  Sw.  0,  an  isle,  land,  id. ;  i.  e.  isle-land,  or  island.  See 
6,  Oe. 

O'FEN,  connected  with  Pesth,  the  capital  of  Hungary,  by  a 
bridge  over  the  Danube,  is  called  by  the  Germans  "  Ofen,"  i.  e. 
the  stove,  either  on  account  of  its  hot  springs,  or  from  there 
having  been  formerly  numerous  lime-kilns  (/mlk-o/en)  in  the 
neighbourhood.  Its  Hungarian  name  of  Buda  or  Budin  is  said 
to  refer  to  Attila's  brother,  Buda,  who  made  the  town  his 
residence  and  enlarged  it  considerably. 

OFLEV,  CO.  Beds,  formerly  Offley,  is  said  to  take  its  name 
from    King    O/fa,    who   had   a   palace   there,   and   A.   S.   Av///,   n 

o 


194  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

meadow.  "  The  king  died  here  and  was  buried  at  Bedford,  in  a 
chapel  without  the  town,  standing  upon  the  bank  of  the  Ouse." 
{Mat.  Paris.) 

O'HIO,  a  river  in  N.  America,  properly  Iowa,  an  Indian  word, 
signifying  "  land  of  all  others,"  "  the  best  land,"  or  "  this  is  the 
great  land." 

OKEHAMPTON,  co.  Devon,  named  from  its  situation  at 
the  junction  of  the  East  and  West  Okement  or  Oke  rivulets. 
It  was  perhaps  originally  called  Oke-ham,  i.  e.  the  dwelling  on 
the  Oke,  and  afterwards  Oke-ham-tun. 

OKHOTSK  (o/c-hotsk'),  a  seaport  in  eastern  Siberia,  situated 
on  a  neck  of  land,  watered  on  one  side  by  the  River  Okhota,  and 
on  the  other,  by  the  sea. 

OLIFANT'S  RIVER,  in  Africa.  Olifant  is  the  D.  for 
"  elephant." 

OLMIUS,  a  sacred  spring  mentioned  in  Hesiod.  Le  Clerc 
derives  the  name  from  Phcen.  hhol-maio,  sweet  water. 

OLNEY,  CO.  Gloucester,  formerly  Olanege,  from  A.  S.  Olan- 
ige,  the  isle  of  Olan.     See  Bosworth. 

ORE,  a  termination  of  local  names  in  Hindustan,  as  Vellore, 
Nellore,  Coimbatore,  Tanjore,  properly,  Vellur,  Nelliir,  Kayam- 
batur,  Tanja-iir,  is  a  corruption  of  the  Tarn,  ur,  oor,  Tel.  and 
Karn.  nru,  Mai.  ura,  a  village,  a  town,  a  country. 

OREGON  {prryguii).  This  name,  as  applied  to  both  the 
river  and  the  country,  arose  solely  from  the  statement  of  the 
traveller  Carver,  that  when,  on  the  Upper  Mississipi,  he  heard  of 
a  great  river  in  the  interior,  flowing  westwards,  he  called  it 
the  Oregon  or  Oregan,  i.  e.  river  of  the  "West.  Others  say 
the  Oregon  territory  derives  its  name  from  oregano,  a  Spanish 
word  for  wild  marjoram  (the  origanum  vulgare  of  Linnaeus), 
which  grows  abundantly  on  the  western  coasts  of  the  American 
continent. 

ORELLANA  {ohrel-rjahnah),  a  river  of  S.  America,  named 
after  its  discoverer,  a  Spaniard. 

ORIEL  COLLEGE,  Oxford.    Edw.  III.  having  bestowed  on 
his  college  a  large  messuage  called  La  Oriole,  the  community 


LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY.  195 

removed  to  it.  This,  says  Hallam,  must  have  been  distinguished  by 
some  stately  porch  or  vestibule  of  consequence  sufficient  to  give  an 
appellation  to  the  edifice.  The  word  oi'iel  is  found  written  in  O.  Fr. 
oriol ;  in  O.  Eng.  oriol,  oriell,  oryal,  oryall;  and  in  Low  L.  orio- 
him.  Nares  says  that  as  its  primary  sense  was  a  pent-house  or 
covered  way,  the  name  may  be  from  Sax.  over-helan,  to  cover,  and 
that  over-hell,  by  elision  oer-hell,  is  an  established  English  word, 
meaning  to  cover  over.  Others  derive  oriel  from  L.  aurea  aula,  a 
golden  hall ;  or  from  area,  a  yard,  court,  &c.,  thus,  area,  areola, 
oreola,  oreol,  Oriol.  The  Fr.  aureole  is  a  crown  with  which 
painters  and  sculptors  adorn  the  images  and  statues  of  saints, 
from  aureola,  a  crown  of  gold. 

ORKNEYS,  a  group  of  islands  lying  N.  E.  of  Scotland.  Pom- 
ponius  Mela  mentions  them  under  the  name  of  Orcades;  and  they 
are  said  to  have  received  the  latter  appellation  from  a  promontory 
in  Caithness,  which  Ptolemy  calls  Cape  Orcas.  Armstrong  de- 
rives Orkneys  from  Gael,  orc-innis,  "  the  isle  of  whales,"  from 
ore  a  whale,  itinis  an  island,  and  he  quotes  Milton,,  "  the  haunt  of 
seals  and  ores,  and  sea-mew's  clang.''  (Conf.  L.  area,  Gr.  o^vya,.) 
See  also  JMela,  Hb.  ii.  c.  3,  Hb,  iii.  c.  G  ;  Pliny,  lib,  iv,  c.  Hi. 

ORLEANS  {or'la-ony),  a  city  of  France.  It  takes  its  name  from 
the  Emperor  Aurelian,  who  either  founded  or  rebuilt  it,  "La  beaute 
et  la  commodite  de  sa  situation  engagerent  I'Empereur  Aurelien 
a  augmenter  cette  ville,  et  a  lui  donner  son  nom.  II  I'erigea 
meme  en  cite,  de  sorte  qu'on  I'appela  Aureliana  Civitas  ou 
Aurelianum,  en  sous-entendant  oppidumy    {Lamar tinie re.) 

ORPIIIR,  a  parish  co,  Orkney,  Scotland  ;  formerly  Orfer, 
said  to  be  a  word  of  Norwegian  origin,  signifying  fire  land,  or 
mossy  soil. 

ORPINGTON,  in  Kent,  probably  of  Sax,  orpin,  the  plant 
growing  there  in  great  plenty,  and  tun,  a  town,     {Bailey.) 

ORTON,  CO.  Westmoreland  ;  a  contraction  of  Overton,  i.  e. 
Scar-C)verton,     See  Scar. 

ORAVELL,  a  parish  in  Kinross,  Scotland,  said  to  take  its 
a|)p(llation  from  a  [)roperty  on  the  banks  of  Loch  Levcn,  It  was 
formerly  written  Urwell,  which  some  derive  from  Gael,  nr,   new, 

()  2 


196  LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY. 

green,  baile  a  residence  ;  "  a  green  or  retired  situation,"  an  inter- 
pretation peculiarly  applicable  to  the  property  of  Orwell,  and  the 
old  situation  of  the  church.     {Stat.  Ace.  Scot.) 

OSBORNE,  Isle  of  Wight.  Carisbrooke  Castle  was  formerly 
the  residence  of  the  Fitz-Osbornes,  lords  of  the  Isle  of  Wight. 
Perhaps  Osborne  House  may  derive  its  name  from  this  family, 
who  may  have  been  originally  from  Osborn,  formerly  Ousborn, 
in  Yorkshire  ;  or  from  some  other  bourne  of  the  Ouse,  the  name 
of  several  rivers  in  England. 

OSTEND,  i.  e.  the  east  end  (of  the  kingdom);  from  Flem. 
oost  east,  einde  end. 

OS'WESTRY,  CO.  Salop.  On  this  spot,  says  Pennant,  in  642 
was  fought  the  battle  between  the  Christian  Oswald,  king  of  the 
Northumbrians,  and  the  Pagan  Penda,  king  of  the  Mercii,  when 
Oswald  was  defeated  and  lost  his  life.  It  is  probable  that  the 
Britons  bestowed  on  the  spot  where  the  battle  was  fought  the 
name  of  maes  Mr,  or  the  long  field  or  combat,  from  the  obstinacy 
of  the  conflict.  The  Saxons  for  a  considerable  time  retained  the 
name  of  the  place  where  the  action  was  fought,  with  the  addition  of 
their  own  vernacular  word  feld,  or  felth,  a  field ;  as  Maser- 
field,  Maserfelth,  corruptly  Masafeld.  In  after  days,  the  name 
became  entirely  Saxon,  and,  from  the  fate  of  the  king,  was  styled 
Oswald's  Tree,  now  Oswestry ;  by  the  Welsh  rendered  Croes- 
Oswallt,  "  Oswald's  cross." 

OTAHEITE  iptahe'te)  or  TAHITI  {tahe'te),  an  island  in  the 
S.  Pacific  Ocean.  The  name  may  come  from  ta-hi  ta-hi  i.e. 
alone  alone,  or  sea  sea,  i.  e.  quite  by  itself,  or  all  surrounded  by 
the  sea  ;  or  from  ta-ha  ta-i  a  sea  place ;  or;,  te-hi-to,  old, 
ancient. 

OTTERFORD,  OTTERTON,  MOUNT  OTTERY,  OTTERY 
ST.  MARY,  CO.  Devon,  derive  their  name  from  the  River  Otter, 
which  rises  near  the  village  of  Otterford,  and  flows  past  Honiton, 
Ottery  St.  Mary,  and  Otterton. 

OUDE  {oud  or  oivd),  more  correctly  Ayodh,  from  Sans. 
a-yodhyd,  not  to  be  warred  against,  a  not,  yudh,  fight.  That 
the    Goths,    Gotas,    Godas,    Gothi,    Getse,    Jutes,    Iotas,    lutas. 


LOC^VL   ETYMOLOGY.  197 

Gytas,  Geatas,  Ytas,  Wights,  Wihts,  Wyts,  Guuihts  were  the 
same  people,  seems  probable.  Dr.  Bosworth  says  the  name  of  the 
Goths  implies  "brave  warriors;"  and  Ytas,  Gytas,  "ravenous 
warriors" — the  Jutes.  All  these  words  may  come  from  Sax. 
guth,  war,  battle,  fight,  from  Sans,  yudh,  yodh.  From  the  same 
root  we  may  have  Goth-laud,  Gotha-borg,  Jut-land,  and  Wight 
(Isle  of).  Goih-land  is  the  name  of  the  island  and  of  that  part 
of  Sweden  which  the  Goths  took  possession  of.  The  northern 
Germans  pronounce  g  as  y  ;  thus  they  call  Goth-land,  yot-land. 
The  Goths,  Ytas,  or  Jutes  lauded  in  Jutland,  which  was  first 
called  Ytaland  or  Gytaland,  since  contracted  by  the  Danes  into 
Jylland  or  Gylland,  pronounced  yulland.  The  Jutes,  Ytas,  or 
Wights  landed  in  the  Isle  of  Wight,  whence  that  island  was  first 
called  Ytaland  and  Gytaland  ;  in  L.  Vecta  and  Veetis,  Anc.  Brit. 
Gwith,  A.  S.  Wect,  also  Wiht,  Wiht-land,  Wiht-ea,  i.  e.  the 
land  or  island  of  the  Wyts,  Ytas,  Gytas,  or  Jutes.  Conf.  Pers. 
khodd,  God,  lord,  commander ;  joud  in  Joudpore  ;  cad,  in  Cad- 
wallader ;  Gael,  cath,  battle,  Corn,  cad,  Ir.  cath,  G.  cat,  Basq. 
cuda,  id.;  Heb.  gadh,  a  troop;  Gr.  a-ya9-oe,  brave,  good; 
M.  Goth.  Guth,  Goth,  God;  A.  S.  God,  God,  good;  Ice.  Gud, 
God,  gudur,  battle,  good  ;  Eng.  God,  and  good.  It  is  not  impro- 
bable that  the  primitive  idea  of  God  among  the  Goths  was  that 
of  a  warrior  ;  if  so,  good  comes  from  God. 

OtJNDLE,  CO.  Northampton,  a  corruption  of  Avon's  Dale, 
"dale  of  the  Avon." 

OUSE  (ooze),  the  name  of  several  rivers  in  England,  but  espe- 
cially of  one  in  Northamptonshire  ;  from  A.  S.  Usa,  Wusa,  cor- 
rupted from  Anc.  Brit,  isca,  water.     See  Isca. 

OVER,  in  local  names,  sometimes  means  a  bank,  as  Brown- 
over  ;  from  A.  S.  ofer,  margin,  brink,  bank,  shore,  from  ofer, 
over,  above,  the  shore  or  strand  being  over  or  higher  than  the 
water. 

OVERYSSEL  ( — is' set),  a  province  of  Holland,  named  from 
its  situation  on  the  other  side  of  the  river  Yssel,  which  separates 
it  from  Gelderland.     (D.  over,  over,  beyond.) 

OWIIYIIEE',    or    HAWAII,    the   hirgest   of    the   Sandwicli 


198  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

Islands,  is  a  mass  of  lava,  and  contains  several  lofty  volcanic 
mountains.  The  name  may  come  from  ha-o-a  hot,  va-i,  water, 
liquid,  or  vahi  place.  Ha-va-i-i,  ha-va-i-Jn,  means  a  subterraneous 
place,  hell. 

OXFORD,  found  written  Oxnaford,  Oxonaford,  Oxeneford, 
Oxineford,  Oxneford,  Oxneforda  and  Oxeneforda.  Some  derive 
the  name  from  A.  S.  oxna  of  oxen, /or^/  a  ford,  from  there  having 
been  a  ford  or  passage  for  oxen  across  the  Thames  here  ;  and  in 
confirmation  it  is  said  that  the  place  was  called  by  the  ancient 
Britons  Ridhofen,  a  word  having  the  same  import  as  the  Saxon 
name.  The  name,  however,  is  more  probably  a  corruption  of 
Ouse-ford  or  Usk-ford,  i.e.  the  ford  of  the  Ouse  or  Usk,  from 
Anc.  Brit,  isca,  water.  A  small  island  in  this  river,  called  Osney 
or  Ouseney,  likewise  takes  its  name  from  the  Ouse.  The  Welsh 
call  Oxford,  Rhydychen,  ford  of  oxen,  also  Rhydwysg,  ford  of  the 
Wysg,  or  Ouse;  and  CaerWysog,  &c.  See  Isca,  Ouse,  and 
Thames. 


P. 


PACIFIC  OCEAN,  so  called  because  originally,  but  erro- 
neously, supposed  to  be  free  from  storms. 

PADERBORN,  a  city  of  Westphalia,  on  the  bourn  or  rivulet 
called  the  Pader.  The  origin  of  the  terms  Pader,  Padera,  Pada, 
or  Padus,  is  treated  at  length  by  Gobelinus  Persona,  who  thinks 
that  Charlemagne,  or  perhaps  the  Saxons  who  followed  him  into 
Italy,  where  they  had  seen  the  River  Padus  or  Po,  may  have 
given  this  name  to  the  Pader,  which  has,  like  the  Po,  three 
sources.  Lamartiniere  says  the  Pader  may  have  been  named 
for  the  same  reason  as  the  Padus  or  Po,  viz.  from  the  trees  called 
padi  growing  upon  its  banks.  See  also  Plin.  lib.  iii.  c.  16  ; 
Lucan,  lib.  iv.  134,  and  voc.  Po. 

PADSTOW,  a  seaport  in  Cornwall.  According  to  Borlase,  a 
monastery  was  founded  here  in  513  by  St.  Petroc  ;  and  in  ancient 
documents  this  place  is  called  Patrickstowe  and  Petrocstowe, 
whence  the  present  name  has  been  corrupted.     Athelstan  named 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  199 

the  town  after  himself,  Athelstowe,  which  name  it  retained  mitil 
1 552,  when  it  resumed  that  of  Padstow. 

PAD'UA,  a  city  of  Italy,  from  It.  Padova,  a  corruption  of  its 
Latin  name  Patavium.     See  Batavia  and  Passau. 

PAISLEY  {paze'-le),  a  town  in  Scotland.  The  name  is  found 
written  Passeleht,  Passeleth,  Passelay,  Passelet,  and  Paslay,  and 
in  a  charter  of  David  I.  Passelith ;  the  latter  being  the  earliest 
form  of  the  word.  Some  derive  Paisley  from  Anc.  Brit,  pas-gel- 
laith,  "  moist  pasture,"  or  bas-lech,  Gael,  bas-leac,  "  the  flat 
stone  shoal,"  a  name  supposed  to  have  been  applied  to  a  ledge 
of  rock  running  across  the  channel  of  the  river  here.  Mr.  Wm. 
Kerr,  of  Paisley,  says  legh  or  ley  is  fallow  ground,  and  pais  peace, 
and  pisa  peas,  whence  Paislea  or  Paislerj,  the  lea  of  peace  ; 
Peselet  or  Pesley,  the  peas-lea.  If  the  latter  be  the  correct 
etymology,  the  name  would  signify  "  lea  ground  which  had  borne 
peas."  Local  names  alluding  to  peas,  wheat,  barley,  beans,  and 
other  crops,  are  found  in  ancient  records,  in  combination  with 
leghe  or  lay,  and  afford  a  curious  illustration  of  the  vegetables 
cultivated  in  early  times.  The  only  argument  against  the  deri- 
vation from  pais,  j)eace,  is  that  history  is  silent  respecting  the 
conclusion  of  a  peace  at  this  place.  See  Stat.  Ace.  Scot.  There 
appears  to  have  existed  a  Paisley  in  Gloucestershire,  another  in 
Sussex,  and  other  places  in  which  Paisley  formed  the  first  part 
of  the  name. 

PALERMO,  in  Sicily;  a  corruption  of  Uavop[xog,  an  ancient 
city  that  occupied  its  site.  The  name  means  "  convenient  as  a 
harbour,"  from  ifccv  all,  every,  opy^OQ  road  for  ships,  naval  sta- 
tion, harbour. 

PALESTINE,  the  ancient  Philistia  or  Palsestina ;  named 
from  the  Palestines  or  Philistines,  who  possessed  a  great  part  of 
it.  In  Heb.  it  is  written  r\wb^  P'lesheth,  which  the  Rev.  Alfred 
Jones  translates  "  the  land  of  wanderers,"  from  paldsh  to  roll,  in 
flthiop.  to  wander,  emigrate.  Gesenius  says  that  the  Greek  name 
llaXanrrlvrj  was  applied  by  most  ancient  writers  to  the  whole  laud 
of  the  Israelites. 

PALL  MALL,  found  written   Pell  Moll  and  Pallc   ISIaille.  a 


200  LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY. 

street  in  London,  so  called  from  its  having  once  been  the  place 
for  playing  the  game  called  "  pall  mall,"  a  sort  of  game  in  which 
a  ball  is  driven  through  an  iron  ring  by  a  mallet.  {Johnson.^ 
From  O.  Fr.  palemail,  paillemaille,  or  It.  pallmnaylio,  from  It. 
'pdlla  from  L.  jiila,  a  ball ;  It.  malleo,  from  malleus,  a  hammer. 
"  Palemail,  nos  p^res  appeloient  ainsi  le  jeu  de  mail."  {Menage.) 
"  Pell  Mell  (q.  d.  pellere  malleo,  to  drive  with  a  mallet),  the 
place  for  exercising  this  game  in  St.  James's  Park,  and  also  a 
street  near  it.  Palle  Maille,  a  game  where  a  round  bowl  is  with 
a  mallet  struck  through  a  high  arch  of  iron,  standing  at  either 
end  of  an  alley,  as  in  St.  James's  Park."      {Bailey.) 

PALMYRA,  so  called  by  the  Greeks  and  Romans ;  in  Scrip- 
ture "  Tadmor  in  the  wilderness ;"  by  Josephus,  Palmira  and 
Thadamor ;  in  the  Septuagint  copies,  Theodmor  and  Thedmor ; 
by  the  Arabs  and  Syrians,  Tadmor,  Tadmur,  and  Tatmor. 
The  origin  of  these  names  is  uncertain.  The  author  of  the 
Description  of  Palmyra  calls  it  Palmira,  which  he  derives  from  the 
palms  about  it,  and  he  supposes  it  to  be  the  translation  of  a  Heb. 
word  importing  a  palm.  Halley  derives  it  from  tfaXpue,  which 
Hesychius  interprets  a  king  or  father,  or  from  HaAjaur-jjc,  an 
Egyptian  god.  Seller  disagrees,  "  for  what,"  says  he,  "  had  the 
gods  of  Egypt  to  do  so  near  the  banks  of  the  Euphrates  ?"  He 
derives  the  word  from  TfaXi^rj  a  Persian  shield,  and  with  some 
authority  and  probability,  rejecting  the  fantastic  mythology 
of  Matela,  who  says  it  was  called  Palmyra,  Sia,  ro  ifocXoct  [x^oi^av 
{palai  moran)  yavsa-Qcci  rrjv  YM\hr^y  ruj  FaAiaS,  "  because  David 
slew  GoUath  there."  The  etymology  of  Tadmor  is  still  more 
doubtful.  Schultens  says  that  in  the  text  it  is  written  Tamor 
and  in  the  margin  Tadmor.  He  considers  Tamor  to  have  been 
the  usual  name  of  this  place  for  softness'  sake,  and  that  it 
refers  to  tamar,  the  palm-tree,  with  which  it  abounded.  He 
supposes  also,  that  originally  in  Arab,  it  was  not  written  Tadmor 
but  Tatmor,  and  so  he  finds  it  in  the  Arab.  Geo.  Lex.,  as 
if  one  should  say  " palmiferous,"  palm-bearing;  the  t  being 
softened  into  d.  The  alteration  of  this  name  he  ascribes 
to  the  Romans,  who,  on   finding  the  place   called   Tadmor  or 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  201 

Tadmur,  may  at  first  have  called  it  Talmura,  and  afterwards,  in 
allusion  to  its  palm  trees,  Palmura,  whence  Palmyra.  (See 
Philo.  Trans.  No.  117,  p.  85;  No.  218,  p.  161;  Scliultens 
voc.  Tadmor;  and  Seller,  Hist.  Palmyra.)  Gesenius  says  Tad- 
mor  is  still  called  by  the  Arabs  <jO'  tudmur,  probably  for 
Heb.  ~it:in,  "  city  of  palms,"  hence  Gr.  JJaXiMvpa,  and  UaXi^lpa, 
Palmyra.  So,  vice  versa,  the  Arabs  call  Palma,  a  city  of  Spain, 
Tadmir. 

PAMPLONA  or  PAMPELUNA,  chief  city  of  Navarra,  in 
Spain,  is  said  to  have  been  built  after  the  death  of  Sertorius  and 
the  defeat  of  his  party,  by  Pompey,  who  called  it  Pompeiopolis, 
i.  e.  the  iroXie  or  city  of  Pompey.  The  Arabs,  who  took  it  in 
the  beginning  of  the  tenth  century,  corrupted  the  name  to 
Barablona,  of  which  Pamplona  is  a  further  corruption.  Strabo 
styles  it  Pompelon,  "as  though  PompeiopoHs,"  and  Pliny  (viii.  3) 
calls  its  inhabitants  Pompelonenses. 

PANJKORA,  a  mountainous  district  in  Afghanistan  ;  from 
Pers.  2ia»J  five,  Pushto  kor  a  house. 

PANTHEON,  Paris,  named  after  that  at  Rome;  from  Gr. 
Tfay^siov  (ttxv  all,  ^sog  God),  a  temple  or  edifice  dedicated  to  all 
the  gods.  The  Pantheon  in  Paris  is  therefore  more  appropriately 
designated  than  that  in  London. 

PARADISE  (Fr.  paradis.  It.  paradiso,  Sp.  and  Port,  ^mraiso), 
from  L.  paradisiis,  Gr.  itdpoihicroQ,  a  paradise,  also  a  pleasure 
garden ;  from  Arab,  ^uj  .  J  -J  fir  daws  (pi.  faradis),  which 
Richardson  translates  a  garden,  vineyard,  paradise,  name  of  se- 
veral delightful  places.  Gesenius  gives  also  Heb.  di'^'d  pheredes,  a 
garden,  a  plantation  ;  Armen.  pardes,  a  garden  close  to  a  house, 
laid  out  and  planted  for  use  and  ornament ;  Sans,  parade^a, 
paradira,  high  ground,  well  tilled,  a  region  of  surpassing  beauty ; 
and  he  says  the  Greek  word  is  properly  used  for  the  j)lantations 
and  menageries  which  used  to  surround  the  palaces  of  Persian 
kings. 

PARANA  (para  no),  one  of  the  principal  rivers  which  con- 
tribute to  form  the  Rio  de  la  Plata,  in  S.  America.  Faramif  in 
Rrazilian,  means  *'  the  sea  ;"  parana  oof,  "  the  great  sea." 


202  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

PARIS.     The  origin  of  this  name  is  involved  in  obscurity. 
At  a  remote  period,  a  wandering  tribe,  settling  upon  the  banks 
of  the  Seine,  built  on  the  island  now  called  La  Cit6,  a  number  of 
huts,  which  served  as  a  natural  fortress  ;  this  they  called  Lutetia, 
from  Celt,  louton-hezi  "  dwelling  of  the  waters,"  and  themselves 
Parish.     Some  derive  Paris  from  Celt,  bar  or  far,  a  frontier  or 
extremity  ;  others  derive  Parisii  from  parys,  from  par,  a  sort  of 
ship,  gwys  (in  compos,  ys)  men,  i.  e.  ship-men  or  sailors  ;  or  from 
par  and  gwys,  "one  knows,"  "it  is  known,"  i.e.  a  clever  people, 
skilful  in  navigation.     "  Ce  peuple  occupait  les  deux  bords  de 
la  Seine,  et,  profitant  de  I'avantage  de  sa  situation,  il  faisait  un 
grand  commerce  par  eau."  (Bescherelle.)     Lemon,  quoting  Clel. 
Voc,  says,  in  anc.  Armoric,  Paris  was  called  Barris,  from  being 
the  residence  of  the  twelve  judges,  or  the  head  seat  of  justice  for 
a  great  district ;  and  bar  means  a  place  for  the  administration  of 
justice,  in  Gr.  ^apig  is  a  court  of  justice.     The  Gr.  ySapig  or 
^ccpiQ    has   the   following   meanings: — An   Egyptian  vessel;    a 
ship,  yacht,  canoe  ;  a  tower,  castle,  palace,  house.     Ceesar  (lib. 
vi.  c.  3)  calls  Paris,  Lutetia  Parisiorum  ;  Strabo  (lib.  iv.   194), 
Lutecia ;  Am.  MarcelHnus  (lib.  xv.  c.  11),  Lutecia,  and  Castellum 
Parisiorum;    and   it   has   also   been   designated   Lucotia.     The 
derivation  of  Lutetia  from  lutiim,  clay,  loam,  mud  ;  or  of  Parisii 
or  Parrhisii  from  Paris,  son  of  Priam,  is  ridiculous.     That  Paris 
was  named  from  its  inhabitants,  the  Parisii,  there  cannot  be  a 
doubt ;  and,  indeed,  in  some  Latin  authors,  the  place  itself  is 
called  Parisii. 

PAROPAMI'SAN  MOUNTAINS,  in  India.  The  name  is 
said  to  be  from  ^ar  and  pam,  "hill"  and  "flat;"  the  region 
around  consisting  of  flat-topped  hills  {Montg.  Martin). 

PARRET,  a  river  in  Devon  and  Somerset,  is  said  to  take  its 
name  from  William  de  Perrot,  who  came  over  to  England  from 
Armorica  in  957,  and  obtained  some  lands  upon  its  banks  ;  but  it 
was  formerly  called  the  Redder,  and  in  A.  S.  Pedreda,  Pedrida, 
or  Pedridan,  whence  probably  its  present  appellation.  Its  A.  S. 
name  may  have  been  derived  from  its  original  Celtic  name.  In  the 
W.,  pedryd  means  a  quadrate,  pedrydan,  that  which  extends  four 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  203 

different  ways  ;  and  this  river  may  have  been  named  •'  Pedryd"  by 
the  ancient  Britons,  because  it  had  four  sources  or  four  tributaries. 

PASSAU  (j^assotv),  a  town  of  Bavaria,  on  the  Danube;  in 
L.  found  written  Patavia,  Passavia,  Patavium,  and  Passavium. 
Some  authors  derive  the  name  from  Teut.  jmss  a  pass,  passage, 
aiv  an  isle ;  but  as  the  place  was  also  called  Batava  Castra,  the 
name  is  more  probably  derived  from  a  cohort  of  the  Batavi  who 
fought  with  the  Romans,  and  had  a  camp  here.  Batava,  Batavia, 
Patavia,  Passavia,  Passawa,  Passaw,  Passau. 

PATAGONIA,  a  district  in  S.  America.  Its  native  name  was 
Chiqua.  When  Ferdinand  Magellan,  by  whom  it  was  discovered, 
saw  the  giant-like  people  at  Port  St.  Julhen,  he  called  the  country 
Patagonia,  or  land  of  the  Patagons.  The  Sp.  patagdn  is  a  large 
clumsy  foot.     See  also  Davity,  Amer.  Merid.,  143. 

PATAM,  PATTAN,  PUTTUN,  PATNA,  in  names  of  places 
in  Hindustan,  is  the  Sans,  pattana,  a  town,  a  city  ;  as  Seringa- 
patam  ;  properly  Sri-Ranja-pattanna,  "  the  city  of  the  divine 
Vishnu." 

PATERNOSTER  ROW,  London,  famiHarly  known  as  the 
Row,  "  so  called,  because  of  stationers  or  text-writers  that  dwelt 
there,  who  wrote  and  sold  all  sorts  of  books  then  in  use,  namely 
ABC,  with  the  Pater  noster,  Ave,  Creed,  Graces,  &c."  {Stow.) 

PATNA,  a  city  of  Hindustan.  The  Sans,  pattana  is  a  town, 
city;  "whence  Fatna  in  Behar,  Puttun  in  Sindh,  &c.,  as  being 
the  city,  or  one  deserving  the  appellation."     {Wilson.) 

PECKHAM  {pekkum),  Surrey,  in  Domesday  found  written 
Pecheham  and  Pecham.  The  historian  derives  the  name  from  its 
situation  ;  from  A.  S.  peac,  a  peak,  ham,  a  village ;  "  a  dwelling 
on  the  peak  or  summit  of  a  hill." 

PEEL,  PILE,  PILLE,  PIIL,  PELE,  PEYLL,  PEILL, 
PAILE,  in  local  names  in  Great  Britain,  means  a  fortification, 
properly  of  earth  ;  from  Anc.  Brit.  Corn,  and  Gaul,  pill,  a  strong- 
hold, fortress,  secure  place.  Small  towers,  usually  square,  of 
several  stories  in  height,  existing  in  Scotland,  chiefly  in  the 
counties  bordering  upon  England,    are   called  Piils.      There  is 


204  LOCAL  ETYMOLOGY-. 

the  Pile  of  Foudray  (found  written  Pille  of  Foddray  or  Fouldrey), 
a  castle  in  Furness,  Lancashire  ;  and  Peel  Castle,  Isle  of  Man  ; 
Pill  in  Devon,  &c.,  &c. 

PEERLESS  POOL,  St.  Luke's,  London.  "Immediately 
behind  this  hospital,"  says  Pennant,  "  is  Peerless  Pool,  in  name 
altered  from  that  of  Perillous  Pond,  so  called,  says  old  Stow 
(Survaie,  18),  from  the  number  of  youths  who  had  been  drowned 
in  it  in  swimming.  In  our  time  it  has,  at  great  expense,  been 
converted  into  the  finest  and  most  spacious  bathing  place  now 
known,  where  persons  may  enjoy  that  manly  and  useful  exercise 
with  safety.  Here  is  also  an  excellent  covered  bath,  a  large 
pond  stocked  with  fish,  a  small  library,  a  bowling  green,  and 
every  innocent  and  rational  amusement ;  so  that  it  is  not  without 
reason  that  the  proprietor  hath  bestowed  on  it  the  present  name." 

PEI-HO  (pa  ho'),  a  river  of  China  which  rises  near  the  Great 
Wall  and  flows  east  of  Pekin.  The  name  means  "  white  river  ;  " 
from  Chin,  pih,  pel,  white,  clear,  ho  a  river.) 

PE'KIN',  the  capital  of  China,  from  Chin.  PU-king,  "the 
northern  court,"  in  contradistinction  to  Nan-king  (Nankin),  "the 
southern  court."  The  Cochin  Chinese  call  Pekin,  Bac-kinh, 
and  Nankin,  Nain-kinh.  Bac  means  north,  nam  south. 
Kinh  is  lit.  great,  and  the  Chin,  king,  great,  lofty,  extensive. 
Others  say  Nanking  or  Kiangning  is  situated  in  a  valley  watered 
by  the  great  river  of  Kiang.  Pekin  is  divided  into  two  parts,  the 
Zin-Tcheou,  "city  of  the  throne,"  the  town  of  the  Tatars;  and 
Wailo-Tcheou,  "  external  town,"  the  town  of  the  Chinese. 

PELOPONNESUS,  in  anc.  geog.  a  celebrated  peninsula, 
comprehending  the  most  southern  part  of  Greece,  and  now  called 
the  Morea.  The  original  name  appears  to  have  been  Apia,  from 
King  Apis.  Peloponnesus  (IIsAoTrovvyja-oe)  means  "  the  island  of 
Pelops,"  a  hero,  who,  emigrating  from  Asia,  took  possession 
of  the  country  and  gave  it  his  name.  From  IIeAo^J/  Pelops,  vTjtroe 
an  island. 

PEMBROKE  {pembrook),  a  county  and  town  in  S.  Wales. 
Giraldus  says  "unde  Pembrochia  caput  maritimum  sonat,"  i.  e. 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  205 

says  the  historian,  in  "W.  Penbraich  mor  "at  the  head  of  an  arm 
of  the  sea,"  an  explanation  which  Leland  seems  to  adopt 
when  he  thus  describes  the  site  of  the  town  :  —  "  Pem- 
broke standith  upon  an  arme  of  Milford,  the  wich,  about  a  mile 
beyond  the  town,  creketh  in  so  that  it  almost  peninsulatith  the 
toune,  that  standith  on  a  veri  maine  rokki  ground."  Georo-e  Owen 
says  the  name  refers  to  the  fertility  of  the  soil ;  from  pembro  or 
penfro,  "the  head  or  principal  vale"  {pen  and  bro).  John 
Lewis,  of  jSIanarnawan,  is  of  opinion  that  the  real  name  in 
W.  was  Penbroch,  "  the  head  of  the  foam,"  the  pent-up  tide  of 
the  estuary  bringing  along  with  it  a  mass  of  white  froth  or  foam. 
Rees  diiFers  from  Owen:  he  says  the  Brit,  term  bro  means 
likewise  a  region  or  district  ;  and  pe7i,  "  a  head,"  "  the  end 
or  extremity  of  anything,"  and  the  compound  word  may  be 
translated  "headland"  or  "promontory,"  which  is  correctly  de- 
scriptive of  the  locality. 

PEN,  in  local  names  in  Wales,  is  the  W.  pen,  an  extremity, 
end,  head,  summit,  as  Pen  Allt,  the  head  of  the  woody  ascent ; 
Pen  Celli  or  Pen  y  Celli,  the  head  of  the  grove ;  Pen  Derin  or 
Pen  y  Daren,  the  head  of  the  rock ;  Pen  Llech,  the  end  of  the 
rock  ;  Pen  Mon,  the  head  or  extremity  of  Mona ;  Penmorfa,  the 
head  of  the  marsh ;  Penmynydd,  the  summit  of  the  hill ;  Pen 
Pont,  the  head  of  the  bridge ;  Pentraeth,  the  end  of  the  sands, 
&c. 

PEN,  in  local  names  in  Cornwall,  is  a  Corn,  word  meanino- 
"  the  head,"  also  "  a  hill,"  thus,  Pendarvcs,  the  head  of  the  oak- 
field  ;  Pendennis,  the  peninsula  or  fortified  headland  ;  Penglaze, 
the  green  head,  also  nom.  fam.  ;  Penhale,  the  head  of  the  moor, 
also  nom.  fam.  ;  Penkevel,  the  horse-head,  also  nom.  fam, ;  Pen- 
nance,  the  head  of  the  plain  or  valley ;  Penpol,  the  head  of  the 
pool,  well,  pit,  or  lake  ;  Penricc,  the  head  of  the  fleeting  ground; 
Penrose,  the  head  of  the  valley.     See  also  Pknryn,  et  seq, 

PE'NAN(;,  an  island  near  the  Straits  of  Malacca,  formerly 
J'lilcy  Penang  and  Prince  of  Wales's  Island  ;  from  IMal. 
pi'dau    or    pnlo     an     island,     pinuyiy     the     areca    nut  ;     Piilau 


206  LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY. 

Pinang,  areca-niit  island  ;  Pulau  Pisang,  plantain  island  ;   Pulau 
Babi,  hog  island. 

PENDARVES,  PENDENNIS,  PENROSE,  &c.     See  Pen. 

PENMACIINO,  a  village  in  N.  Wales,  named  from  its 
situation  near  the  source  of  the  River  Machno.     See  Pen. 

PENMAENMAWR',  a  mountain  overhanging  the  sea,  co. 
Caernarvon,  N.Wales.  The  name  means  "  a  great  pile  of  stone  ou 
the  top  of  a  hill,"  from  W.  pen  a  summit,  maen  a  stone,  mawr 
great. 

PENNSYLVANIA,  one  of  the  United  States  of  America ; 
named  from  Wm.  Penn,  who  settled  there  in  1681. 

PENRYN,  in  Cornwall;  "the  head  of  the  river,  channel 
or  promontory."     (Corn.) 

PENTIRE',  a  village  in  Cornwall ;  "the  headland"  (Corn.). 
The  W.  Pen-Tir  Lloegr  means  the  "  land's  end  of  England  ; " 
Pen-tir  Ceinion,  Cape  Clear,  in  Ireland. 

PENTREF,  or  PENTRE,  in  local  names  in  Wales,  is  the  W. 
pentrefy  the  head  of  a  township,  a  village,  a  hamlet;  also  the  out- 
skirt  or  suburb  of  a  city  ;  from  pen  head,  chief,  capital,  tref  a 
dwellingplace,  homestead,  hamlet,  township,  town ;  as  Pentre 
Rhyd  Fendigaid,  the  village  of  the  blessed  ford ;  Pentre  Hobyn, 
Pentref  D61 ;   Pentre  Voelas,  &c. 

PENZANCE',  a  seaport  of  Cornwall;  "the  holy  headland," 
from  a  chapel  dedicated  to  St,  Anthony,  which  formerly  stood 
near  the  pier.    Pryce  translates  it  "  head  of  the  bay." 

PERA,  a  suburb  of  Constantinople,  derives  its  name  from  Gr. 
ntspa.  beyond,  from  its  position  with  regard  to  Galata,  another 
suburb.  The  Turkish  name  is  Durt-yol-ughse,  which  signifies 
the  place  where  four  roads  meet.  Tophane,  a  third  suburb,  has 
its  name  from  the  cannon-foundry  there ;  from  Turc.  top-khdnah, 
from  top  a  cannon,  khdnah,  a  place. 

PERE-LA-CHAISE  {pair-lah-shuyz)  takes  its  name  from  a 
French  Jesuit,  a  favourite  and  confessor  of  Louis  XIV.  He  died 
in  1 709,  and  the  site  of  his  house  and  grounds  at  Paris  is  now 
occupied  by  this  beautiful  cemetery.  See  Maillet ;  also  Haydn, 
Diet.  Dates. 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  207 

PEREKOP  (jperrykop),  the  Isthmus  of.  This  Slavonic  name 
denotes  a  cut  made  through  a  place,  and  is  applicable  to  the 
ditch  dug  here,  in  remote  ages,  across  the  neck  of  land  at  the 
entrance  of  the  Crimea,  for  the  security  of  the  place.  The 
Tatars  call  it  Or  and  Or  Capi ;  the  Greeks  Taphros  or  Taphr». 
{Rees.)  Ta^foe  is  a  trench,  ditch.  Pallas  says  the  name  is 
derived  from  a  Russian  word  signifying  an  entrenchment  of  the 
Isthmus  ;  that  the  Tatars  call  it  Or-kapi,  "  the  gate  of  the  line 
or  fortification ;"  and  that  the  only  way  into  the  Crimea  by  land 
is  over  a  bridge  and  through  an  arched  stone  gate,  both  erected 
at  the  side  of  the  fortress.  See  also  De  I'Isle,  Atlas;  and 
Ferrand,  Crim. 

PERMESSUS,  in  anc.  geog.,  a  river  of  BcEotia  rising  at  the 
foot  of  Mount  Helicon.  Its  modern  name  is  the  Panitza.  Ac- 
cording to  some  authors,  it  was  named  from  Permessus,  father  of 
Aganippe,  and  was  consecrated  to  the  Muses,  who  are  hence 
sometimes  surnamed  "  the  Permessides."  Le  Clerc  derives  the 
name  from  Phoen.  pheer-metzo,  a  pure  fountain.  Pausanias,  and 
Tzetzes  after  him,  write  by  mistake  Tcrmessus  for  Permessus. 

PERIGORD  {perrygor),  a  province  of  France.  Its  ancient 
inhabitants  were  the  Petrocorii  or  Petricorii,  and  their  chief  city 
was  called  Petrocorica,  or  Petricorium.  Ptolemy,  however,  calls 
it  Vesuna.  The  name  of  this  people  in  the  fifth  century  was 
changed  to  Petrocordii,  and  their  city  was  called  Petricordium, 
from  which  both  Perigord  and  also  Perigueux,  the  present  name 
of  the  capital  of  this  province,  have  been  corrupted. 

PERSEPOLIS  (Gr.)  mentioned  by  Greek  writers  after  the 
time  of  Alexander  as  the  capital  of  Persia ;  from  Uspa-i^  Persia  ; 
TTOAfr  a  city. 

PERSIIORE,  a  market  town  co.  Worcester.  The  name  is 
variously  spelt  Persore,  Pearshore,  and  Pershore,  and  is  sup- 
posed by  Camden  to  be  from  Periscoran,  in  allusion  to  the 
numerous  pear-trees  which  grew  in  the  vicinity. 

PERSIA.  Some  derive  Persia  or  Persis  from  the  name  of  one 
of  its  provinces,  Pars  or  Pars,  which  at  one  time  constituted  the 
dominions  of  the  kings  of  Persia,  and  was  called  by  the    natives 


208  LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY. 

and  by  learned  Muhammadan  writers  Iran.  In  the  books  of  Daniel, 
Esdras,  &c.,  Persia  is  called  DID  paras,  which  some  derive  from 
Arab,  f^j^j  farus  a  horse.  According  to  others  Phars  {Fars)  is  a 
proper  name,  and  the  person  bearing  it  was  the  son  of  Arshan,  a  de- 
scendant of  Shem.  The  original  name  of  this  country  was  pro- 
bably Pars  or  Paras,  which  the  Arabs,  having  no  ;;  in  their 
language,  converted  into  Fars.  The  Pers.  has  ^j^  Xi  fars, 
Persia,  Parthia  ;  ;^  jb  i>"V5,  a  pard,  also  Persia.  The  province 
of  Fars  or  Faristan,  the  ancient  Persis,  is  one  of  the  finest  in  the 
kingdom.  It  is  divided  into  two  distinct  portions  ;  the  one  called 
Garmsir,  or  the  hot  climate  or  country  ;  from  Pers.  gartn,  warm, 
hot ;  the  other  called  Sardslr,  or  the  cold  country ;  from  sard, 
cold. 

PERTH,  a  Scottish  county  and  city,  the  latter  situated  on 
the  right  bank  of  the  Tay,  and  found  written  Bert,  Berth,  and 
Bertha.  The  last,  its  most  ancient  name,  may  be  from  Gael. 
Bhar-tatha  (pron.  bar-ta),  "  the  height  of  the  Tay."  See  Bhar. 
PETERBOROUGH,  co.  Northampton;  so  called  from  an 
abbey  and  church  erected  there  by  Penda  and  Walpher,  kings  of 
the  Merci,  in  honour  of  St.  Peter.     {Bailey.) 

PETERWARDEIN  {—var'dine).  Hung.  PStervdrad,  a  rock, 
built  fortress  on  the  Danube,  in  Hungary,  is  said  to  derive  its 
name  from  Peter  the  Hermit,  who  on  this  spot  marshalled  the 
soldiers  of  the  first  crusade.     (Hung,  vdr,  vurad,  a  castle.) 

PETHERTON,  formerly  Pedderton,  co.  Somerset.  Both 
N.  and  S.  Petherton  are  named  from  their  situation  on  the  River 
Parret,  anciently  called  the  Pedder  or  Pedreda,  and  A.  S.  tun,  an 
inclosure.     See  Parret. 

PHILIPPI,  in  anc.  geog.,  a  town  of  Macedonia,  first  named 
Credinas,  and  afterwards  Datus.  Philip,  father  of  Alexander, 
on  its  capture,  named  it  after  himself. 

PHILIPPOP'OLIS,  in  anc.  geog.  a  town  in  Thrace,  recognised, 
according  to  Ptolemy,  Philip  son  of  Amyntas  for  its  founder  or 
restorer.     From  Gr.  ^iKmtOQ,  Philip,  ttoKiq  a  city. 

PHCENICIA,   or  PHCENICE,   in    anc.   geog.,   a   country  of 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  209 

Syria.  The  Greeks  called  it  also  Syrophenicia,  to  distinguisli  it 
from  the  country  occupied  by  the  Phoenicians  in  Africa.  Bochart 
derives  the  name  of  the  Phoenicians  from  Beiie-Anak,  "  sons  of 
Anak,"  who  are  reported  to  have  been  famous  giants  in  Pales- 
tine ;  others  from  Phoenix,  a  Tyrian,  mentioned  in  fable,  or 
from  one  Phineas,  a  Hebrew.  The  most  probable  derivation  is 
from  (poi'/i^,  the  palm-tree,  which  abounded  in  Phoenicia,  The 
name  Phoenicia  is  not  found  in  Scripture  in  the  books  written  in 
Hebrew,  but  only  m  those  of  which  the  original  is  in  Greek,  as 
the  Maccabees  and  the  books  of  the  New  Testament.  The 
Hebrew  always  reads  Canaan.  See  Philo,  Hb.  i.  636  ;  Syncell. 
152 ;  Steph.  Byzan. ;  Matt.  xv.  22  ;  Bochart,  Geog.  Sacr.  p.  349  ; 
also  Cahnet  and  Gesenius. 

PIACEXZA  {pe-a-chen'tsa),  Fr.  Plaisance,  L.  Placentia,  a 
town  of  Italy.  Cicero  calls  it  Placentium  Municipium.  Lamar- 
tiniere  says  the  inhabitants  derive  its  name  either  from  its 
delightful  situation,  or  from  its  magnificent  palaces  and  straight 
and  spacious  streets,  which  make  it  a  pleasant  abode.  Placentia 
comes  from  placeo  to  please,  delight ;  thus,  placeo,  placens, 
placcntis,  Placentia,  Placenza,  Piacenza. 

PICCADILLY,  London.  "  Where  Sackville  Street  was  builj; 
stood  Piccadilla  Hall,  where  piccadillas  or  turnovers  were  sold, 
which  gave  name  to  the  street."  (Pennanf.)  A  turnover  is  the 
name  of  the  broad  flat  white  hnen  band  faUing  from  the  neck 
over  the  jacket,  which  succeeded  in  Cromwell's  time  to  the  ruffs 
of  the  preceding  reigns.  ••'  A  pickadil,"  says  Blount,  "  is  that 
round  hem  or  the  several  divisions  set  together  about  the  skirt  of 
a  garment  or  other  thing ;  also  a  kind  of  stiff  collar  made  in 
fashion  of  a  band ;  hence,  perhaps,  the  famous  ordinary  near 
St.  James's,  called  Pickadilly,  took  denomination,  because  it  was 
then  the  utmost  or  skirt  house  of  the  suburbs."  Others  say- 
that  "  one  Iliggins,  a  tailor,  who  built  it,  got  most  of  his  estate  by 
pickadilles,  which  in  the  last  age  were  much  worn  in  Eugland." 
"  The  word  picardill,"  says  Cunningham,  "  occurs  in  Ben  Jonson 
and  several  of  our  old  dramatic  writers."  According  to  GiflFord, 
it  is  a  dim.  of  picca  (Sp.  and  It.)  a  spearlicad,  and  was  given 

I' 


210  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

to  this   article  of  foppery  from  a   fancied  resemblance  of  its 
stiffened  plaits  to  the  bristled  points  of  a  spear. 

PIEDMONT  [peedmunt).  It.  Piemonte,  a  district  of  Northern 
Italy  forming  part  of  the  Sardinan  States,  is  named  from  its  situa- 
tion at  the  foot  of  the  mountains ;  from  It.  pie  di  monte,  "  foot 
of  mountain." 

FIERI  A,  in  anc.  geog.,  a  district  of  Macedonia  and  birth-' 
place  of  the  Muses,  whence  they  are  called  Pierides.  Le  Clerc 
derives  Uiefia  from  a  Phcen.  word  signifying  "  tongue,"  "  fruit- 
fulness."  Hesiod  (Theog.  line  81)  mentions  the  Pierian  grove, 
and  makes  Mnemosyne,  which  in  Greek  means  memory,  the 
mother  of  the  Muses. 

PIKE,  in  local  names  in  Lancashire,  means  a  peak,  summit, 
as  Rivington-Pike,  Clough-Pike. 

PILL,  in  Glostershire,  means  the  mouth  of  a  brook,  as  Horse- 
pill,  Cow-pill,  Oldbury-pill,  all  on  the  Severn.  See  Ormerod, 
Arch.  vol.  29,  p.  10. 

PILLY,  PULLY,  a  termination  of  local  names  in  India,  as 
Condapilly,  may  be  another  orthography  of  Poly,  q.  v. 

PIMLICO.  "  The  derivation  of  this  word  is  explained  from 
the  following  passage  in  a  rare  (if  not  unique)  tract,  entitled 
Newes  from  Hogsdon,  1 598  : — '  Have  at  thee,  then,  my  merrie 
boyes,  and  hey  for  old  Ben  Pimlico's  nut-browne.'  Pimlico 
kept  a  place  of  entertainment  in  or  near  Hoxton,  and  was  cele- 
brated for  his  nut-brown  ale.  The  place  seems  afterwards  to 
have  been  called  by  his  name,  and  is  constantly  mentioned  by 
our  early  dramatists.  In  1609  a  tract  was  printed,  entitled 
Pimlyco,  or  Runne  Red  Cap,  'tis  a  Mad  World  at  Hogsdon. 
Isaac  Reed  (Dodsley's  Old  Plays,  ed.  Collier,  vii.  51)  says,  *A 
place  near  Chelsea  is  still  called  Pimlico,  and  was  resorted  to 
within  these  few  years,  on  the  same  account  as  the  former  at 
Hogsdon.'  Pimlico  is  still,  I  believe,  celebrated  for  its  fine  ale." 
{Rimbault.)  "  It  seems,  from  a  passage  in  Lord  Orrery's  Letters, 
that  there  was  a  place  called  Pemlicoe  in  Dublin.  Pimlico  in 
DubUn  still  exists,  as  will  be  seen  by  reference  to  Thorn's  Irish 
Almanac,  where  we  find  '  Pimhco,  from  Coombe  to  Tripoli.'  " 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  211 

(Notes  and  Queries.)  Opposite  St.  John's  Church,  Hoxton,  is  a 
long  passage,  leading  to  Hoxton  Old  Town,  called  "  Pimlico 
Walk."  The  name  is  probably  a  Celtic  compound  ;  perhaps  from 
pem-lec,  "  the  five  stones." 

PISA,  a  city  of  Tuscany.  Polybius,  Ptolemy,  and  other  Greek 
authors  write  Pissse,  but  all  the  Roman  inscriptions  have  Pisae. 
Strabo  and  Pliny  agree  that  Pisa  vpas  founded  by  a  colony  from 
Tlia-x,  a  city  of  Elis  in  Peloponnesus.  The  Pissei  first  called  Pisa, 
Alpheus,  after  the  name  of  the  river  upon  which  the  Greek  city 
was  situated.     Virgil  (^En.  x.  179)  says 

"  Hos  parere  jubent  Alphese  ab  origine  Pisse 
Urbs  Etrusca  solo." 

See  also  Plin.  lib.  iii.  c.  5  ;  Polyb.  hb.  ii.  c.  27  ;  Ptol.  lib.  iii.  c.  1  ; 
Yirg.  Georg.  iii.  19  ;  Mn.  iii.  694. 

PISEK  (pese/c'),  a  town  of  Bohemia,  named  from  its  situation. 
Pisek  is  a  Boh.  word,  signifying  "  sand." 

PISPORT,  on  the  Moselle,  in  Germany,  celebrated  for  its 
vineyards.  The  name  is  said  to  be  from  Pisonis  Porta,  "  The 
gate  of  Piso." 

PIT  is  frequently  found  in  local  names  in  Scotland.  In  most 
instances  it  is  the  Gael,  pit,  pite,  a  pit  or  hollow  (Ir.  pit,  W.jjyd, 
D.  2^^0'  from  Sax.  pit,  or  pi/t,  from  L.  puteus,  a  pit,  well, 
from  puto,  to  clean  out,  from  Sans,  puth,  to  wound,  to  cut. 
Among  other  names  are  the  following : — Pittencrief,  Pitfirrane, 
Pitliver,  Pitdinnie,  Pitconochie,  Pitcorthie,  Pitrcavie,  Pitatherie. 
In  the  Grampian  range  is  a  tremendous  hollow,  which  the  pea- 
sants call  Pi/it-an-diabhol,  i.e.,  the  devil's  hole.  Pitsligo  means 
"  a  hollow  sliell,"  from  pit,  and  slige  a  shell. 

PITEA,  a  sea-port  on  the  Pitea  Elv  or  river,  in  the  N.  of 
Sweden.  Lulea,  Tornea,  Umea,  and  many  other  places  in  Scan- 
dinavia are  situated  on  rivers  of  the  same  name.  The  last 
letter  in  these  words  is  the  Scand.  au,  a  river,  rivulet,  but  per- 
hajjs  the  primary  meaning  was  that  of  water. 

PLAS,   PALAS,  in  local  names   in  Wales,   is  the    W.  ^)/a5, 

palas,  a  palace  ;  as  Plus  Gwyn,  the  white  mansion  ;  Plas  Newydd, 

the  new  mansion. 

p  2 


212  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

PLINLIMMON,  a  mountain  in  Wales,  between  the  counties 
of  Cardigan  and  Montgomery.  The  name  is  found  written 
PlymiHmon  and  Plimilhmon,  corruptions  of  Putn-lumon,  "  Tlie 
five-peaked  mountains,"  from  W.  pum  for  immjh  five.  Hum  a 
point,  peak,  or  cone. 

PLUMBE,  PLUMP.  A  woody  place,  or  a  clump  of  trees,  is  still 
called  "  Plump  "  in  the  N.  of  England.  See  Plumpton  Papers, 
by  Thos.  Stapleton,  1839,  Surtees  Society;  also  voc.  Lund. 

PLYMOUTH,  situated  at  the  head  of  a  haven  formed  by  the 
conflux  of  the  rivers  Tamar  and  Plym  with  the  sea. 

PLYMPTON  ST.  MAURICE,  commonly  called  Plymptou 
Maurice  or  Plympton  Earl,  named  from  its  situation  on  the 
Plym  ;  or  rather  on  a  brook  which  flows  into  that  river.  Near 
Plympton  is  Plymstock. 

PO,  L.  Padus,  a  river  of  Italy.  Metradorus,  a  Greek  author 
quoted  by  Phny  (lib.  iii.  c.  16),  says  this  river  takes  its  name 
from  the  trees  growing  near  its  source,  which  distil  pitch,  and 
which  are  called  jja^i  in  the  old  Gaulish  language. 

POITIERS  {pwoy'te-a),  one  of  the  oldest  towns  in  France, 
and  occupying  the  site  of  Lemonum,  the  chief  town  of  a  Celtic 
people  called  the  Pictones  or  Pictavi,  mentioned  by  Csesar.  The 
name  was  subsequently  changed  to  Pictones  or  Pictavi,  whence  its 
present  appellation,  and  also  that  of  Poitou,  the  province.  The 
Pictavi  may  have  been  the  same  with  the  Picts,  in  Gael. 
Piocaich. 

POL,  in  local  names  in  Cornwall,  is  a  Corn,  word,  signifying 
the  top,  the  head  ;  also  a  well,  a  pit,  a  pool,  a  miry  place,  dirty, 
clayey,  &c.  ;  thus,  Poldew,  black  pool ;  Polglase,  Polglaz,  the 
green  top,  or  green  pool ;  Polgreau,  Polgrene,  Polgrouan,  the 
gravel  pits  ;  Polgueul,  the  top  of  the  field  ;  Polwhele,  the  pool 
work. 

POLDER.  In  Holland  and  Belgium  a  polder  is  a  tract  of 
low  land  reclaimed  from  the  sea  by  means  of  high  embank- 
ments.    (D.) 

POLGOOTHj^POLGOTH,  POLCOTH,  in  Cornwall.  Some 
translate  this  "  the  old  pool ;  others  "the  old  pits.''     (Corn.) 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  213 

POLRUAN,  in  Cornwall,  means  the  "  river-head,"  or  "  pool 
of  the  river  ;"  from  Corn,  pol  a  pool,  man  a  river. 

POLY,  a  termination  of  local  names  in  India,  as  Trichinopoly, 
is  a  corruption  of  tlie  Tarn,  and  Mai.  falli,  a  small  town,  a 
village. 

POMERA'NIA,  a  maritime  province  of  Prussia;  from  its 
Slav,  name  Pomore ;  po  upon,  more  the  sea.     Conf.  Armorica. 

PONDICHERRY,  a  town  in  the  Carnatic,  Hindustan  ;  pro- 
perly Puducheri,  "a  new  village  or  town,"  from  Tam.  pudu 
new,  cheri  a  town,  village,  hamlet. 

PONT,  in  local  names  in  Wales,  is  the  W.  pont,  a  bridge, 
from  L.  pons,  pontis,  pontem,  from  Sans.  pantMn  a  road,  from 
path  to  go,  patha  a  path  ;  as  Pont  ^ber  Gl^sllyn,  the  bridge  at 
the  conflux  of  the  Glasllyn,  or  blue  pool ;  Pont  y  Pair,  the 
bridge  of  the  cauldron ;  Pont  y  Glyn  or  Pont  Diffwys,  the  bridge 
of  the  glen  ;  Pont  y  Mynach,  the  bridge  of  the  River  :Mynach. 

PONT  AUDEMER  {pongt  d-demer),  a  small  town  in  Nor- 
mandy. Lye  writes  Pimt-Aldemar,  Pons  Audemari ;  Le  Pont 
Audemer  sive  Le  Ponteau  de  Mer.  Lamartiniere  says  it  takes 
its  name  from  the  ptont  or  bridge  over  the  Riile,  and  from  having 
been  built  or  improved  by  Audomer  or  Aumer,  and  that  therefore 
it  ought  neither  to  be  written  Ponteau-de-Mer,  nor  Le-Pont-eau- 
de-Mer,  nor  translated  in  L.  Pontieulus  Maris,  or  bridge  of  the 
sea.     See  St.  Omer. 

PON'TEFRACT,  co.  York,  irompons  a  bridge, /mc^MS  broken. 
Camden  says  it  was  first  called  Kirby,  and  that  it  had  its  present 
name  from  the  destruction  of  a  bridge  over  a  market-place  near 
which  the  town  principally  stood.  Leland  observes,  '<  The 
mines  of  such  a  bridg  yet  ys  scene  scant  half  a  mile  est  owt 
of  Old  Pontefract,  but  I  cannot  justly  say  that  this  bridg  stood 
ful  on  Watheling  Streete."  "That  there  was  a  bridge  some- 
where close  to  Pontefract  is  corroborated  by  an  inquisition  taken 
in  the  reign  of  Edw.  IL,  from  which  it  appears  that  one  John 
Bubluth  had  the  ]8th  part  of  a  knight's  see,  'juxta  vetercm 
poiitcni  de  Pontefract.'  "     (Rees.) 

I'ONTOISI::  ipony-twawz'),  a  town  of  France,  dcp.  Scine-ct- 


214  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

Oise,  derives  its  name  from  the  pont  or  bridge  over  the  Oise. 
Conf.  OusE. 

PON'TUS,  in  anc.  geog.  a  district  of  Asia  Minor,  near  the 
Pontus  Euxinus,  or  Black  Sea.  According  to  Bochart,  this 
country  abounded  with  filberts,  and  the  Phoen.  botno,  a  filbert, 
becomes  by  permutation  pontus,  a  name  which  was  afterwards 
applied  to  the  neighbouring  sea,  and  in  time  to  all  seas ;  but  the 
reverse  and  common  opinion,  that  the  country  borrowed  its  name 
from  the  sea,  seems  by  far  the  most  probable.  The  Euxine  was 
called  emphatically  Pontus,  or  "  the  sea,"  being  the  greatest 
sea  known  to  the  dwellers  on  its  shores  ;  and  the  whole  extent 
of  coast-line,  as  Strabo  informs  us,  was  anciently  called  Pontus. 
See  Bochart ;  Phaleg.  lib.  i.  c.  10  ;  Strabo  I.  xii.  p.  3/2  ;  and 
Univ.  Hist. 

POOL,  POOLE,  POLE,  in  local  names  in  England,  is  either 
the  W.  pwll,  Corn,  pol,  or  A.  S.  pol,  pul  (O.  G.  j^hid,  Sw.  pdl, 
Ice.  pollr  a  puddle,  Fries,  and  Plat,  pool ;  D.  poel  puddle, 
marsh  ;  Dan.  pdl  a  marsh  ;  Arm.  2wul),  a  pool,  from  L.  palus 
standing  water,  bog,  marsh,  pool.  Thus,  Liverpool,  Flagpool ; 
Bradpole,  "  broad  pool ;"  Poole,  Dorset;  Reedypool,  Brit.  Radi- 
pole,  from  rhedeg-pwll,  "  flowing  pool,"  or  "  tide  pool." 

POOR,  PORE,  a  frequent  termination  of  local  names  in  Lidia, 
is  the  Hind,  jy  piir,  a  town,  city,  from  Sans,  piira ;  thus, 
Byzapoor,  Juanpoor,  Mulcapoor,  Sholapoor,  Cawnpoor,  properly 
Khanpur,  the  city  of  a  khan  ;  Chutterpore  (Bundelkhand),  which 
received  its  name  from  its  founder  ;  Ghazipoor,  the  town  of 
Ghazi;  Joudpoor,  the  city  of  war  {Sans,  jicclh  for  juddh  or  yudh, 
battle,  war,  fight)  ;  Nagpoor,  the  city  of  snakes,  from  Sans,  ndga, 
a  snake,  a  serpent-deity ;  Punderpore,  properly  Pundrapur ; 
Serampore,  properly  Sri-ram-pur,  from  Sans,  sri,  prosperity, 
fortune,  wealth,  goddess  of  prosperity,  also  a  title  of  honour, 
and  Rama  the  demi-god  ;  Sultanpoor,  city  of  the  sultan,  the 
name  of  several  towns  in  India. 

POPOCAT'EPETL,  an  active  volcano,  and  the  most  elevated 
mountain  in  Mexico ;  from  popocani  smoke,  teptl  a  mountain. 
See  Teptl, 


LOCAL  ETYMOLOGY.  215 

PORT,  found  in  names  of  places  in  England,  is  the  A.  S. 
port,  id.,  or  "W.  porth  (Fr.  Ir.  port,  Arm.  porz.  It.  porto, 
Sp.  piierte),  harbour  for  boats  or  ships,  a  passage  or  gate,  from 
L,  partus,  from  the  old^joro,  to  carry,  convey,  bring;  Gr.  Tfo^ou, 
from  Sans,  bhri,  to  bear  or  carry.  Thus,  Portbury,  Portcliester 
(Porchester),  Portdown,  Portishead,  Portland,  Portsea,  Gosport, 
Langport. 

PORTO  RICO  {reko),  capital  of  the  island  of  the  same  name 
in  the  W.  Indies;  from  Sp.  puerto  rico,  "the  rich  port  or 
harbour." 

PORTSEA,  CO.  Hants,  "the  island  of  the  port ;"  from  A.  S. 
partes,  of  the  port,  and  ea,  ig,  an  island. 

PORTSMOUTH,  co.  Hants,  found  written  Portesmutha, 
Portesmuth,  Portesmue,  Portusmouth,  and  Portesmouth ;  in 
Latin  authors  called  Ostium  Portse.  In  the  Sax.  Chron. 
A.D,  500,  it  is  mentioned  by  the  name  of  Portesmuth,  as  the 
place  at  which  Porta,  a  Saxon  chief,  landed,  in  order  to  assist 
Cerdic  in  the  subjugation  of  the  Belgic  provinces  in  England. 
The  name,  however,  may  mean  simply  "  mouth  of  the  port  or 
haven." 

PORTUGAL.  On  the  S.  bank  of  the  Douro  is  the  small 
market  town  of  Gaya,  supposed  to  occupy  the  site  of  the  ancient 
Gale.  The  N.  bank  having  been  found  more  convenient  for 
shipping,  the  modern  Oporto  was  built  there,  and  called  Portus 
Cal,  "  the  harbour  of  Cal."  This  name,  corrupted  into  Portucal 
and  Portugal,  was  afterwards  transferred  to  the  kingdom  at  large, 
and  the  tovra  was  designated  "  Oporto,"  (o  porto,  the  harbour). 
See  Gala. 

PRAGUE  {prayg),  the  chief  city  of  Bohemia  ;  G.  Prag,  L. 
Fraga,  Boh.  Praha.  It  was  anciently  called  Marobudum,  from 
a  celebrated  chief  named  Marobod.  It  was  enlarged  by  Libussa 
in  723,  and  by  him  named  Praha,  from  Boh.  prah,  a 
threshold. 

PRESTON,  Lancashire,  is  a  corruption  of  Priest's  Town. 
Edin.  Earl  of  Lancaster,  son  of  Hen.  Ill,,  founded  an  hospital 
for  Gray  or  Franciscan  Friars  here,  but  from  what  foundation  or 


216  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

from  what  period  it  derived  the  name  of  Priest's  Town  is  not 
known.     (P.  Cyc.) 

PROME  (jiroam),  a  city  on  the  Irawaddi,  in  Birma.  It  is 
called  by  the  natives  Pri.  The  Muhammadans  corrupted  Pri 
into  Pron,  which  Europeans  converted  into  Prome. 

PRUSSIA,  formerly  Borussia,  i.e.,  country  of  the  Borussi,  a 
people  said  to  have  been  originally  from  Scythia,  near  the  source 
of  the  Don,  and  who  took  possession  of  this  part  of  Europe 
after  the  Goths.  Some  say  Prussia  is  a  contraction  of  Po-Russia, 
i.e.  next  to  Russia ;  but  if  the  first  part  of  the  name  is  the 
Slav,  po,  near,  adjacent,  the  name  has  probably  been  formed  thus, 
Po-Rusi,  Borussi,  Borussia,  Brussia,  Prussia. 

PRUTH  (jjroot),  a  river  of  Hungary,  said  to  be  the 
Parata  of  Herodotus.  In  Slav,  prud  is  "  a  river ;"  but  we 
have  no  evidence  of  the  Slaves  having  been  in  Europe  as  early  as 
Herodotus. 

PUNJAUB,  or  PUNJAB,  aprovince  of  Hindustan,  "thecountry 
bordering  i\xejive  rivers  which  form  the  Indus,"  from  Pars,  jpanjdb^ 

"  five  rivers  ;"  £'V/  panj  five,  '-r-''  db  water.  Punj  or  panj  is 
found  in  other  names,  as  Punjsheer,  a  river  and  vale,  and  Punj- 
cora,  a  river,  all  in  Caubul. 

PUR'FLEET,  CO.  Essex,  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Thames  ;  for- 
merly Pourteflete  or  Portflete  ;  from  A.  S.  po7-t  a  port,  haven, 
Jleot  a  place  where  vessels  float,  a  bay,  the  mouth  of  a  river,  &c. 
See  Fleet. 

PUTNEY,  CO.  Surrey,  in  Domesday  Putelei ;  in  all  subse- 
quent records  till  the  16th  century,  Puttenheth  or  Pottenheth. 
Lysons  calls  it  Puttenega  Amcenum.  The  Putelei  of  Domesday 
is  probably  a  mistake  of  the  Norman  scribes  for  Puttenheth. 
The  place  may  have  been  first  named  Putten  from  its  wells.  The 
A.  S.  hceth,  heath,  may  have  been  added  at  a  late  period.  A 
friend  of  Mantell  suggests  for  the  name  of  Puttenham,  Surrey, 
a  derivation  which  may  corroborate  this.  Referring  to  a  village 
near  Ghent,  called  Piittenheim,  i.e.  the  village  of  wells,  he  thinks 
Puttenham,  being  without  a  drinkable  stream,  may  be  named  for 
the  same  reason.     (Flem.  piitte,  a  well,  pL  piitten.) 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  217 

PUY-DE  DOME  {pwe),  in  L.  Mons  Dominans,  a  depart- 
ment of  France  containing  a  great  number  of  puys  or  peaks,  the 
chief  of  which  are  Mont- Dor  and  Puy-de-D6me.  Puy  is  from 
Celt,  pig,  a  peak,  or  from  the  old  Aquitaniaa  word  peek,  puech, 
or  puich. 

PWLLHELI  (puUe'le),  a  sea-port,  co.  Caernarvon;  "the 
salt  pool ;"  named  from  the  small  bay,  on  the  eastern  side  of  the 
great  promontory  of  Lleyn,  on  the  shore  of  which  it  is  situated. 

PYRAMIDS.  From  L.  Pyramis,  — idis,  from  Gr.  Jlvf^aiuq, 
— ihgy  which  the  Greeks  derive  from  itvp,  fire,  from  these  monu- 
ments having  the  shape  of  flame  ;  but  the  Greek  word  is  more 
probably  from  the  Egyptian  ;  or  from  Heb.  ma-1i^l  bar-moot, 
"  pit  of  death." 

PYRENEES  {pirryneez,  Fr.  peerayna),  the  mountains  which 
separate  France  from  Spain.  Some  derive  the  name  from  Gr. 
Tivp,  Ttvpog,  fire ;  in  allusion  to  a  great  conflagration  caused  by 
the  shepherds,  who  set  fire  to  the  forests  which  cover  the  moun- 
tains.    Aristotle  makes  mention  of  this  conflagration. 


Q. 


QUARR  ABBEY,  Ryde,  Isle  of  Wight,  is  called,  in  old 
grants  Quarraria,  and  is  said  to  owe  its  name  to  a  quarry  in  the 
neighbourhood,  which  supplied  the  stone  for  many  of  the  eccle- 
siastical edifices  in  the  southern  counties  of  England. 

QUEBEC.  It  is  said  that  the  Normans,  who  were  with 
Jacques  Cartier  at  the  first  discovery  of  Canada,  perceiving,  at 
the  extremity  of  the  Isle  of  Orleans,  a  high  cape  jutting  into 
the  river,  exclaimed  in  their  patois  "  Que  Lee  !"  for  "  Quel  bee  !" 
whence  its  name.  (See  Lamartiniere,  vol.  8.)  Others  say  it 
was  called  Quebec  by  the  Frencb,  from  a  district  of  the  same 
name  in  France. 

QLEENBOROUGQ,  Isle  of  Shcppey.  On  the  site  of  a 
Saxon   castle  here,  Edward  III.  erected  a  larger   fortress,  and 


218  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

named  the  town  Queenborough,  in  honour  of  his  consort 
Philippa. 

QUIMPER  {kang'-pare),  chief  town  of  the  French  depart- 
ment of  Finisterre,  and  anciently  the  capital  of  the  county  of 
Cornoualles.  In  the  Latin  of  the  middle  ages,  the  diocese  esta- 
blished here  was  called  Corisopitensis,  from  its  inhabitants  the 
Corisopiti ;  but  the  town  itself  was  called  Conflueutia.  It  has 
been  successively  called  Quimper  Odet  and  Quimper  Corentini, 
the  latter  from  Corentin  its  first  bishop,  and  also  Civitas  Aquilse 
and  Civitas  Aquilonia.  Its  name  in  Bas  Bret,  is  found  written 
Kimper,  Kemper,  and  Qemper.  The  old  town  is  situated  in  an 
angle  formed  by  the  junction  of  the  two  streams  called  Benaudet  and 
Odet,  and  is  or  was  surrounded  by  ancient  walls  and  towers ;  accord- 
ingly some  authors  say  Quitnper  in  Bas  Bret,  meaus  "  surrounded 
with  walls,"  whilst  others  again  state  that  Conjluentia  is  a  trans- 
lation of  its  Celtic  name,  which  showed  its  situation  at  the  con- 
fluence of  the  streams  in  question.  Rostrenen  {T)ict,  Bas  Bret.) 
is  at  a  loss  for  an  etymology,  but  thinks  the  name  may  mean 
"field  of  the  eagle,"  from  Celt,  kamp  or  kemp,  field  of  battle,  er 
an  eagle.  Quimper  may,  however,  be  from  Celt,  cynmer,  mean- 
ing "  the  confluence  of  waters,"  which  in  "Wales  gives  proper 
names  to  many  places. 

QUITO  (ke'to),  a  province  and  city  of  Peru.  The  Peruvians, 
after  several  years'  struggle,  shook  ofi"  the  Spanish  yoke.  The 
name  may  therefore  be  derived  from  Sp.  quito,  free. 


R. 


RAD'FORD,  CO.  Notts  ;  from  A.  S.  hreod  a  reed,  ford,  id. 

RADFORD  and  RADNOR,  in  Cornwall.  Pryce  translates 
Radford  "  the  fern  way,"  and  Radnor  "  the  fern  land."    (Corn.) 

RAD'NOR,  in  Wales,  may  derive  its  name  from  the  ferns 
growing  in  the  neigbourhood.  The  W.  rhedyn  is  a  fern ; 
rhedynaw,  abounding  with  fern,  a  place  where  fern  grows.     The 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  219 

"Welsh  call  Old  Radnor,  Maes-yfed  Hen ;  also  Pen  y  Craig, 
"the  summit  of  a  rock,"  the  church  being  built  upon  a 
rock  ;  and  New  Radnor  Maes-yfed  Neivydd.  Maes-yfed  is  sup- 
posed to  be  derived  from  Hyfaidd,  one  of  the  sons  of  Caradoc 
Vraic  V^ras,  who  formed  Radnor  into  a  county.  (W.  maes,  a 
field.) 

RAJPOOTANA  ( — tahnah),  one  of  the  largest  provinces  of 
India ;  so  called  from  the  natives,  the  Rajpoots,  from  Hind. 
ritjput,  lit.  a  prince,  the  son  of  a  rdjii,  "  the  general  designation 
of  the  races  in  the  N.  and  W.  of  India,  who  pretend  to  spring 
from  the  ancient  dynasties  of  the  sun  and  moon"  {Wilson); 
from  Sans.  rdj&  a  king,  prince,  i)xitra  a  son. 

RAMSEY,  CO.  Huntingdon  ;  found  written  Rammesige,  Re- 
mesege,  Ramesie,  and  Ramesseie ;  "  ram's  island ;"  from  A.  S. 
raniy  ramm,  a  ram,  ig  an  island.  See  also  Mon.  Angl.  p.  232, 
1.  7-b,  and  voc.  Ram SG ate. 

RAMSGATE,  Kent,  found  written  Ramesgate.  According  to 
some,  Uamsgate  is  for  Romans^  Gate,  from  it  having  been  used 
as  a  port  or  landing-place  by  the  Romans  ;  "  but,"  says  Hasted, 
"  besides  that  its  name  was  never  so  written  in  ancient  writings, 
it  may  well  be  doubted  whether,  during  the  time  the  Romans 
frequented  this  island,  there  was  here  any  way  or  gate  at  all  to 
the  sea ;  and  it  seems  plain  that  it  was  dug  first  through  the 
cliff,  as  the  rest  of  the  sea  gates  were  in  this  little  island  [Thanet], 
for  the  convenience  of  the  fishery,  and  no  Roman  coins,  &c. 
have  been  ever  found  here,  as  they  have  at  Bradstow  (now 
Broadstairs),  where  the  Romans,  if  they  had  any  at  all,  might 
have  a  station  ;  and  the  general  opinion  seems  to  be  that  it  was 
called  Ramsgate  from  the  way  or  gate  here  which  leads  to  the 
sea  through  the  chalk  cliff."  Ramsgate  may  translate  "the  high 
or  great  gate."  Ram,  rama,  ramus,  are  very  ancient  words 
signifying  great,  noble,  high,  height,  or  elevation.  Ram,  rham, 
in  the  Brit,  is  "  that  which  projects  or  is  forward  ;"  rhuma,  "to 
project  or  go  forward."  Wachter  says,  "  ram,  robur,  pars  extrema 
rei,  raargo,  terminus."  Chalmers  under  Ram,  gives  "  Ramsgate, 
in  the  face  of  a  steep  cliff;  Ramsey,  an  arm  of  the  sea  in  Essex  ; 


220  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

Ram  and  Ramhead,  near  Plymouth  ;  Ram  Head,  a  point  opposite 
to  Portsmouth ;  Ramsyde,  on  a  point  in  Lancashire  ;  Ramsaig' 
on  a  point  in  Skye  ;  and  Ram-asa,  an  isle  in  the  N.  of  Lismore." 

RANDAL'S  FIELD  (Bannockburu),  "so  called,  because  on 
the  evening  before  the  battle,  Randal,  Earl  of  Murray,  and  Sir 
Robert  Clifford  had  a  warm  skirmish  here."     {Kohl.) 

RAPE,  in  Sussex,  is  a  division  of  a  county ;  an  inter- 
mediate division  between  a  hundred  and  a  shire,  containing 
three  or  four  hundreds  ;  from  Ice.  repp,  or  ripp,  a  tract  or  dis- 
trict. See  Smith,  de  Rep.  Angl.  lib.  ii.  c.  16  ;  Blackstone  ;  and 
Cowel,  Law  Diet. 

RATCLIFF  {rat'lif),  a  hamlet  in  the  parish  of  Stepney,  near 
London.  A  stratum  of  red  earth  having  been  discovered  here 
during  recent  excavations,  it  has  been  conjectured  that  Uatcliff 
is  a  corruption  of  Reddiff",  its  former  name.  Ratcliffe  is  the 
name  of  several  places  in  England. 

READING  {recTing),  co.  Berks,  anciently  written  Rseding, 
Reding,  Redingum,  Redings,  Readinges,  and  Redinges.  Camden 
derives  the  name  from  Anc.  Brit,  rhed  ferns,  on  account  of  the 
great  abundance  of  ferns  growing  hereabouts  ;  Baxter,  from  Brit. 
rit  or  rliyd  a  ferry,  cege  or  ige  an  island,  q.  d.  rheadige,  i.  e.  ford 
of  the  waters,  or  an  insular  ford ;  Leland,  "  from  the  meeting 
together  of  other  waters  with  the  River  Rhea."  There  is  another 
derivation,  from  A.  S.  reh  or  hreh  an  inundation,  ing  a  meadow, 
"  an  inundation  of  the  meadow." 

RECUL'VER,  a  village  on  the  coast  of  Kent.  The  name 
comes,  through  the  A.  S.  and  L.  from  a  Celtic  root.  The  A.  S. 
has  Raculf,  Bacidf-ceaster,  Raculf-minster.  The  Romans,  who 
had  a  castrum  here,  called  it  Regulbium.  Lambarde  thinks  the 
name  may  be  from  the  Brit,  racor,  forward,  because  the  place 
projects  towards  the  sea  ;  Harrison  says,  from  one  Racidfus^ 
built  a  monastery  here.  Archdeacon  Battely  derives  Regulbium 
from  Brit.  I'hag  before,  gwylfa  watching,  or  from  rhag,  and  golen 
light ;  "  it  having  had  very  early  a  watch-tower,  where  no  doubt 
lights  were  kept  to  direct  ships  in  the  night."  Baxter  derives 
Reculver  from  Brit,  reg  ol  iiion,  "  the  point  against  the  waves." 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  221 

"The  castle  also  commanded  a  view,  not  only  of  the  German  Ocean, 
but  of  the  mouths  of  the  Thames  and  Medway  ;  on  which  account 
it  was  used  as  a  watch-tower,  to  discover  the  approaches  of  an 
enemy,  and  also  as  a  light-house  to  guide  mariners,  by  fires 
kindled  every  night ;  and  this  purpose  used  to  be  answered 
by  the  two  steeples  of  the  church,  called  the  Sisters,  or  the 
Reculvers,  which  formerly  served  as  a  sea-mark  for  avoiding  the 
flats  or  shallows  in  the  mouth  of  the  Thames  ;  but,  by  the  shifting 
of  the  sands,  they  are  now  said  to  be  no  longer  useful,  and 
mariners  rather  depend  on  St.  Nicholas'  Church,  or  Monkton 
Mill."     {Bib.  Top.  Brit.) 

REDAN',  a  fortification  at  Sebastopol.  "  Redan,  sometimes 
written  Redent  and  Redeus,  a  kind  of  rampart  in  the  form  of  an 
inverted  V,  having  its  angle  toward  the  enemy."  (P.  Cyc.) 
"  Redan,  archit.  milit.,  angles  saillants  vers  la  campagne  qu'on 
pratique  de  distance  en  distance,  dans  les  circonvallations,  afin  que 
toutes  les  parties  de  leur  enceinte  se  flanquent  reciproque- 
ment "  (Fr.)  ;  contracted  from  L.  recedent-is,  recedo,  to  recede, 
retire,  to  be  separated  or  at  a  distance. 

REDRUTH,  a  town  in  Cornwall ;  "  the  Druids'  town,"  from 
Corn,  dre  dridlh. 

REGENSBURG  {ra'gensboorg),  a  city  in  Bavaria,  named  from 
the  small  river  Regen,  which  falls  into  the  Danube  nearly  oppo- 
site this  place.  Dr.  Bosworth  writes  it  in  A.  S.  Reynes-burh, 
from  burh  a  town,  Regnes  of  the  River  Regen.  Wachter  says 
the  Teut.  7-egen  means  not  only  rain,  but  a  river,  and  that 
anciently  both  ren  and  regen  were  in  use,  and  he  derives  them 
from  I'innen,  to  flow.  The  French  call  this  place,  Ratisbonne, 
the  Italians  Ratisbona,  the  English  Ratisbon.  Lamartiniere 
derives  Ratisbonne  from  bona  ratis,  "i.e.  endroit  proprc  pour 
I'abord  des  bateaux."  The  Romans  at  first  called  Regensburg, 
Reginum  and  Castra  Regina,  and  afterwards  Augusta  Tibcrii. 

REGGIO  (redjeo),  a  city  of  Calabria,  Italy,  formerly  Rhegium, 
and  so  called,  it  is  said,  because  Sicily  was  here  severed  from  the 
mainland  by  the  force  of  the  sea ;  from  Gr.  fj-r^yvviu,  to  break, 
rend. 


222  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

REGIS,  in  local  names  in  England,  means'^  "of  the  king," 
"  king's,"  from  L.  rex,  regis,  a  king.  Thus  Lyme  Regis,  for- 
merly Lime  Regis,  "  King's  Lyme  ;"  Melcombe  Regis.  Bere 
Regis,  CO.  Dorset,  is  situated  on  the  river  Bere  ;  and  a  little 
stream,  perhaps  anciently  called  the  Lyme,  runs  through  Lyme 
Regis. 

REIGATE  {ry — ),  formerly  Reygate,  Surrey,  is  called  in 
Domesday  Cherchefelle,  *'  Churchfield,"  which  appellation 
Salmon  thinks  it  may  have  received  from  the  church  or  churches 
erected  by  the  Saxons  soon  after  their  conversion  to  Christianity. 
Camden  says  that  the  name,  if  borrovped  from  the  ancient 
language,  may  mean  "the  course  of  the  stream,"  while 
Bray  and  others  consider  it  to  be  derived,  and  with  great 
probability,  from  the  Sax.  rig,  ricg,  hric,  a  ridge,  and  gate,  from 
a  gate  or  bar  placed  across  the  road  skirting  the  high  ridge  of  a 
bill  now  called  Reigate  Hill.  Bray  is  also  inclined  to  think  that 
the  gate  existed  as  early  as  the  Saxon  Stane  Street,  and  he  says 
there  are  many  other  places  in  the  vicinity,  the  names  of  which 
terminate  in  a  similar  way,  and  all  seemingly  derived  from  a  like 
circumstance.  It  acquired  the  name  of  Reigate  about  a  century 
after  the  compilation  of  Domesday. 

REIKJAVIK  {rike'-ya-vik),  the  modern  capital  of  Iceland ; 
named  from  some  hot  springs  near  it.  Reikjavik  translates 
"steam-town  ;  "  from  Dan.  rUg  steam,  vig  a  bay,  ford,  dwelling. 

REN'FREW,  the  name  of  a  parish  and  county  in  Scotland, 
appears  to  have  belonged  originally  to  the  site  and  neighbourhood 
of  the  present  town.  Chalmers  says  iZe/j/rew;  is  a  British  name, 
derived  from  Gael,  rinn  or  W.  rhyn,  a  point  of  land,  and  frew 
(W.fraw),  a  flow  of  water ;  "the  point  of  land  near  the  flow  or 
conflux  of  the  rivers  Clyde  and  Gryfe."  The  writer  in  the  Stat. 
Ace.  of  Scot,  says  this  is  an  appropriate  description  of  the  locality 
of  the  burgh,  and  was  still  more  so  when  these  rivers  spread  out, 
as  they  formerly  did,  and  made  the  lands  around  the  burgh  appear 
like  a  point  amidst  the  waters. 

RETH,  a  termination  of  local  names  in  England,  is  perhaps 
the  A.    S.  7-ithe,   a    water-reservoir,    well,    fountain,    river,    as 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  223 

Brandreth,  which  Halliwell  translates,  "  a  walled  fence  round  a 
well;"  Meldreth,  Cambridge;  Shepreth,  Kent;  Raureth,  near 
Rochford,  Essex.     Rith  is  a  river. 

REVEL  (in  Russ.  Kolivmi)  takes  its  name  from  two  small 
islands  near  the  harbour,  which  were  formerly  called  Reffe,  i.  e. 
sand-banks.     (Tooke.) 

RHAIDR,  found  in  local  names  in  Wales,  is  the  W.  rhaiachjr, 
a  waterfall,  cataract,  which  Owen  derives  from  rha,  "  that  which 
forces  or  drives  onward."  Rhaidr  Du,  "  the  black  cataract,"  on 
the  River  Gamlan  y  Mawddach ;  Pistyll  Rhaidr,  "the  spout  of 
the  cataract ;"  Llanrhaiadr,  "  the  village  of  the  cataract ;"  Rhaidr 
Cynwyd,  "  the  source  of  mischief,"  near  Corwen.  The  village  of 
Cynwyd  was  named  on  account  of  the  courts  formerly  held  there  to 
settle  the  disputed  boundaries, 

RHELMS  {raing,  Eng,  reemz),  a  town  of  France,  in  the 
department  of  the  Marne.  It  is  mentioned  by  Ceesar,  in  whose  time 
it  was  the  capital  of  the  Remi,  one  of  the  most  considerable 
people  of  Belgic  Gaul,  and  remarkable  for  their  adherence  to  the 
alliance  with  Rome. 

RHINE,  a  river  in  Germany ;  L.  Rhenus,  G.  Rhein,  Gael. 
Rein.  Goldast  derives  Rhine  from  G.  rhinen,  to  run,  to  flow ; 
others  from  rein,  clean,  pure.  The  W.  has  rhin,  a  great  channel 
(Corn,  njne,  rine,  rin  and  man,  a  river)  ;  hence,  says  Webster, 
the  Rhine.  The  most  reasonable  derivation  is  that  of  Armstrong, 
"from  Gael,  reidh-an,  'the  placid  water,'  a  name  which  well 
accords  with  the  general  appearance  of  this  river." 

RHODES,  an  island  in  the  Grecian  Archipelago.  Most 
authors  agree  in  deriving  the  name  from  Gr.  {,ohq,  a  rose,  for 
which  flower  it  may  have  been  celebrated,  and  in  confirmation 
tlicy  say  that  the  ancient  coins  of  the  country  have  a  rose  on  their 
reverse.  Bochart  says  this  island  was  first  called  by  the  Greeks 
O^ir.Ta,  on  account  of  the  serpents  with  which  it  abounded  ; 
that  the  Chaldeans  and  Syrians  called  a  serpent  mi'  jarod,  which 
the  Phoenicians  abbreviated  to  rod,  calling  this  island  Gezirath 
Rod,  i.  e.  island  of  serpents,  which  the  Greeks  changed  into 
Po'Joc;    and    that  the  Thccnicians    afterwards  called    it    Tmdia, 


224  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

"desolate,"  which  the  Greeks  corrupted  to  'ZtocSia.     See  also 
Strabo,  Pliny,  Hesychius,  and  Biodorus. 

RHYL  {ril),  CO.  Flint,  N.  Wales.  About  two  miles  to  the  north 
of  Rhyl  is  Rhyddlan  {rhudd-llan),  or  the  red  shore,  so  named  from 
the  colour  of  its  site ;  and  Rhyl  may  possibly  be  a  contraction  of 
Rhyddlan.  The  W.  rhyle  means  an  upper  place,  a  superior 
station  ;  rhydle,  a  place  of  passage,  a  fording  place. 

RIALTO  {re-awl to)  a  celebrated  bridge  over  the  Grand  Canal 
at  Venice  ;  contraction  of  Rivo  alto,  the  name  of  the  isle  which 
this  bridge  connects  with  the  isle  of  San  Marco.  Rivo  alto 
means  "  deep  stream." 

RICHMOND,  Surrey.  Its  ancient  name  was  Sheen.  Henry 
VII.,  who  rebuilt  the  royal  palace,  which  had  been  burnt 
down  in  1499,  called  the  place  Richmond  from  his  having  borne 
the  title  of  Earl  of  Richmond,  in  Yorkshire,  before  his  accession. 
The  first  Earl  of  Richmond  built  the  castle  (in  Yorkshire),  who 
called  it  Riche-mont,  either  from  a  castle  in  Brittany,  or  from 
its  being  situated  in  the  most  fruitful  part  of  his  territory. 

RIETI  {i'e-a-te),  chief  town  of  a  province  of  the  Papal  States, 
the  ancient  Reate,  one  of  the  principal  towns  of  the  Sabines, 
which  is  said  to  derive  its  name  from  Rhea,  otherwise  Cybele, 
the  patroness  of  the  place. 

RIGA  takes  its  name  from  a  small  arm  of  the  Duna,  called 
Rige  or  Ryghe,  afterwards  converted  into  the  Reising's  Canal. 
{Tooke's  Russia.) 

RIGHI  (re'ffhe),  an  isolated  mountain  in  the  canton  of  Schwyz, 
in  Switzerland.  Its  ancient  name  was  Mons  Regius  or  Regina 
Montium,  of  which  its  present  name  is  a  corruption. 

RING'ERIG'ET,  a  chain  of  mountains  in  Norway,  said  to  be 
named  after  King  Ring  {Ringa  Regs'),  an  ancient  petty  sovereign 
of  this  part  of  the  country. 

RINGS'  END,  Dublin.  "  The  explanation  of  this  apparent 
'  bull,'  rings'  end,  is  very  simple.  Previous  to  the  formation  of 
that  portion  of  Dublin  which  is  now  called  "  Sir  John  Rogerson's 
Quay,"  there  were  great  piles  of  wood  driven  into  the  sand,  and  to 
each  of  these  piles  were  attached  large  iron  rings  for  the  convenience 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  225 

of  the  shipping  moored  there.  The  outermost  of  those  piles  having 
a  ring  was  called  rings'  end,  that  is,  the  end  or  last  of  the 
rings  ;  hence  the  name  given  to  the  place  at  the  end  of  Sir  John 
Rogersou's  Quay.  Sir  John  Rogerson,  the  maker  of  the  quay, 
was  at  one  time  lord  mayor  of  Dublin,  and  my  information  as  to 
the  derivation  of  the  name  Rings'"  End  was  received  from  old 
Jemmy  Walsh,  a  Dublin  pilot,  who  remembered  seeing  the  ships 
moored,  and  their  ropes  run  through  the  rings  of  the  wooden  piles 
on  the  river."  (N.  &  Q.  2d  S.  ii.  315.)  " The  proper  name  of 
this  place  is  Rin-Ann,  i.  e.  *  the  point  of  the  tide,'  a  term  very 
applicable  to  its  situation,  but  now  corrupted  into  Rings-end." 
(Seward,  Topog.  Hibern.)  "  Ringsend  or  Rinksen,  perhaps  a 
northern  word,  signifying  a  sewer,  which  the  River  Dodder  is  to  that 
part  of  the  county."     (Lascelles,  in  Lib.  Minor.,  part  v.,  p.  142.) 

RIO  BRANCO  {re'o),  a  river  of  Brazil.  Rio  branco  means 
"  white  river."     (Port.) 

RIO  DE  LA  PLATA,  a  river  in  S.  America;  "river  of  silver  ;" 
said  to  have  been  so  named  by  Diego  Garsias,  in  1527,  because 
the  natives  brought  him  silver,  which  had  not  hitherto  been 
imported  from  this  part  of  the  continent. 

RIO  DE  JANEIRO  {—han'a-e'ro,  Eng.>«ero),  a  city  of  Brazil, 
situated  on  a  river  (Sp.  rio),  or  rather  an  arm  of  the  sea,  called 
Janeiro,  probably  from  the  circumstance  of  its  discovery  by  Solis 
on  the  feast  day  of  St.  Januarius  (the  1st  day  of  January.)  The 
province  and  the  river  are  called  by  the  natives  Genabara. 

RIO  NEGRO  {nay'gro),  the  name  of  several  rivers  in  S. 
America,  means  the  "black  river."     (Sp.) 

RIPON,  CO.  York,  found  written  Ripum,  Hripum,  Ripun, 
Rypon  and  Rypoun,  situated  on  the  River  Aire  or  Ure,  and 
said  to  derive  its  name  from  L.  ripct,  the  bank  of  a  river. 

ROCHESTER,  Kent,  is  supposed  to  have  been  founded  by 
the  ancient  Britons,  who,  as  some  say,  called  it  dwr-bryf,  i.e.  a 
swift  stream,  in  allusion  to  the  Mcdway.  Camden  derives 
tlie  name  from  Celt,  dour  water,  briva  a  ford  or  bridge.  The 
Romans  converted  dwr-bryf,  or  dour-briva,  into  Durobrivjx) 
and  Durobrivis.    A  Roman  custrnm  or  camp  having  existed  here, 


226  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

the  Saxons  imported  ceaster  into  the  name,  which  became  Hrof- 
esceaster,  Hrofeceaster,  Hroueceaster,  Rhovecestre,  Rouecestre, 
Rouceastre,  Rovecestria,  Rovecester,  and  Roibisceaster,  whence  its 
present  name  has  been  corrupted.  Bede  derives  the  name  from 
ceaster  the  city,  Hrofes  of  Hrof,  a  Saxon  chieftain  ;  and  Somner 
from  hrof,  covered,  because  enclosed  vrith  hills,  or  rof,  eminent. 
RODE,  a  termination  of  local  names  in  Germany,  as  Elbinge- 
rode,  Osterode,  Wernigerode  in  the  Hartz,  Attenrode,  &c.  Rode- 
land,  Rott-land,  in  G.  means  "  cleared  ground,"  from  roden,  to 
dig  up.     See  Royd. 

ROERMOND  (roor'mond),  a  town  of  the  Netherlands,  on 
the  right  bank  of  the  Maas,  at  the  influx  (G.  munde,  mouth)  of 
the  Roer  or  Ruhr. 

ROESKILDE  {ros'kild),  a  town  of  the  Danish  island  of  Zea- 
land, said  to  have  been  founded  by  King  Roe,  who  chose  the 
spot  on  account  of  the  fresh-water  springs  that  abound  in 
the  neighbourhood,  whence  the  name  Roes-kilde  "  Roe's  well." 
The  Dan.  hide  is  a  fountain,  spring,  source.  In  L.  the  name  is 
found  written  Fons  Rosarum  ! 

ROME.  The  building  and  name  of  this  city  have  been 
variously  accounted  for.  Some  state  that  a  body  of  Trojan  fugi- 
tives were  driven  upon  the  coasts  of  Tuscany,  and  at  last  anchored 
in  the  Tiber,  and  that  their  wives  being  unable  any  longer  to  bear 
the  hardships  of  the  sea,  on  the  proposal  of  "  Roma,"  one  supe- 
rior to  the  rest  in  birth  and  prudence,  the  fleet  was  burnt ;  that 
the  Palatine  Hill  was  afterwards  selected  as  a  site,  and  a  city  built, 
which  they  called  Roma.  Others  say  Roma  was  daughter  of 
Italus,  or  of  Telephus  son  of  Hercules,  and  related  to  ^neas. 
According  to  others,  Rome  was  built  by  Romanus,  son  of  Ulysses 
and  Circe,  or  by  Romus,  son  of  ^Emathion,  whom  Diomedes  sent 
from  Troy,  or  by  Romus,  king  of  the  Latins,  after  he  had  expelled 
the  Tuscans.  Even  those  who  assert  that  the  city  had  its  name 
from  Romulus,  are  not  agreed  as  to  his  extraction.  They  inform 
us  that  he  and  his  brother  Remus  were  brought  infants  into  Italy, 
that  all  the  vessels  were  lost  except  that  containing  the  children, 
who  were  saved  beyond  expectation,  and  the  place  after  them 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  227 

called  Rome.  There  is  still  another  suggestion,  that  the  Pelasgi 
settled  here,  and  on  account  of  their  strength  in  war,  named  the 
city  Puifj^Y],  If  we  could  suppose  Rome  to  have  been  built  by  a 
Phoenician  colony,  the  name  might  translate  "a  high  place." 
The  Heb.  D11  rum  signifies  "to  be  high,  lofty,"  also  "height, 
elevation."  Ramoth,  signifying  "heights,"  was  the  name  of  a 
town  in  Gilead ;  Rimmon,  '^very  high,"  a  town  of  the  Simeon- 
ites  ;  Rumdh,  "  high,"  a  town  in  the  tribe  of  Benjamin  ;  and 
according  to  Bochart,  Maro,  a  mountain  in  Sicily,  derives  its 
name  from  the  Punic  maron,  signifying  "  a  high  place." 

ROMFORD  {rum'furd),  a  town  in  Essex,  takes  its  name  from 
a  Roman  ford  across  the  stream  which  flows  through  its  west 
side.  Lysons  derives  Romford  from  A.  S.  rum  broad,  ford  a 
ford  ;  "  a  broad  ford." 

ROMNEY  {ruin'ne),  a  town  in  Kent,  situated  in  a  marsh 
near  the  sea.  Lye  writes  the  name  Rumen-ea,  "  the  spread- 
ing water  or  marsh,"  from  rume  wide,  spreading,  ea  water  :  "  the 
island  in  the  flat  or  marsh,  a  spot  sufficiently  elevated  from  the 
surrounding  marsh  to  be  dry,  being  termed  an  island  by  the 
Saxons."  (P.  Cyc.)  According  to  others,  this  isle  was  first 
called  Roman-ey,  "  isle  of  the  Romans,"  because  they  first  landed 
here. 

ROMSDALEN,  a  district  of  Norway  ;  "  the  dale  or  valley 
of  the  River  Rauma."  (Dan.  dal  a  vale,  valley,  dale  ;  dal-en  the 
dale.) 

ROMSEY  {rum'ze),  co.  Hants,  from  A.  S.  Rumes-ege,  or  ige, 

from  rihn  roomy,  iy,  ige,  an  island,  spatiosa  insula.     Baxter  writes 

Romes-ey,  q.  d.  Romana  insula. 

ROSAS,  a  seaport  town  in  the  province  of  Catalonia,  Spain, 

formerly  called  Rhode,  from  having  been  founded  by  Rhodian 

emigrants. 

ROSCOMMON,  a  town  and  county  in  Ireland.     The  town  is 

said  to  derive  both  its  origin  and  its  name,  which  was  formerly 

Ros-Coeman  (Coeraan's  Marsh),  from  the  foundation  here  of  an 

abbey  of  Canons  Regular,  by   St.   Coeman,   or  Comanus,  about 

the  year  510. 

u  2 


228  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

A 

ROSE,  ROS,  in  local  names  in  Cornwall,  is  the  Corn.  rosCy 
rds,  a  valley ;  as  Roskilly  or  Rosgilly,  the  grove  in  the  valley  ; 
Rosevallan,  the  apple  valley;  Roscrew  or  Roscreece,  the  cross 
in  the  valley ;  Rosvean,  the  little  valley  ;  Rosmean,  or  Rosmen, 
the  stony  valley. 

ROTH'ER,  the  name  of  several  rivers  in  England  ;  especially  of 
one  in  Yorkshire  and  of  another  in  Sussex,  whence  Rotherbridge 
and  Rotherfield.  Some  derive  the  name  from  G.  ivth,  rothen,  red  ; 
but  Whitaker,  with  greater  reason,  from  Celt,  yr-odre,  a  limit, 
boundary.  Rotherwas,  on  the  Wye,  co.  Hereford,  may,  however, 
mean  "  red  water."     (G.  rothes-wasser.') 

ROTH'ERHAM,  co.  York;  "the  ham  or  dwelling  on  the 
River  Rother."  It  was  called  in  Brit.  J>  Odai'  (from  which 
Rother  has  been  corrupted),  "  the  boundary,"  obviously  reflected 
in  the  Roman  name  of  this  station,  "  Ad  Fines."     See  Rother. 

ROTII'ERHITHE,  a  parish  in  Surrey,  near  London,  and 
bordered  by  the  Thames  ;  from  A.  S.  Rethra-hythe,  from  hyth, 
a  port,  haven,  or  wharf,  rethra,  or  rothra,  of  sailors.  Others 
translate  Rotherhithe  "The  port  of  the  boundary"  between  the 
people  of  Kent  and  the  Trinobantes,  and  they  derive  Rother  from 
the  Brit,  yr  odre  or  odr,  a  boundary,  \i\vAi.  (See  Rother.) 
Rotherhithe  is  frequently  called  Redriff,  and  this  pronuuciation 
appears  to  have  prevailed  as  early  as  the  thirteenth  century. 

ROTTEN  ROW,  a  carriage-drive  in  Hyde  Park,  London,  may 
have  been  called  either  Route  dii  Roi  (Fr.),  as  being  appropriated 
solely  to  the  king's  use,  or  Routine  Row,  as  the  scene  of  religious 
processions.  Some  say  that  old  or  rotten  buildings  stood  along 
the  thoroughfare. 

ROTTERDAM  takes  its  name  from  a  dyke  or  dam  erected  at 
the  junction  of  a  small  stream  called  the  Rotte  with  the  Maas. 
Conf.  Amsterdam,  (Amstel-dam),  Schiedam,  Zaandam. 

ROUEN  (roo'-o?«</),  the  chief  town  of  Normandy,  in  A.  S.i?o^^e»2, 
was  originally  called  Rothomagus,  afterwards  Rothomagum,  and 
then  Rothomum,  whence  its  present  name  ;  thus,  Rothomum, 
rothem,rouem,  Rouen.  Although  the  name  Rothomagus  is  Gaulish, 
and  the  city  appears  to  be  of  very  ancient  origin,  neither  Caesar 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  229 

nor  any  of  the  Roman  writers  make  mention  of  it.  Ptolemy 
is  the  first  who  has  noticed  it.  Berosius  says  Magus,  son  and  suc- 
cessor of  Samothis,  first  king  of  the  Gauls,  laid  the  foundations  of 
the  town,  aud  called  it,  after  his  own  name,  which  in  Celt,  signifies 
"  builder  ;  "  but  this  does  not  account  for  the  first  syllable  i-oto. 
According  to  others,  Rhomus,  son  of  Allobrox,  seventeenth  king  of 
the  Gauls,  enlarged  the  town,  and  prefixed  his  own  name  to  that 
of  the  founder,  whence  Rhomomagus,  Rhotomagus.  Others  derive 
the  name  from  an  idol  called  Roth  or  Rothon,  anciently  worshipped 
here,  and  Camden  from  O.  Gaul,  rith,  "  a  ford  or  passage  of  a 
river;"  but,  says  Huet,  if  this  be  so,  the  place  must  have  been 
first  called  Rithomagum  ;  and  Lamartiniere  doubts  whether  any 
ford  has  existed  here,  and  he  considers  the  name  compounded  of 
Hoto,  for  Rotobeccum,  the  L.  name  of  the  little  river  Robec, 
which  has  its  source  in  a  neighbouring  hill,  and  Celt,  magus  or 
««ff^?/w2  a  town  ;  thus  Rotomagus,   "  town  on  the  Robec." 

ROUMELIA  formerly  comprehended  all  the  countries  which  the 
Greek  emperors  possessed  in  Europe,  Asia,  and  Africa.  Roumelia, 
or  rather  Roumili,  is  a  Turkish  corruption  of  Romania,  and  at 
present  signifies  all  the  country  which  the  Turks  possess  in 
Europe,  especially  Thrace  and  Bulgaria.  Lamartiniere  derives 
Roumelia,  which  he  translates  "  Romanic  Grecque,"  from  Rum, 
and  'EXAy/  Greek.  The  Arab.  ^ ,  .  rum,  is  used  to  designate 
alike  Rome,  Greece,  the  Turkish  empire,  Roumelia,  and  Asia 
Minor. 

ROUSSILLON  (roosee-yong),  an  old  province  of  France, 
takes  its  name  from  the  ancient  town  of  Ruscino,  a  Roman  colony, 
and  capital  of  the  Sardones.  Ruscino  is  supposed  to  have  stood 
about  two  miles  from  Perpignan. 

ROVEREDO  {rovara'do),  a  town  in  South  Tyrol ;  It.  Rove- 
veto,  G.  Rovereith,  L.  Roboretum  and  Roveretum ;  from  It. 
rover e to,  a  place  planted  with  male  oaks  ;  from  rdvere,  the  male 
oak,  from  L.  robore  (robur),  probably  the  red  or  scarlet  oak. 

ROYD,  ROYDE,  ROD,  RODE,  in  local  names  in  England, 
as  Iluntroyd,  Ilolroyd,  Murgatroyd,  Ormeroyd,  Ormerod, 
denotes  "land    lately  reclaimed  and   thrown  into    cultivation" 


230  LOCAL  ETYMOLOGY. 

(synonymous  with  essart,  assart).  These  names  are  from  the 
provincial  verb  rid  to  clear  or  grub  up.  Terra  rodata,  rode  land, 
was  so  called  in  opposition  to  terra  bovata,  i.e.  ancient  enclosure 
which  had  been  from  time  immemorial  under  the  plough,  and  was 
measured  by  the  quantity  which  one  ox  could  plough  in  a  season. 

ROYSTON,  CO.  Herts,  supposed  to  have  had  its  origin  in  the 
reign  of  William  the  Conqueror,  and  to  derive  its  name  from  a 
cross  erected  in  the  highway  by  the  Lady  Roysia,  countess  of 
Norfolk.  A  monastery  having  been  established  here  shortly 
afterwards  by  Eustachius  de  Mere  and  others,  which  led  to  the 
erection  of  houses,  the  place  acquired  the  appellation  of  Royse's 
town,  whence  its  present  name. 

RUABON  or  RHUABON,  a  small  town  in  N.  Wales,  situated 
upon  a  hill,  at  the  junction  of  the  roads  from  Oswestry  and 
Llangollen.  In  W.  it  is  written  Rhiw-abon,  from  rhiw,  a  slope 
or  side  of  a  mountain,  and  Avon  or  Abon,  the  name  of  a  small 
river  on  which  it  stands.  Rhiw  forms  the  names  of  many 
places  in  Wales,  as  Rhiwlas,  green  slope ;  Rhiwfelen,  yellow 
slope,  &c. 

RUD  or  ROOD,  in  Persia  and  India,  is  the  Pers.  "^  jj  riid  or 
r6d,  a  river,  torrent,  especially  a  river  which  loses  itself  in  sand. 
Ispahan  stands  on  the  Zindarood.  Richardson  interprets  "  zin- 
dah,  alive,  living,  life,  great,  huge,  terrible,  name  of  a  river  which 
flows  through  Ispahan." 

RUDSTON,  CO.  York,  named  from  a  large  red  stone  found 
there ;  from  A.  S.  red,  reod,  rude,  red,  stan  a  stone. 

RUGEN  {rergen),  an  island  in  the  Baltic,  belonging  to  Russia, 
and  the  last  asylum  of  Slavonian  idolatry.  The  name  may 
be  in  some  way  connected  with  Rughevit,  an  idol  found  in  this 
island,  and  supposed  to  have  represented  the  god  of  war.  One  of  the 
highest  eminences  is  called  Mount  Rugard.  The  Su-Goth.  ruga 
or  ruka.  Ice.  hruga,  is  a  heap,  pile. 

RUHR'ORT,  a  town  of  Prussia,  at  the  conflux  of  the  River 
Rohr  with  the  Rhine.     G.  ort  a  place. 

RUNHAM,  CO.  Norfolk,  may  have  been  formerly  called  Run- 
holm,  from  Ice.  runn  or  hrunn,  a  bush,  holm  an  isle.     The  first 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  231 

syllable  in  Runhall  and  Runton,  in  the  same  county,  may  also 
come  from  the  same  root.  Rollesby  may  be  from  Hrolf  or  Rollo, 
and  Dan.  by,  a  town,  borough  ;  Thrigby,  (pron.  trig'be)  from 
Tryggve,  the  son  or  father  of  King  Olave  the  Saint.  (There  is 
Saint  Olave's  Bridge  near  Yarmouth.)  Billockby  (pron.  billd-be) 
may  come  from  Dan.  bilag,  an  enclosure,  or  may  be  in  some  way 
connected  with  the  A.  S.  form,  bcelg  a  bulging,  belly.  The  hundreds 
called  East  andWest  Flegg,  were  formerly  one  island,  almost  divided 
in  two  by  a  chain  of  lakes  now  called  "  Broads."  Flegg  is  pro- 
bably connected  with  D.  r/a/c  flat,  or  Dan.  Swiss  and  (j.Jlekke,  an 
unwalled  borough.  Yarmouth  was  so  before  the  Conquest.  (Rev. 
Edw.  Gillett,  Vicar  of  Runham.) 

RUNNEMEDE  (ru)my—),  between  Staines  and  Windsor,  the 
spot  where  Magna  Charta  was  signed ;  found  written  Running- 
mead,  Runemed,  Runemeid,  Rendmed,  Redmede,  and  Rennemede. 
Some  derive  the  name  from  A.  S.  run  a  letter,  also  council  or 
deliberation,  meed  a  meadow.  "  Rennemed,  quod  interpretatum 
Pratum  Concilii,  eo  quod  antiquis  temporibus  ibi  de  pace,  regni 
saepius  concilia  tractabantur."  {Matth.  Westm.)  "  It  may  mean 
'  the  bushy  meadow ;'  from  Ice.  runn  or  hrunn,  a  bush."  {Rev. 
Edw.  Gillett.) 

RUSSIA.  Some  derive  the  name  from  rosseia,  a  local  term 
signifying  that  the  country  had  been  peopled  by  various  nations. 
The  Rev.  Alexander  Jones,  under  R6sh  (wvt\)  head,  chief,  says 
that  in  Ezekiel  our  version  has  regarded  this  name  as  an  appella- 
tive, and  accordingly  transcribed  it  "chief  prince,"  but  the 
Septuagint  and  other  versions  took  it  for  a  proper  name,  and 
therefore  rendered  the  passage  (See  Ezek.  xxxviii.  2)  "  the 
Prince  of  Rosh,  Meshech  and  Tubal,"  and  that  most  probably  this 
is  to  be  understood  of  the  Russians.  Gesenius  under  Rosh,  tells 
us  that  the  Russians  were  mentioned  by  Byzantine  writers 
in  the  10th  century,  under  o\  'Pwe,  as  dwelling  to  the  N.  of  Taurus. 
According  to  Bochart,  the  Arabs  call  the  River  Araxes,  Rhos, 
and  the  name  may  have  been  applied  to  the  settlers  on  its  banks 
and  to  the  neighbouring  district.  He  says  further,  that  the  Rus- 
sians and  Muscovites  may  be  the  same  as  the  Rhos  and  Meshech 


232  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

of  Ezekiel,  and  that  the  Rhos  or  Russians,  having  crossed  the 
Araxes  and  occupied  the  Tauric  Chersonese,  first  called  it  after  their 
own  name,  Rhos.  The  Roxolani  of  Pliny,  without  doubt  refers  to 
the  Russ  or  Russians.  Bochart  says  Roxolani  or  Rhoxolani  is 
a  compound  of  Bhos  or  Rhox  and  Alani  (Alauni),  and  that  they 
were  so  called,  from  dwelling  about  the  Lake  Mseotis,  between  the 
peoples  called  the  Tauri  and  the  Alani.  By  some  Arabic  writers 
the  Russians  are  said  to  be  referred  to  under  ^uj .  .  nis.  See 
Bochart,  Geog.  Sacr. ;  Geog.  Nub. ;  Ezek.  xxxviii.  2,  3,  and 
xxxix.  1.;  Fosslan's  Bericht  iiber  die  Riissen,  p.  28,  Petersb. 
1823.  Conf.  Von  Hammer,  Orig.  Russ.  Petersb.  1827,  who  also 
compares  the  nation  Rass  mentioned  in  the  Kuran,  sur.  25,  40, 
50,  12. 

RUTH'IN,  N.  Wales.  The  castle  was  called  Rhudd  Din,  "  the 
red  fort,"  from  having  been  built  of  stone  of  a  brick-red  colour. 

RUTLAND,  in  Domesday  Roteland,  is  considered  another 
rendering  of  Rode-land,  "  cleared  ground  ;"  ov  o£  Rutt-land,  a. 
country  with  deep  valleys  and  abrupt  undulations  of  surface. 
With  regard  to  the  western  district  around  Oakham,  Uppingham, 
and  Glaston,  which  is  said  to  have  been  called  Roteland  or  Red- 
land  before  the  Norman  Conquest,  it  may  be  observed,  that  the 
red  loamy  soil  which  is  supposed  to  distinguish  it,  is  observable 
also  in  other  parts  of  the  country.  There  is  a  ridiculous  fable 
that  one  Rot  cleared  the  whole  county  in  a  day.  See  Rode 
and  RoYD. 

RYDE,  a  seaport  town  in  the  Isle  of  Wight,  situated  on  the 
shores  of  the  Solent.  Ryde  is  a  corruption  of  its  ancient  name. 
La  Rye,  which  may  have  meant  the  place  "  on  the  bank  of  the 
river."     See  Rye. 

RYE,  CO.  Sussex,  in  L.  records  called  Ripa,  and  considered  by 
some  to  be  the  Portus  Novus  of  Ptolemy.  Camden  derives  the 
name  from  Norm,  rive  (L.  rijoa),  a  bank ;  others  from  A.  S. 
rkee,  rke,  ree,  or  Brit,  rhy,  a  river  or  bay,  and  they  instance 
St.  Mary  Overie  (Overy),  Southwark.  Teake  says  "it  may 
mean  the  place  where  the  rivers  Rother  and  Ree  were  yet 
fordable,  or  the  situation  of  the  town  in  the  bottom  or  middle  of 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  233 

a  bay  made  by  the  sea,  between  the  cliif  at  Beachy  and  that  at 
Folkestone,  whence  the  sea  over  against  Rye,  and  near  the  shore, 
is  still  called  Rye  Bay ;  nor  will  I  affirm  that  the  name  came 
from  the  rivulet  Rie  running  by  the  foot  of  Winchelsea  Hill,  nor 
from  rhe  or  ree  sometimes  used  for  a  river ;  though  the  river  of 
Rother  on  the  east,  and  the  creek  of  the  sea  like  a  river,  runnino- 
up  on  the  west,  into  the  country  between  Peasmarsh  and  Udimer 
— meeting  together  with  the  said  Ree,  and  running  out  to  sea  at 

the  south-east  (and  formerly  more  south)  side  of  the  town 

might  be  supposed  to  have  occasioned  the  name."  The  late 
Mr.  Curteis  derives  the  name  from  Gr.  pea;,  to  flow ;  Hol- 
loway  says  its  most  ancient  name  Bie  or  RMe,  Latinized  into 
Rhia  or  Ria,  is  from  rie,  a  bank  of  the  sea,  a  bank  adjoining  to 
water  :  the  original  word  very  well  applying  to  a  rock  in  the 
midst  of  the  waters,  and  the  Sax.  ree,  rhe,  rey,  a  river,  being 
inappropriate,  as  at  that  period,  the  sea  at  all  times  of  tide, 
flowed  round  the  base  of  the  rock,  and  no  river  was  A-isible,  the 
Rother  and  Exden  having  flowed  into  the  ocean  at  Lyma,  and 
the  Brede  with  the  Tillingham,  much  higher  up  the  country. 
Nor  does  he  deem  the  Brit,  rhy,  a  ford,  applicable,  as  no  ford 
existed  in  those  early  days,  while  the  word  bay  would  not  be  so 
descriptive  of  the  nature  of  the  spot,  as  rie,  a  bank  or  cliff,  which 
It  really  then  was ;  it  being  in  its  original  state  a  rude  isolated 
rock,  having  its  base  at  all  times  washed  by  the  sea. 


s. 


SAALFELD  {saV — ),  a  very  ancient  town  in  the  midst  of  the 
Ihuringiau  Forest  in  Saxony,  named  from  its  situation  on  the 
River  .S'««/,  and  G./e^</ a  plain.  There  is  also  Saalfelden,  near 
Zellam-Zec,  in  Austria. 

SAARDAM  {sar'—),  sometimes  written  Zaardam  and  Zardam, 
a  town  of  Holland,  near  Amsterdam,  remarkable  for  the  hut  in 
which  Peter  the  (ircat  lived  in  KiDG,  while  working  as  a  common 


234  LOCAL  ETYMOLOGY. 

shipwright.     The  correct  appellation  is  Zaandam,  i.e.  dam  of  the 
Zaan.     It  stands  at  the  junction  of  the  River  Zaan  with  the  Y. 

SACY  FOREST,  co.  Northampton;  for  Salcey,  from  L. 
salicefum,  a  place  where  willows  grow  ;  from  salix,  a  willow  tree. 

SAFFRON  HILL,  Holborn,  London,  was  formerly  a  part  of 
Ely  Gardens,  and  derives  its  name  from  the  crops  of  saffron 
which  it  bore.     (  Cunningham.) 

SAFFRON  WALDEN,  co.  Essex,  so  called  from  the  great 
store  of  saffron  growing  there ;  from  saffron,  wall,  and  Sax.  den  a 
dale.  {Bailey.)  Walden  is  more  probably  from  A.  S.  weald  a 
wood,  den  a  valley.  A  great  quantity  of  the  saffron  plant  was 
formerly  reared  either  in  this  place  or  in  its  vicinity,  but  the  cul- 
tivation has  been  long  abandoned. 

SAHAGUN  {sa'hahun),  a  small  town  near  Valladolid,  in  Spain, 
derives  its  name  and  its  celebrity  from  Saint  Facundus,  who  was 
martyred  there  in  the  second  century.  The  name  may  have  come 
thus : — San  Facundo,  phacundo,  hacundo,  hagundo,  haguu,  San- 
hagun,  Sahagun. 

ST.  ALBANS  (awlbuns),  co.  Herts,  named  after  Alban,  an 
eminent  citizen,  who  suffered  martyrdom  in  the  persecution  under 
Dioclesian.  In  his  honour,  a  monastery  for  100  Benedictine 
monks  was  erected  in  793  by  Offa,  king  of  Mercia. 

ST.  ASAPH,  CO.  Flint,  N,  Wales.  According  to  Bishop 
Tanner,  Kentigern,  Bishop  of  Glasgow,  being  driven  out  of 
Scotland,  founded  an  episcopal  seat  and  monastery  here,  about 
the  middle  of  the  sixth  century,  and  became  the  first  bishop. 
Upon  his  return  into  Scotland,  he  made  St.  Asaph  his  successor, 
and  from  him  both  the  church  and  place  have  since  been  called 
St.  Asaph.  Situated  on  the  slope  of  a  pleasant  eminence  between 
the  Rivers  Clwyd  and  Elwi/,  it  was  first  called  Llan  Elwy,  i.  e. 
Church  Elwy. 

ST.  BEES,  Cumberland,  so  called  from  St.  Bega,  an  Irish 
virgin,  who  lived  a  solitary  life  there.     {Bailey.) 

ST.  CLOUD  {cloo),  near  Paris,  derives  its  name  from  Chlodo- 
valde,  one  of  the  three  sons  of  Chlodomere,  king  of  Orleans,  who, 
having  embraced  a  monastic  life,  retired  here  in  the  sixth  century. 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  235 

This  prince  was  afterwards  canonized,  and  his  name,  corrupted  to 
St.  Cloud,  was  given  to  the  town  where  he  passed  his  Hfe  and 
was  buried. 

ST.  DENIS  {da'nee),  formerly  St.  Deuys,  near  Paris  ;  a  con- 
traction of  St.  Dionysius.  It  was  anciently  only  a  small  hamlet, 
called  Cathuel,  or  Yicus  CatuUiacus,  from  a  lady  named  Catulla, 
who  collected  and  interred  here  the  remains  of  SS.  Denis,  Rustique, 
and  Eleuthere.  On  this  spot  the  Christians  afterwards  built  a 
commemorative  chapel,  and  upon  its  ruins,  St.  Genevieve,  about 
the  year  469,  caused  a  church  to  be  erected  in  honour  of  St. 
Denis.  See  Lamartiniere,  quoting  Piganiol,  Descr.  de  la 
France. 

ST.  GILES'S,  CRIPPLEGATE.  On  approaching  Cripple- 
gate,  says  Pennant,  "is  the  church  of  St.  Egidius,  St.  Giles. 
That  name  always  imports  something  of  beggary  j  accordingly, 
this  gate  received  its  name  from  the  number  of  cripples  and  beg- 
gars  with  which  it  was  haunted  formerly.  St.  Giles  was  their 
patron  ;  he  was  a  noble  Athenian,  and  so  charitable  as  at  length 
to  give  away  the  very  coat  he  wore  on  his  back,  which  he 
bestowed  on  a  sick  beggar,  who  no  sooner  put  it  on  than  he  was 
restored  to  health.  The  same  legend  relates  also  to  St. 
Martin." 

ST.  GRAAVENZANDE  {grm'nzan'dd),  a  village  situated 
in  a  sandy  district  near  the  Hague.  It  was  formerly  the  residence 
of  the  Graaven  or  Counts  of  Holland,  who,  according  to  the  una- 
nimous opinion  of  the  old  writers,  kept  their  court  here  before 
William  founded  a  palace  in  the  Hague.  (See  Iledendaagsche, 
Hist,  van  Tegenw.  Staat,  &c.,  vol.  16,  p.  514.)  D.  graafsin  earl, 
count,  zand  sand. 

ST.  HELIERS  {hel'yerz),  the  chief  town  of  Jersey,  takes  its 
name  from  one  of  its  churches,  which  was  either  dedicated  to,  or 
founded  by,  St.  Uilarius. 

ST.  HONORAT,  a  small  island  near  Toulon,  is  named  from 
tlie  celebrated  convent  founded  there  in  410  by  St.  Honorat,  the 
ruins  of  which  are  still  to  be  seen. 

ST.  IVES,  CO.  Cornwall,  originally  St.  Jie's,  from  Jia,  "a 


236  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

woman  of  great  sanctity,  who  came  hither  from  Ireland  about  the 
year  460." 

ST.  IVES,  CO.  Huntingdon  :  "  St.  Ives,  Sancti  Ivonis,  a  place 
in  Huntingdonshyre,  not  farr  from  Ramsey,  wheare  lyved  some 
ty  me  Ivo7i,  the  Byshop  of  Persia,  or  els  was  buried  in  that  place, 
or  both."     (Lambarde.) 

ST.  KITT'S,  one  of  the  West  India  Isles,  properly  St.  Chris- 
topher's, from  Christopher  Columbus,  who  discovered  it. 

ST.  MAL'O,  a  seaport  of  France ;  from  St.  Malo  or  Maclow, 
a  disciple  of  St.  Brandan,  and  who,  according  to  the  French 
writers,  in  the  sixth  century  embarked  at  the  port  of  Aleth,  near 
St.  Malo,  in  order  to  discover  La  grande  Isle  (the  New  World). 
But  see  Jornandes,  de  Orig.  Goth.  ch.  1  ;  Mir.  du  Mond.  p.  2, 
ch.  5  ;  and  L'Esprit  des  Journaux,  t.  vii.,  1/81. 

ST.  MARY  OVERY,  Southwark,  formerly  Overie,  i.  e.  "  over 
the  rie,"  over  the  water  or  river,  with  respect  to  Loudon  ;  from 
A.  S.  rhee,  rhe,  ree,  rey,  Brit,  rhy,  a  river. 

ST.  OMER  (p-mare),  a  town  of  Artois,  in  France,  anciently 
Sitieu,  took  its  present  name  in  the  ninth  century  from  a  monas- 
tery founded  there  by  Saint  Audomarus,  bishop  of  Terouenne, 
who  was  buried  in  the  church  of  Notre  Dame.  The  name  Audo- 
marus has  been  since  corrupted  into  Omer. 

ST.  PETERSBURG,  named  after  Peter  the  Great,  by  whom 
it  was  built  (G.  burg,  a  castle,  town). 

ST.  POLTEN,  a  town  situated  on  the  high  road  between  Linz 
and  Vienna.  The  name  is  contracted  from  ^S*^.  Hipjwlytus,  and 
is  found  written  Sampoltanum  Oppidum,  i.e.  Sancti  Hippolyti 
Oppidum. 

ST.  THOMAS'S  MOUNT,  in  the  British  district  of  Chin- 
gleput,  Madras  presidency.  "According  to  tradition,  the  hill 
called  Little  Saint  Thomas's  Mount  was  the  scene  of  the  mar- 
tyrdom of  Saint  Thomas,  whose  apostolic  toils  are  thought  to 
have  extended  thus  far."      {Thornton.') 

ST.  TROND,  a  town  near  Tirlemont,  in  Belgium;  from 
St.  Trudon,  who  founded  a  monastery  here,  and  gained  great  fame 
by  the  working  of  miracles. 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  237 

SAHA'RA,  or  the  Great  Desert,  a  vast  region  in  central 
Africa  ;  from  Arab.  \  ^  sahru,  a  large  plain  destitute  of  herbage, 
a  desert.     SaJw,  sahar,  signifies  extending  wide  (a  place). 

SALISBURY  {saivtz — ),  co.  Wilts,  found  written  Searburh, 
Searsburh,  Seareberi,  Sseresberi,  Sserbyria,  Searesbyrig,  Seares- 
biri,  Saresbyria,  Sarisbury,  Salesbiria,  Salesbirig,  Salesbiri,  Salis- 
biri,  Salusbury,  and  Salusbery,  and  called  in  L.  Sorhiodimiim. 
Sir  R.  Colt  Hare  (Anc.  Wilts,  vol.  i,  p.  223),  derives  the  name 
from  A.  S.  sear  daj,  hyrig  a  town;  "a  dry  town;"  and,  says 
Bailey,  "  the  old  town  stood  upon  a  hill  where  no  water  was,  but 
it  is  now  situate  in  a  valley,  and  a  little  brook  runs  through  the 
streets."  Lye  derives  the  name  from  Brit,  sdr-isc  a  bitter  stream, 
and  biirh  a  town. 

SALON'IKI,  a  city  of  European  Turkey,  formerly  Therma. 
Cassander,  in  honour  of  his  wife,  a  sister  of  Alexander  the  Great, 
changed  its  name  to  Thessalonica,  which  was  afterwards  abbreviated 
into  Salonica,and  has  since  been  corrupted  by  the  Turks  to  Saloniki. 

SALOP  {sal' up),  in  L.  Salopia  ;  from  Sloppes-Lurie,  a  Norman 
corruption  of  Scrobbes-burie,  i.e.  Shrewsbury,  q.  v. 

SALTUILL,  near  Eton,  Bucks,  probably  named  from  the 
money  collected  by  the  boys  at  the  Eton  Montem,  called  "  salt 
money." 

SALZBURG  {sal tz  burr/),  a  town  in  Austria,  on  the  Salza,  a 
river  probably  so  called  from  rising  and  flowing  through  salt-mine 
districts  ;  from  G.  sah  salt. 

SAALiRIA,  Gr.  ^ajj.apsia,  in  anc.  geog.  a  country  and  city 
of  Palestine,  between  Judea  and  Galilee,  is  said  to  be  named  from 
Shomron,  a  hill  between  Tabor  and  the  Lake  of  Genuasareth. 
Shomron  is  supposed  to  have  been  named  from  its  owner, 
Shemer,  of  whom  it  was  bought  by  Om.ri,  King  of  Israel,  for  two 
talents  of  silver.  "  Omri  built  a  city,  and  called  it  after  the  name  of 
the  hill,  and  from  his  time  it  became  the  metropolis  of  the  kingdom 
of  Israel.  In  after  ages  the  name  of  this  capital  was  accepted  as 
the  name  of  the  kingdom."  Samaria,  however,  being  mentioned  in 
the  Second  Book  of  Kings,  half  a  century  before  the  time  of  Omri, 
It  is  more  reasonable  to  presume  that,  as  p-^m  shomron  means  a 


238  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

watch-tower,  watch-height,  this  hill  was  named  on  that  account, 
from  the  verb  shamavy  to  watch  ;  whence  also  Shemer  may  have 
received  his  name. 

SA'MOS,  one  of  the  Sporades,  in  the  Grecian  Archipelago. 
This  island  was  in  anc.  geog.  called  Samos  of  Ionia,  to  distinguish 
it  from  Samos,  commonly  called  Samothrace  (and  now  by  the  Turks 
Samothraki),  near  the  Dardanelles,  and  Samos  in  Cephallenia. 
According  to  Strabo,  it  was  called  Samos  from  a  hero,  who  was  a 
native  of  the  country.  Other  authors,  quoted  by  Strabo,  say  that  it 
has  its  name  from  the  Sase,  a  people  of  Thrace,  who  settled  here. 
As,  however,  the  island  is  full  of  eminences  and  precipices,  it  was 
doubtless  named  on  that  account.  The  Phoenicians,  who  first 
introduced  colonies  into  Greece,  called  all  high  places  Samos  or 
Samoi.  Bochart  says  there  were  four  places  of  this  name  in 
Greece,  and  that  they  were  all  in  high  situations.  He  says  the 
Carthaginians  called  the  heavens,  samen,  and  the  Hebrews  called 
them  samajun,  and  he  derives  both  from  the  Arab,  sama,  to 
project,  to  be  prominent,  to  be  high.  Richardson  translates  the 
Arab,  samd-a,  heaven,  altitude,  eminence,  and  samd  signifies  to  be 
high ;  samdmin,  high. 

SANDON,  CO.  Kent,  from  A.  S.  sand  sand,  and  tun^  town; 
"  a  sand  town,  or  sandy  town." 

SANDWICH  (sandwidj),  co.  Kent,  found  written  Sandwic,  and 
Sondwic.  It  was  anciently  called  Lundenvic,  as  being  the  port  of 
landing  for  London.  The  name  was  afterwards  changed  to  Sand- 
wic, i.e.  the  sandy  town,  whence  its  present  name. 

SANTAN'DER,  a  seaport  town  of  Spain ;  from  Sant  Andero^ 
i.e.  St.  Andrew. 

SAN'TAREM,  a  town  of  Portuguese  Estremadura,  situated  on 
the  Tagus ;  from  Sant  Irene,  a  virgin  and  martyr,  whose  body 
was  miraculously  found  here,  and  whose  anniversary  is  celebrated 
on  the  20th  of  October. 

SANTIAGO  {sant-e-d'go),  in  S.  America,  for  Sant  lago, 
i.e.  St.  James. 

SARAGOSSA,  a  city  of  Spain  ;  Fr.  Saragosse,  Sp.  Zaragosa. 
It  was  a  flourishing  place  under  the  Romans,  and  being  colonized 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  239 

by  Augustus,  was  called  Ceesarea,  and  Csesarea  Augusta.  The 
Arabs  converted  Ccesarea  Augusta  into  <UmJ --s  Sarcusta,  which 
the  Spaniards  corrupted  into  Zaragoza. 

SARAI,  in  local  names  in  Turkey  and  the  Crimea,  is  the  Turc. 
^J\j^  sardi,  a  palace  ;  as  Saleh  Serai,  Ak  Serai,  the  white  palace  ; 
Bagdtcheserai  (q.  v.). 

SARAWAK',  a  province  of  the  island  of  Borneo ;  from  Mai. 
i^*j^  senik-an  a  creek,  bight,  cove,  confined  part  of  a  river ; 
from  seruk,  to  enclose,  confine  (particularly  water). 

SARCA,  a  valley  in  S.  Tyrol,  named  from  the  River  Sarca — 
the  Sarraca  of  Ptolemy — which  flows  through  it. 

SARDINIA,  an  island  in  the  Mediterranean.  According  to 
some  authors,  Sardinia,  or  rather  its  Greek  name  Ya^^uj,  was 
derived  from  Sardus,  son  of  Hercules.  Others  say  it  was  called 
Sarado  by  the  Carthaginians,  from  Heb.  saada.  footstep,  on  account 
of  its  resemblance  in  form  to  a  foot  covered  with  a  sandal.  Hence 
also,  Timaeus  called  it  Sandaliotis,  from  o-avSaKov,  a  sandal ;  and 
Solinus  and  Capella,  copying  Pliny,  gave  it  the  name  of  Ichnusa, 
from  /%voe,  a  footstep. 

SARREBOURG  {sarboorg),  in  France,  "  town  on  the  Sarre." 

SARREBRUCK  {sar  brook),  in  Germany,  "  bridge  over  the 
Sarre." 

SASKATCHEWAN,  a  river  of  British  America ;  "  the  swift 
current." 

SAVE  (sav),  a  river  of  Hungary  ;  G.  Sou,  L.  Savus,  Hung. 
Szdva.     See  Thames. 

SAXONY  (G.  Sachsen),  the  country  of  the  Saxons,  whose 
name  is  variously  derived  from  seax,  a  short  sword  which  they 
carried  ;  from  Teut.  schaeh,  robbery,  as  indicative  of  their  pur- 
suits (Goldastus)  ;  from  their  reputed  original  settlement,  .Sace*, 
on  the  Indus ;  from  sassen,  settled,  in  contradistinction  to  those 
German  tribes  who  led  a  nomadic  life  ;  and  from  O.  G.  sass, 
sasse  (A.  S.  scet),  a  planter,  possessor  {Adelung).  The  Saxons, 
however,  are  with  greater  probability  descendants  of  the  Sacfc, 
a  Scythic  people  mentioned  by  Ptolemy,  Strabo,  and  Pliny,  who 


240  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

do  not,  however,  agree  as  to  their  locality.  Pliny  calls  them 
the  Sacassani,  and  Strabo  calls  their  territory  l,aK!xa-ivyj,  and 
Saxatr^vij.  Diodorus  Siculus,  speaking  of  the  Scythians,  says 
they  distinguish  themselves  by  particular  names  ;  some  are  called 
Sacse,  others  Massagetes,  and  others  Arimaspes.  Sharon  Turner 
derives  "Saxon"  from  Sakai-suna,  "sons  of  the  Sakai"  (Sacse). 
See  Diod.  Sic.  lib.  ii.  c.  43 ;  Strab.  lib.  ii.  and  lib.  xi. ;  and 
Plin.  lib.  vi.  cc.  9  and  17. 

SCANDEROON',  ASCANDEROON',  or  ALEXANDRET'TA, 
a  seaport  in  the  N.  of  Syria,  at  the  head  of  the  Gulf  of 
Scanderoon ;  a  corruption  of  Alexander  (the  Great),  by  whom  it 
was  founded. 

SCANDINAVIA,  the  general  term  for  Norway,  Sweden,  and 
Denmark  Proper,  is  merely  an  extension  of  the  original  name, 
which  in  the  middle  ages  was  written  Scauza,  Scanzia,  Scantia, 
and  Scandia.  The  following  derivations  have  been  suggested,  but 
are  not  satisfactory : — Teut.  scanzen  or  schanzen,  castles,  iutrench- 
ments,  because  the  inhabitants  converted  into  fortresses,  the 
steep  rocks  of  the  country  ;  see-kante,  the  sea-coast,  showing 
its  maritime  position ;  and  Scanicus,  the  name  of  a  mythical 
Roman  soldier ;  nor  will  scon-eg,  "  beautiful  island,"  as  the  name 
is  found  written  in  A.  S.,  afford  a  solution.  The  most  reason- 
able supposition  is,  that  Scandia  has  its  name  from  its  inhabitants, 
the  Scandi,  like  Dania  (Denmark)  from  the  Dani,  Germania  from 
the  Germani,  and  Gallia  from  the  Galli.  This  is  the  opinion  of 
Wachter,  who  derives  Scandi  from  Gr.  crmjvajrai,  i.e.  inhabitants 
of  tents,  from  cr>c>;vow,  to  pitch  a  tent,  dwell ;  and  he  says  that  the 
Laplanders,  the  ancient  inhabitants  of  Scandia,  and  driven  by 
the  Saxons  into  the  interior,  also  live  in  tents  ;  and  that  this 
etymology  explains  why  those  of  the  Gothi  who  emigrated 
from  Scandia,  or  Scanzia,  called  the  nearest  German  places,  Goti- 
scanzia,  that  is,  because  they  there  fixed  their  tents.  Wachter 
derives  the  termination  "  avia "  from  Teut.  aw,  terra,  and  says 
Scandinavia  means  "  the  land  of  the  Scandi."  The  name  may 
have  come  thus,  Scandi,  scandia,  scandau,  scandauia,  scandavia, 
Scandinavia. 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  241 

SCAR,  SCARR,  SKARR,  SKIRE,  in  local  names  in  the  N.  of 
England,  as  Scarthwaite,  &c.,  mean  a  rocky  cliff,  a  bare  place  on 
tlie  side  of  a  steep  hill,  from  \vhich  the  sward  has  been  washed 
down  by  rain ;  from  A.  S.  carr,  or  Dan.  skier,  skicer,  Sw.  sMr, 
a  rock,  cliff. 

SCARBOROUGH,  co.  York  ;  "  a  fortified  rock,  "  from  A.  S. 
carr  a  rock  (Dan.  sher,  skicer,  rocks,  cliffs),  burh  a  fort. 

SCHAFFHAUSEN  {shafhow'zn),  a  town  of  Switzerland,  was 
formerly  called  Schiffhausen,  i.  e.  a  house  for  ships,  from  G.  schiff 
a  ship,  ham  a  house.  "  In  the  eighth  century,  it  consisted  of 
notlnng  more  than  a  few  storehouses  built  to  receive  goods  conveyed 
along  the  Rhine,  and  thence  transported  by  land  to  some  distance 
below  the  cataract,  where  boats  could  not  pass."      {Coglan.) 

SCHLANG'ENBAD,  a  little  bath  place  in  Nassau,  Germany, 
so  named  from  the  great  number  of  snakes,  quite  harmless,  which 
not  only  abound  in  the  neighbourhood,  but  even  haunt  the  springs 
themselves;  from  G.  sddangen,  serpents,  had,  a  bath. 

SCHLESWIG  islesvig),  a  town  of  Denmark,  named  from  its 
situation  on  the  httle  river  Schle  and  Sax.  xciy  a  bay,  ford,  &-c. 

SCnOTTWIEN  (shotvean),  situated  in  a  narrow  defile  at  the 
foot  of  the  Semmcring  mountain  in  Austria  ;  from  G.  Schotte  a 
Scotchman,  Wien  Vienna.  A  colony  of  Scottish  monks  settled 
here  as  missionaries  in  the  middle  ages. 

SCHWALBACH  {shvolb'ak),  a  small  bath  place  in  Nassau, 
Germany;  "the  swallows'  brook,"  from  G.  5c/»t'a/ie  a  swallow,  ack 
a  brook. 

SCILLY  ISLES,  situated  near  the  Land's  End,  Cornwall. 
They  were  known  to  the  Greeks  under  the  name  of  the  Cassiterides. 
Ausonius  is  the  first  writer  who  calls  them  "Sillinoe  Insulje." 
Some  derive  Sillina,  of  which  they  say  Scillyisa  corruption,  from 
sthja,  the  Corn,  for  "conger;"  others  from  sullch,  a  Brit, 
word  signifying  "the  rocks  consecrated  to  the  sun."  The 
latter  derivation,  says  a  late  writer,  will  be  probably  adopted  by 
the  traveller  who  has  beheld  these  islands  from  the  Land's  End  by 
stinset,  when  they  appear  as  if  they  were  imbedded  in  the  settin- 
luuuuary.     Solinus,   however,   calls  them  Silura,  wlunre  it   has 


242  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

been  inferred  that  they  were  at  one  time  inhabited  and  received 
their  name  from  the  Silures,  a  nation  of  Iberic  origin. 

SCINDE,  SINDE,  or  SIND,  a  part  of  Hindustan  watered 
by  the  Indus  or  Sindus.  Gilchrist  says  sind,  sindhoo,  are  very 
old  Hind,  words  signifying  the  sea  ;  that  seam,  se'ah,  mean  dark, 
nud,  a  water,  river,  &c.,  and  that  he  can  easily  develope  se  ahund, 
se'atnnud  in  Sind.     See  Indus. 

SCOTLAND,  "  land  of  the  Scoti  or  Scots."     See  Scythia. 

SCU'TARI,  a  suburb  of  Constantinople,  on  the  Asiatic  shore 
of  the  Bosphorus;  from  Pers.  uskuddr,  an  envoy,  messenger, 
courier.  "  Scutari  was  in  remote  periods  what  it  is  at  this  day, 
the  post- station  for  Asiatic  couriers,  the  great  rendezvous  of  all 
caravans  proceeding  from  Europe,  and  the  spot  whence  all  tra- 
vellers from  Constantinople  to  the  East  commence  their  journeys." 
(^Murray.)     Scutari  in  European  Turkey  is  the  ancient  Scodra. 

SCYLLA,  a  dangerous  cluster  of  rocks  between  Italy  and  Sicily; 
named  from  a  fabulous  sea-monster,  <tkvXX(x,  or,  says  Bochart, 
from  Pun.  scol,  "  destruction,  deadly  misfortune." 

SCYTHIA,  in  anc.  geog.  Its  inhabitants,  the  XxuSai,  Scythse, 
are  considered  as  identical  with  the  Scoti,  and  to  have  been  named 
from  their  great  skill  in  the  use  of  the  bow,  their  principal  weapon. 
In  the  O.  Teut.  scutten,  or  scuthen,  signified  "archers,"  and  was 
doubtless  derived  from  the  same  root  as  the  Gael,  sciot,  an  arrow,  a 
dart.  Armstrong  considers  the  Gael.  5c^■o^  a Celto-Scythian  vocable, 
and  the  root  of  the  word  Sctjthce,  Scythians,  lit.  archers.  According 
to  Vallancey,  upon  whom  not  much  reliance  can  be  placed,  the 
ancient  Irish  called  themselves  Aiteac-Coti  and  Aire-Coti  or 
Cuti,  "noble  shepherds;"  and  from  Coti  or  Cuti  the  Greeks 
probably  formed  Scuthce  and  the  Irish  Scoti,  s  being  a  common 
servile  in  Irish.  See  Isid.  lib.  xiv.;  Oros.  lib.  i.  c.  2  ;  Claud,  de 
4  Consul.  Honor,  lib.  v.  c.  33 ;  P.  Mela,  lib.  iii.  cc.  4,  5 ;  Plin. 
lib.  iv.  c.  12,  lib.  vii.  c.  2;  Herodot.  Hb.  iv.  cc.  6,  20  ;  Justin,  lib. 
ii.;  Ptol.  lib.  vi.  c.  14  ;  Lucian,  Tox. ;  and  Hippoc.  de  Aere  et 
Aquis. 

SEBAS'TOPOL,  a  Russian  port  in  the  Crimea ;  "  sovereign 
city,"  or  "most  sacred  city;"  from  Gr.  crsj3a.(rTQg,  superl,  of  asfSae 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  243 

sacred,  ttoXiq  a  city.  The  Greeks  rendered  the  L.  title  Augustus, 
"  sacred,"  "  that  inspires  reverence  or  respect,  venerable,"  by 
a-s^xa-roc,  which  became  an  epithet  or  title  of  the  Greek  rulers  at 
Constantinople. 

SECUN'DERABAD,  SECUN'DERPOOR,  towns  in  Hindu- 
stan. Secn7ider  is  a  corruption  of  Alexander.  Both  names 
mean  "  the  town  or  city  of  Alexander."     See  Abad  and  Poor. 

SEETHING  LANE,  city  of  London ;  corruption  of  Sydon 
Lane. 

SEINE  {sane),  a  river  in  France  ;  L.  Sequaaa.  Armstrong 
says,  from  Gael,  seimh-an,  "  the  smooth  river,"  and  that  a  more 
descriptive  name  could  not  be  given. 

SELKIRK,  a  town  of  Scotland,  is  called  in  old  charters  Seles- 
chirche,  Seleschirke,  Seleschyre,  and  Selchire,  which  some  trans- 
late "  the  great  or  good  church."  Sir  Jas.  Dalrymple  derives 
the  name  from  two  Celt,  words,  schelch,  grech,  meaning  "  the 
kirk  in  the  wood  or  forest ;"  and  a  late  writer  observes,  that  this 
part  of  the  country  was  formerly  covered  with  wood,  and  formed 
a  royal  chase. 

SEN'EGAL,  a  large  river  of  Africa.  It  is  related  that  when 
Lan9arote  discovered  this  river,  he  called  it  Sanaga  or  Canaga, 
after  a  Moor  whom  he  landed  here.  According  to  others,  it  was 
not  the  name  of  the  Moor,  but  that  of  his  nation,  the  Seuhaji  or 
Assanhaji,  in  our  maps  the  Zenhaga,  and  the  Sanhagre  of  Edrisi 
and  Abulfeda,  who  inhabited  its  northern  bank. 

SENEGAM'BIA,  a  country  of  Africa,  named  from  its  situation 
between  the  rivers  Senegal  and  Gambia. 

SERINGA  PATAM',  Hindustan,  from  Sans.  Sri-Ramja- 
Pattana,  "  the  town  of  Sri  Ranga,"  an  Indian  deity  to  whom 
there  is  a  pagoda  in  this  town.     See  Patam. 

SEVENOAKS,  Kent,  is  called  in  ancient  records  Seovaiiacca, 
from  seven  oak-trees  which  once  occupied  the  eminence  on  which 
it  stands.  From  A.  S.  seofan  seven,  ac,  cec,  an  oak.  There  was 
formerly  a  Sir  Wm.  de  Sevenokc  ;  and  that  much-snubbed  family. 
Snooks,  derives  its  name  from  Sevenoaks,  provincially  se'nux. 

SEV^'ILLE,  Sp.  Sevilla,  a  town  of  Spain.     Bochart  derives  its 

u   2 


244 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 


L.  name  Hispal,  Hispalis,  or  Spalis,  from  Phocn.  nboty  spela  or 
sepheJa,  a  plain  ;  and  he  quotes  Cyrillus,  ITieronymus,  Eusebius, 
and  others,  to  prove  that  it  was  built  in  a  flat  or  open  country. 
The  Arabs  converted  Hispalis  into  Asbilia  or  Isbilia,  which  the 
Spaniards  corrupted  to  Sebilla,  and  Sevilla. 

SEVRES  (sa'-vr),  a  town  of  France,  the  ancient  Villa 
Savara.  The  department  of  France  called  Deux  Sevres,  is  named 
from  two  rivers,  the  Sevre-Nantaise,  and  the  Sevre-Niortaise, 
which  traverse  it. 

SHAFTESBURY  {shafts'—),  co.  Dorset,  in  A.  S.  found 
written  Sceftesbyrig,  Sceaftesbyrig,  Scseftesburgh,  Sceaftesburh, 
Sceftebyrig,  Scaftesbyrig,  Schaftesbirh,  Schaftesbury,  Schaftis- 
bury,  and  in  Domesday  Sceptesberie  ;  from  A.  S.  sceaft  a  shaft, 
burg  a  town.  Camden  calls  it  Spire  Steeple.  Another  writer 
says  the  Saxons  named  it  Sceaftes-byry,  "the  shaft  or  arrow 
stronghold  ;"  but  the  Brit,  name  is  said  to  have  been  Caer-pell- 
o-ddivr,  "the  stronghold  far  from  water,"  and  if  so,  the  Saxons 
might  have  mistaken  Caer-pell-O'ddwr  for  Caer  Paladr,  which 
would  mean  Shaft-bury,  though  the  «  would  seem  to  betoken 
that  sceaft  was  a  proper  name.  It  is  sometimes  called  Shaston, 
and  Shafton.     See  Stralsund  and  Strelitz. 

SHANNON,  a  river  in  Ireland  ;  from  Ir.  shean,  for  sean  old, 
ancient,  amJian  a  river  ;  Chalmers  says  from  Celt,  sen,  great, 
grand,  and  slow  ;  first  changed  to  senen,  then  to  shenen,  and 
finally  to  Shannon. 

SHAW,  in  local  names  in  Kent  and  Sussex,  is  a  thicket,  small 
wood,  or  grove.  In  the  Scottish  dialect  it  means  a  copse,  wood  : 
"  shaws,  fohage  of  esculent  roots."  {Jamieson.)  From  A.  S. 
scua,  scuwa.  The  Dan.  sJcov,  is  a  wood,  forest,  grove;  shjgge, 
Sw.  sJcugga,  a  shade,  shadow. 

SHEEN,  near  Richmond,  Surrey,  found  written  Syenes, 
Schenes,  and  Schene,  is  said  to  have  received  its  name  from  the 
bright  or  splendid  appearance  of  its  ancient  palace ;  from  A.  S. 
sciene,  scene,  beautiful.  Shakespear  uses  sheen  for  "  to  shine." 
Conf.  Schonbrunn,  near  Vienna. 

SHEFFIELD,  co.    York,    named  from    its    situation.     The 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  245 

ancient   castle  was  built  in  the  angle  which  the  River  Sheaf 
makes  with  the  Don.     (A.  S.  feld,  pasture,  plain,  open  country.) 

SHEITAX  DEEEH',  "the  devil's  valley,"  is  traversed  by 
the  road  from  Constantinople  to  Erzeroum,  and  was  so  called, 
perhaps,  from  its  being  the  resort  of  banditti. 

SHEPPEY,  formerly  Sheepy,  and  found  written  Scheapige, 
Sceapege,  Scepige,  Scepeye,  Sepeige,  Schcpeye,  an  isle  in  Kent ; 
trom  A..  S.  Seeap-ige ;  sceap  sheep,  ig  an  island;  "from  sheep 
that  abundantly  multiphcd  therein,  called  also  Ovina  from  L. 
ovis,  a  sheep."     {Bailey.) 

SHERBORNE,  found  written  Scire-burne,  Schireburn,  Schir- 
burn,  a  town  in  Dorset,  from  A.  S.  scir-hurn,  "  the  clear  brook." 

SHERWOOD  FOREST,  perhaps  a  corruption  of  "sear  wood," 
"  Sherwood,  q.  d.  sheer  wood."     (Bailey.)     See  Sherborne. 

SHETLAND  ISLES,  found  written  Schetland,  Hethland, 
Hetland,  Hialtland,  Hialtlandia,  Yealtaland,  and  Zetland.  Shet- 
land or  Hetland  may  be  from  Hbjdland  or  Hoietland,  "  the  high 
or  lofty  laud." 

SHIRE  {sliire,  in  compos,  sher),  in  local  names  in  Great 
Britain  and  Ireland,  as  in  Shropshire,  Lancashire,  &c.,  is  a 
division  of  territory,  otherwise  called  a  county  ;  from  A.  S.  scir, 
scire,  scyre,  a  division,  from  sciran,  to  divide. 

SIIIRVAN',  a  province  of  Georgia,  named  after  Khusru 
Nushirvau,  a  monarch  of  Persia,  who  conquered  this  and  the 
neighbouring  provinces. 

SHOOTERS'  HILL,  Blackheath,  Kent,  "  so  called  from  the 
thievery  there  practised."  (Philpot,  Will.  Cant.  ed.  177G, 
p.  13.0.)     See  Gad's  Hill. 

SllOREDITCH,  found  written  Sewersditch,  Sowcrsditch, 
Sorsditch,  Soerditch,  and  Soersditch.  "  Soerditch,  so  called  more 
than  100  yeares  since,  as  I  can  prove  by  record."  (Stow.)  "  I 
read  of  the  king's  raanour,  called  Shoresditch  Place,  in  the 
parish  of  Hackney,  but  how  it  took  that  name  I  know  not.  This 
house  is  now  called  Shore  Place.  The  vulgar  tradition  goes  that 
Jane  Slioie  lived  here,  and  here  her  royal  lover  used  to  visit  her; 
but  we   have   the  credit  of  Mr.  Stow  that   the  true  mune  was 


246  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

Shoreditch  Place,  and  'tis  not  unlikely  to  have  been  the  place  of 
a  knight  called  Sir  John  de  Sordich,  a  great  man  in  Edward 
the  Third  his  days,  who  was  with  that  king  in  his  wars  in 
France,  and  is  remembered  in  our  annals  in  14  Edw.  III.  He 
was  owner  of  lands  in  Hackney  as  well  in  demesne  as  in  service, 
which  he  gave  to  Croston  his  chaplain.  This  Weever  notes  ; 
who  thinks  Shorditch  to  be  named  from  the  said  knight." 
Strype,  b.  iii.  p.  53.  It  is  more  than  probable  that  Sir  John  de 
Sordich  derived  his  name  from  Soerditch,  and  that  the  latter 
meant  "  Sewer  ditch." 

SHOREHAM,  co.  Sussex  ;  from  A.  S.  Scoreham,  i.e.  a  habi- 
tation or  town  on  the  sea-shore  {score  and  ham). 

SHOT,  SHOTT,  a  termination  of  local  names  in  England,  as 
Aldershott  and  Bagshot,  Surrey ;  Calshott,  Hants  ;  may  be  a 
corruption  of  A.  S.  holt,  a  grove. 

SHREWSBURY,  co.  Salop,  found  written  Scrobbes-burh, 
Scrobbes-byrig,  and  Scrobbes-burie  ;  from  A.  S.  burh  a  fortress, 
scrobbes  of  a  shrub  ;  "  a  city  near  which  there  were  many  shrubs." 

SHROPSHIRE,  found  written  Scrobbes-byrig-scyr,  Scrob-scir, 
Scrobscire,  Scropscire,  Schropshyre,  is  a  corruption  of  Scrobbes- 
burh-scyre,  "the  shire  of  Scrobbes-burh"  It  has  also  been 
called  Salopschire.     See  Shrewsbury. 

SIAM,  a  kingdom  in  the  farther  peninsula,  or  India  without 
the  Ganges.  The  appellation  Siam  is  unknown  to  the  natives ; 
they  call  themselves  Thay,  but  by  the  Malays,  and  by  some  of  the 
neighbouring  nations  they  are  called  Zeam  or  Zam,  whence, 
according  to  some,  Siam.  Others  say  this  kingdom  was  called  by 
its  inhabitants  Meiiang  Syonthia,  and  that  Europeans  have  cor- 
rupted Syonthia  into  Siam.  The  Cochin  Chinese  call  Siam,  Xiem, 
Xiem  la,  and  Nuoc  Xiem,  i.e.  kingdom  of  Xiem;  the  Chinese, 
Seen-lo-kw6,  commonly  read  Tseen-lo. 

SIBERIA,  a  part  of  the  Russian  empire  in  Asia,  is  said  to  take 
its  name  from  the  ancient  Siber,  situated  on  the  banks  of  the 
Irtisch,  and  the  remains  of  which  are  still  to  be  seen. 

SICILY,  an  island  in  the  Mediterranean,  was  anciently  called 
Trinacria,  from  its  triangular  form.  Ainsworth  derives  its  present 


LOCAL  ETYMOLOGY.  247 

name  from  L,  scissa,  because  cut  ofFfrom  Italy,  to  which  he  sup- 
poses it  was  formerly  joined  ;  and  others  from  the  Siculi,  a  people 
of  Italy,  who,  passing  over  in  formidable  numbers,  drove  the 
Sicani,  its  inhabitants,  into  the  southern  and  western  parts,  and 
kept  possession  of  the  richest  tracts  in  the  country.  (See  Thucid. 
Pelop.War,  lib.  vi.,  and  Sil.  Ital.  lib.  xiv.  vers.  33,  37.)  Bochart 
thinks  Sicily  may  have  been  named  by  the  Phoenicians  b^b'ijm 
siclul,  "  of  perfection,"  it  being  the  finest  island  in  the  Mediter- 
ranean ;  and  he  quotes  Strabo  (lib.  ii.),  "  Usee  omnium  in  mari 
nostro  insularum  maxima  est  atque  optima."  He  suggests  ano- 
ther Phoenician  etymology — seculaja  or  segulaga,  "of  clusters  of 
grapes,"  the  Carthaginians  buying  both  wines  and  grapes  of  the 
Sicilians.     See  also  Statins,  lib.  xi. ;   Virgil,  and  Hesrjchius. 

SIDCUP,  a  hamlet  near  Foots  Cray,  Kent,  named  from  the 
Sedcopp  family,  who  formerly  possessed  a  large  estate  in  the 
neighbourhood.  Thomas  de  Sedcopp  was  owner  of  this  estate  in 
35  Henry  VI.,  as  appears  by  his  deed. 

SIDMOUTH  (sidmuth),  co.  Devon ;  "  mouth  of  the  Sid," 
a  little  river  only  six  miles  in  length. 

SIDON,  in  anc.  geog.,  a  celebrated  city  of  Phoenicia,  situated 
on  the  sea-coast,  northward  of  Tyre,  and  now  by  the  Turks 
called  Saida.  Its  foundation  by  Sida,  daughter  of  Belus,  or 
by  Sidon,  eldest  son  of  Canaan,  is  doubtful,  and  it  was  more 
probably  named  from  the  abundance  of  fish  found  in  its  waters. 
Trogus  derives  the  name  from  sidon,  a  Phcen,  word  signifying  a 
fish.  Justinius  (lib.  xviii.  c.  3)  says  it  was  called  a  piscium 
ubertate.  The  Rev.  Alfred  Jones  translates  fT-y  tsiydhun, 
"  fishing "  or  "  plenty  of  fish,"  and  says  it  is  the  intens.  of 
tsuyidh,  hunting,  prey  taken  in  hunting  or  fishing,  from  the 
root  tsudh,  to  lay  snares.  See  also  Joseph.  Antiq.  lib.  i.  c.  7, 
Tragus,  and  Bochart. 

SIERRA  (se-er'-ra),  in  local  names  in  Africa,  Spain,  and 
Spanish  America,  is  used  to  designate  mountains  whose  summits 
or  peaks  resemble  the  teeth  of  a  saw;  from  Sp.  and  Port.  si^;rra, 
lit.  a  saw,  from  L.  sert'a  for  segra,  from  seco,  to  cut.  Thus 
Sierra  Nevada  (Spain),  «'  the  snowy  mountains  ;"  Sierra  Leone,  a 


218  LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY. 

place  on  the  coast  of  Africa,  situated  in  a  mountainous  district 
abounding  in  lions.     (Sp.  lion,  a  lion.) 

SILESIA,  G.  Schlesien,  Pol.  Szlazk,  Slav.  SUsko,  a  province 
of  Prussia.  Some  writers  think  the  Silesians  are  the  Elysii 
of  Tacitus  ;  an  opinion,  says  Lamartiniere,  which  shows  an 
ignorance  of  the  oi'igin  and  migrations  of  these  people.  Silesia 
derives  its  name  from  the  Siusli,  or,  as  some  authors  style  them, 
the  Sliusli,  who,  during  the  reign  of  Charlemagne,  conjointly 
with  the  Bohemians  and  Slavic  tribes,  attacked  the  frontiers  of 
the  kingdom.  Ditmar  de  Merbourg,  when  speaking  of  a  canton 
called  Pagus  Pilensis,  refers  to  Silesia. 

SIMPLON  {saimp-lohng),  a  celebrated  mountain  on  the 
borders  of  Italy  and  Switzerland,  one  of  the  highest  of  the  Italian 
Alps.  In  Fr.  it  is  also  called  St.  Plomb  •  in  G.  Shnpelen ; 
and  formerly  Simpelherg  and  Sampion ;  in  It.  Sempione,  and  in 
L.  Mons  Ccepionis  or  Scipionis  and  Mons  Sempronius.  Simplon 
has  been  probably  corrupted  from  Sempi'onius. 

SINAI,  a  mountain  in  Arabia  Petrsea,  said  to  have  been  so 
named  from  the  appearing  of  the  Lord  to  Moses,  in  the  bush.  The 
Rev.  Alfred  Jones  translates  the  Heb.  ''i''D  siyndy,  "  bush  of  the 
Lord,"  from  s'neh  a  bush,  and  ■>  i/odh,  the  sign  of  the  Divine 
name.  Stanley  derives  Sinai  from  Heb.  sinah  or  seneh,  the 
acacia-tree. 

SINGAPORE',  an  island  in  the  Indian  Sea,  named  after  its 
chief  town  Singhapura,  "lion-town."  (E.'md.  sing h,  Sans.  smA 
or  sinha,  a  lion.)     See  Poor. 

SINOPE  {sino'pa),  a  town  of  Asiatic  Turkey  on  the  Black 
Sea,  celebrated  as  the  birthplace  of  Diogenes,  who  is  thence 
called  Sivwtfgue.  The  derivation  from  Gr.  cruvow  to  hurt,  injure, 
w\|/  the  eye,  can  only  rest  on  the  supposition  that  the  winds  here 
were  formerly  injurious  to  the  sight.  l-ivuotiQ,  red  ochre,  rather 
owes  than  gives  its  name  to  the  place  from  which  it  was  ex- 
ported. Hoffman  refers  to  one  of  the  Amazons  called  Sinope, 
and  to  Sinope,  daughter  of  Asophus,  "  quam  Apollo  raptam  in 
Pontum  traduxit."  Again,  we  read  of  one  Sinope,  a  courtesan, 
so  noted  that  her  name  passed  into  a  proverb.     This  is  curious. 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  249 

as  the  Arabs  call  this  place  "  the  islaud  of  lovers."  Eustathius, 
however,  says  that  the  river  near  the  tovrn  is  called  Sinope ;  and, 
if  this  be  so,  the  town  was  doubtless  named  from  it.  There 
is  a  river  in  Normandy  called  Sinope.  The  name  of  these 
rivers  may  be  of  Celtic  origin  ;  perhaps  from  Gael,  sean  old, 
ancient,  ab,  aba,  water ;  whence  seanab,  siimb,  Sinope.  The 
Turks  have  corrupted  Sinope  into  Sinub  and  Sindb.  See 
Polyb.  lib.  iv.  c.  57  ;  Strab.  hb.  xii.  5A5  ;  Cellar.  Geog.  Ant.  hb. 
iii.  c.  8  ;  Zenop.  lib.  vi.  ;  Diod.  Sic.  hb.  xiv.  c.  32  ;  Cels.  v.  6  ; 
Diosc.  v.  65  ;  Yitruv.  vii.  7  ;  Phu.  xxxvi.  6  ;  Val.  Flac.  v.  109 ; 
and  Ortelius. 

SITTINGBOURNE,  Kent;  according  to  one  writer,  the 
"seething  bourn,"  i.e.  the  boihng  rivulet,  rivus  fervens  aid 
buUiens ;  but  Sittingbourne,  formerly  Scetung-burna,  means 
rather  a  hamlet  on  the  banks  of  a  rivulet,  from  A.  S.  scetimg,  a 
holding,  or  inhabiting  of  a  place,  from  sittan,  to  sit,  dwell,  &c., 
burn  a  brook. 

SIUE-LING,  a  mountain  range  in  China,  with  a  considerable 
number  of  snow-capped  summits ;  from  Chin,  seite  snow,  ling  a 
mountain. 

SIVAS  or  SI  WAS  (se-vas)  a  city  of  Asiatic  Turkey,  formerly 
Sebastia.     From  root  of  Sebastopol. 

SKAG'ERRACK,  a  wide  arm  of  the  North  Sea,  separating 
Norway  from  Denmark,  and  communicating  with  another  arm 
called  the  Kattegat.  The  name  is  more  properly  applied  to  a 
sandbank  extending  from  Cape  Skagen,  at  the  northernmost  point 
of  Jutland,  far  into  the  sea.  Skagerrack  may  therefore  be  a  cor- 
ruption of  Skagen' s  Itif,  Skagen  Reef,  and  it  is  found  so  written 
m  old  maps.  It  was  probably  named  by  the  Dutch,  as  was  the 
Kattegat,  which  the  French  translate  "  Trou  du  chat."  The  reef 
was  named  from  the  Cape,  and  the  latter,  as  also  the  neighbouring 
village  of  Skagen  or  Skau,  from  the  Su-Goth.  skaga,  an  isthmus, 
promontory,  from  skaga,  to  bend,  project,  extend. 

SKAREN  {fskeer'n),  the  name  given  to  the  rocks  and  rocky 
islands  on  the  coast  of  Sweden  ;  from  Sw.  skilr  a  rock,  Dan.  akier. 

SLACK,    of   frecjuent    occurrence    hi    local   names   in   Lau- 


250  LOCAL  ETYMOLOGY. 

cashire  and  "Westmoreland ;  as  Witherslack,  &c.  "  Slack,  slak, 
slake,  an  opening  in  the  higher  part  of  a  hill  or  mountain,  where 
it  becomes  less  steep,  and  forms  a  sort  of  pass  ;  a  gap  or  narrow 
pass  between  two  hills  or  mountains."     (Jamieson.') 

SLADE,  in  Staffordshire,  means  moorland ;  some  say  a  slope, 
"  a  valley,  ravine,  plain."  {Haliwell.)  In  Northamptonshire,  the 
name  is  sometimes  applied  to  a  flat  piece  of  grass,  and  to  a  border 
of  grass  round  a  ploughed  field.  Moor  calls  it  *'  a  small  open 
hanging  wood."  Brockett,  "  a  breadth  of  green  sward  in  ploughed 
land,  or  in  plantations."  The  A.  S.  slced  is  a  plain,  open  tract  of 
country ;  the  Ice.  slced,  a  valley. 

SLANEY,  a  river  in  Wexford  ;  Slaan,  a  river  in  Cork  ;  from 
Gael,  easc-lan,  "the  full  water." 

SLANG,  in  local  names  in  some  English  counties,  is  a  narrow 
strip  of  land.     It  is  sometimes  called  a  slanket. 

SLAVONIA,  a  province  of  the  Austrian  dominions,  which, 
though  incorporated  with  the  kingdom  of  Hungary,  is  still  styled  in 
official  documents  the  kingdom  of  Slavonia.  Some  authors  deduce 
the  name  Slavonian  from  slava,  glory,  and  in  confirmation,  refer  to 
the  usual  termination  of  Slavonian  names,  in  slav,  as  Stanislav, 
"  establisher  of  glory  ;"  Vladislav,  "  ruler  of  glory  ;"  Yaroslav, 
"  furious  for  glory."  Others  maintain  that  the  name  of  the  Slavo- 
nians, which  is  often  written  Slovenie,  instead  otSlavenie,  is  derived 
from  slovo,  "word,"  and -that  the  Slavonians,  being  unable  to 
understand  the  language  of  the  nations  with  which  they  came  in 
contact,  called  them  Niemetz,  that  is,  "  mute,"  an  appellation 
which  is  given  to  the  Germans  in  all  the  Slavonian  dialects,  whilst 
the  latter  call  themselves  Slovenie,  that  is,  "  men  endowed  with 
the  gift  of  the  word."  The  Byzantine  writers  changed  Slavonian 
into  Sclaben  or  Sclav,  and  hence  the  appellation  Selavonians 
adopted   by  the  western  writers.      Procopius  calls  the   Slaves 

SMERWICK,  a  bay  on  the  coast  of  Kerry,  Ireland,  was  proba- 
bly named  by  the  Scandinavians,  and  it  may  mean  "  the  butter 
haven ;"  from  Scand.  snm-  butter,  Sw.  vik,  cove,  creek,  Dan.  viif/, 
vi<j,  bay,  ford.     See  Chalmers, 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  251 

SMITHFIELD,  London ;  from  A.  S.  smethe,  smoeth,  smooth, 
feld,  a  field ;  "a  smooth  field." 

SMYRNA,  a  city  and  seaport  of  Asiatic  Turkey ;  from  Gr. 
S/xUjCva,  myrrh,  for  which  it  was  formerly  celebrated.  The  Turks 
have  corrupted  Smyrna  into  Ismir. 

SNAPE  or  NAPE,  a  frequent  termination  of  local  names  in 
Lancashire,  as  Bullsnape,  Fairsnape,  Haresnape,  Kidsnape.  Nape 
or  hiaji  may  sometimes  mean  "  the  top  of  a  hill ;  "  primarily  a 
protuberance  or  swelling;  from  A.  S.  cnceb,  a  knob.  Nape,  in 
Devon  is  said  to  signify  "a  hollow  fracture;"  and  snape, 
a  "spring  in  arable  land." 

SNOWDON,  a  mountain  in  Caernarvon,  N.  Wales,  was  named 
by  the  Saxons,  from  snaw  snow,  dun  a  hill.  The  Welsh  call  it,  or 
rather  the  cluster  of  mountains  that  lie  in  this  county,  Creigiau 
yr  Eryri,  "  the  snowy  cliffs." 

SODOR,  the  name  of  a  village  in  the  island  of  Icolmkill,  one  of 
the  western  isles  of  Scotland.  It  was  formerly  a  bishop's 
see,  which  comprehended  all  the  islands,  together  with  the 
Isle  of  Man.  The  Bishop  of  Man  is  now  called  the  Bishop 
of  Sodor  and  Man.  Bishop  Wilson  says  the  name  of  Sodor  was 
taken  from  the  cathedral  church  in  lona,  dedicated  to  our  Saviour, 
in  Gr.  '^'xry^p'  Others  derive  the  name  of  the  village  from  that 
of  the  islands  ;  and  they  say  that  the  thirty  islands  constituting 
the  bishopric  of  Sodor  went  by  the  name  of  the  Sudereys,  i.  e. 
southern  isles,  another  group  to  the  north  (the  Orkneys  and 
adjacent  isles)  being  called  the  Nordereys,  i.e.  the  northern  isles. 
They  were  named  either  by  the  Norwegians  or  the  Danes. 

SOIIO  SQUARE,  Loudon.  Pegge  says  this  square  was 
originally  called  Monmouth  Square,  after  the  Duke  of  Monmouth, 
who  resided  there,  and  he  mentions  a  tradition  that  after  the 
duke's  death,  his  admirers  changed  the  name  to  Soho,  being  the 
word  of  the  day  at  the  battle  of  Scdgemore.  This,  however,  is  a 
mistake  ;  the  square  never  having  been  called  Monmouth  Square, 
although  it  was  at  one  time  called  King's  Square.  It  was  built 
in  1G81,  but  the  ground  on  which  it  stands,  was  called  "  Soho  " 
as  early  as  the  year   10;}2,  and,  says  Mr.  Cunniughaui,  in  1636 


252  LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY. 

people  were  living  at  the  "brick-kilns  near  Sohoe,"  and  "the 
fields  about  So-IIoe  "  are  mentioned  in  a  proclamation  of  April  7, 
16/1,  whilst  the  battle  of  Sedgemore  was  not  fought  till 
1686.  "'So  lio,'  or  *so  how,'  was  an  old  cry  in  hunting 
when  the  hare  was  found."  See  Pennant's  London,  and  Cun- 
ningham. 

SOKEN,  in  local  names  in  England,  as  Thorp-en-le-SoJcen, 
Essex,  may  be  the  A.  S.  socn,  socna,  socne,  the  liberty  of 
holding  a  soke  or  court — ciiria  domini.  Webster  says  soke  is  a 
district  in  which  a  particular  privilege  or  power  is  exercised. 

SOMERSETSHIRE,  from  A.  S.  Smner-sete-scir,  named  from 
Sumer-tun.     See  Somerton  and  Dorsetshire. 

SOMERTON,  found  written  Sumer-tun,  Sumur-tun,  Sumerton, 
and  Somortone,  chief  town  of  Somersetshire,  under  the  West  Saxon 
kings  ;  from  A.  S.  sumer,  sumor,  summer,  tun  a  town.  Somner 
says  the  name  of  this  town  denotes  a  summer  residence,  but 
whether  it  received  its  name  from  the  mildness  of  the  air,  the 
fertiUty  of  the  soil,  or  from  what  other  cause,  he  cannot  say. 

SOMME  (som),  a  river  of  France,  in  Picardy  ;  formerly  called 
Somona  and  Sumina  ;  corrupted  from  Samara,  its  ancient  name. 
Samara  may  be  derived  from  Celt.  Ts-am-garw,  "  the  rough 
or  rugged  river  " — thus,  ysamgarw,  samgara.  Samara.  Wachter 
says  the  Sambre,  in  Gallia  Belgica,  was  also  formerly  called  the 
Samara.  Its  present  name  may  have  come  thus  :  Samara, 
sambra,  Sambre. 

SOMNAUTH,  or  PUTTAN-SOMNAUTH,  a  maritime  town 
in  Guzerat,  Hindustan,  famous  for  its  temple,  and  anciently  one  of 
the  principal  places  of  Hindu  pilgrimage  ;  from  Pers.  c:^Ijl«»^ 
sdmanut,  an  idol. 

SONGA'RIA,  the  N .  W.  portion  of  the  Chinese  empire.  The 
name  is  derived  from  the  Songarees,  one  of  the  great  divisions  of 
the  Kalmucks. 

SOON  DA,  a  town  in  Canara,  Madras  presidency,  Hindustan  ; 
called  by  the  natives  Sundha,  and  in  Sans.  Sudhapura. 
(Thornton.)     Suddha  is  pure,  clear,  bright ;  piira,  a  town,  city. 

SOP,  a  termination  of  local  names  in  England,  as  Worksop, 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  253 

Blinkinsop,  Kirsop,  Trollop,  Wallop,  Dunlop,  may  be  a  corrup- 
tion of  the  O.  Eng.  word  hojpe,  "a  sloping  plain  between  hills." 

SORBONNE  {sorlion'),  a  theological  college  at  Paris,  named 
from  Robert  de  Sorbonne  or  Serbonne,  almoner  of  St.  Louis,  who 
took  his  name  from  the  village  of  Sorbonne  (diocese  of  Rheims), 
where  he  was  born.  Strabo,  lib.  i.  mentions  Ai/xv^j  EefjSwvJe 
which  Rabelais  (ii.  23)  calls  "  Lac  de  Sorbonne." 

SOUTHAMPTON,  co.  Hants  ;  in  the  Sax.  Chron.  Hamtune  ; 
in  Domesday  Hantune,  Hantone,  and  Hentune  ;  named  from  its 
situation  on  the  river  Ant,  or  Anton  (the  Southampton  Water). 
The  historian  says  there  is  no  evidence  of  any  town  existing,  in 
the  time  of  the  Romans,  where  Southampton  now  stands ;  but  it 
is  not  improbable  that  a  village  or  station  of  some  kind  was 
situate  at  Northam,  and  that  when  a  fortified  post  was  established 
on  the  Hard,  the  epithet  South  might  be  applied,  in  contradis- 
tinction to  this  more  ancient  village.  Hampshire  takes  its  name 
from  Hantune.  Ant  may  be  a  corruption  of  Gwent,  which  in 
the  W.  means  a  fair  or  open  region,  a  champaign  (from  ytoen, 
white,  fair).  Hampshire  was  anciently  called  Gwent  or  Y  Went, 
a  term  said  to  be  appropriately  applied  to  this  county. 

SOUTHWARK,  a  division  of  London,  extending  along  the 
Surrey  bank  of  the  river,  and  supposed  to  have  been  named  from 
a  military  ivork  or  fortification;  from  A.  S.  suth  south,  and  (/eweorc, 
a  work,  fortress.  From  its  being  a  fortification,  it  was  also  called 
the  Burg  (Borough). 

SPA  (spaiv),  a  bath  town  near  Liege,  Belgium ;  from  espa, 
which  in  the  old  language  of  the  country  signified  a  fountain. 
The  principal  spring  is  called  Pouhon,  from  Wal.  iwiiher,  to 
draw. 

SPAIN,  in  Sp.Espdha,  It.  Spagna,  Fr.  Espagne,  G.,  Uan.,  and 
Sw.  Spanien,  D.  Spanjc,  W.  Yspaen,  Turc.  Ispuniyd,  h.JIispjfaiia, 
Gr.  'Eirxvix  and  'ItttxvIx.  All  the  modern  names  of  this  country 
spring  from  the  classical  word  Ilispania,  which  some  refer  to  Ilis- 
pan,  son  of  Hercules,  and  others  to  Pan,  "lieutenant  of  Bacchus," 
prefixing  Teut.  /liji  west,  q,  d.  the  west  country  of  Pan.  According 
to  Astarloa,  Espana  is  pure  Basque,  and  means  "  lip  or  extremity," 


254  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

which  Humboldt  disputes.  Bochart  gives  a  Phcenician  origin. 
He  says  the  Phoenicians  who  first  touched  at  the  ports  of  Spain, 
and  colonized  there  long  before  the  Greeks,  named  it  Sphanija  or 
Spa7iija  (pron.  sphan'-e-ya,  span-e-ya),  which  he  translates  "full 
of  rabbits ;"  and  he  derives  the  Phoen.  word  from  Heb.  ptir,  saphan, 
a  rabbit.  And  indeed  on  the  reverse  side  of  a  medal  of  the  Empe- 
ror Adrian  (given  by  Scheuchzer,  tab.  235)  Spain  is  represented 
as  a  woman  sitting  on  the  ground  with  a  rabbit  in  her  lap.  (See 
Addison  on  Medals,  dial.  ii.  series  iii.)  There  seems,  however, 
to  be  some  doubt  as  to  what  animal  the  saphan  really  was. 
The  Rabbins  render  it  "  coney  ;  "  the  Septuagint,  in  three  places 
"  mus  jaculus  "  (the  jerboa  of  the  Arabs)  ;  Parkhurst,  a  sort  of 
animal  like  a  rabbit ;  Gesenius,  a  ruminant  quadruped,  which 
lives  gregariously  on  rocks,  and  is  remarkable  for  its  cunning. 
See  Varro,  de  Re  Rustica,  lib.  iii.  c.  12;  Galen,  de  Alim. 
lib.  iii. ;  iElian.  de  Animal,  lib.  xiii.  c.  15  ;  Plin.  lib.  viii.  c.  58, 
lib.  iii.  c.  5  ;  Strab.  lib.  iii.  144  ;  and  Catullus. 

SPINNEY,  in  the  midland  counties  of  England,  is   a  wood 
.  or  coppice,  and  may  come  from  L.  spinetum,  a  place  full  of  thorns 
or  briers,  a  thicket  of  thorn-bushes  ;  from  spina,  a  thorn. 

SPIRES,  a  celebrated  German  city  on  the  Rhine,  in  G.  Speyer 
Fr.  Spire,  It.  Spira,  and  called  by  the  Romans  Civitas  Nemetum 
and  Noviomagus.  Bishop  Roger,  in  the  11th  century,  surrounded 
it  with  walls,  and  changed  the  name  to  Speyer,  from  the  rivulet 
called  the  Speyer-bach,  by  which  it  is  watered. 

SPITALFIELDS,  London,  an  abbreviation  of  Hospital  Fields. 
SPORADES,  certain  islands  scattered  over  the  Archipelago  ; 
from  Gr.  (XTfopaSric  scattered,  from  a-iraipuj  to  scatter. 

SPURNHEAD,  a  promontory  in  Yorkshire.  "  The  present 
name  of  Spurnhead,  called  in  O.  Eng.  chronicles  Spiirenhead,  is 
certainly  derived  from  the  Sax.  spyrian  or  spyrigean,  to  look  out, 
watch,  explore."  {Allen.)  "To  the  name  of  Promontorium,  in 
Ptolemy,  is  joined  Ocellum,  dim,  of  oculus,  an  eye.  This  agrees  well 
with  the  site  of  the  place,  and,  no  doubt,  in  the  time  of  the  Romans, 
a  watch-tower  was  built  here,  not  only  to  overlook  the  mouth  of  the 
Humber,  but  as  a  guard  to  these  coasts.    Camden,  when  speaking  of 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  255 

Spurnhead,  says  the  little  village  of  Kilnsea  plainly  bespeaks 
this  to  be  the  very  Ocellum  of  Ptolemy,  for  as  Kellnsey  is  derived 
from  Ocellum,  so  is  Ocellum  from  y-kill,  which  signifies  in 
Brit,  a  promontory,  a  narrow  tract  of  land."  (Drake,  Hist. 
York.)  It  is  certain,  adds  Allen,  that  Ocellum  was  the  name 
of  the  district  now  called  Holderness.  The  name  from  its 
derivation  may  fairly  mean  the  eye,  or  exploring  place,  and  Bax- 
ter agrees  with  Camden  that  Ocellum  means  Spurn-head,  or 
protensum  caput  in  Parisis,    "  the  projecting  head  in  Parisi." 

STAFFORD,  found  written  StseiFord ;  in  Domesday  Stafford 
and  Stadford.  From  A.  S.  stcef  a  staff,  ford  a  ford  ;  "a  vado 
forte  baculo  transmeabili."     (Somner.) 

STAINES,  CO.  Middlesex  ;  from  A.  S.  stdn,  a  stone,  from  a 
boundary-stone  placed  here  to  denote  the  extent  of  the  jurisdiction 
claimed  by  the  city  of  London  on  the  River  Thames.    {Camden.) 

STAMBOUL.  The  Turks  call  Constantinople  J^^Uw! 
Jstumbol,  or  Stdmbul ;  the  Greeks  Istumpoli ;  said  to  be  cor- 
rupted from  Gr.  £iq  tt^v  koKiv,  "  towards  the  city."  Kieffer  says 
the  Turks  now  call  this  city  Isldmbol  instead  of  Istdmbol, 
"  nom  controuve  dans  ces  derniers  temps  pour  perdre  I'origine 
du  premier  nom.  On  donne  ^  ce  second  le  sens  force  de  lieu  ou 
abonde  la  vraie  foi.  Toutes  les  monnaies  des  Sultans  Moustapha 
IV.  et  Solim  IV.  portent  ce  nom.  Celles  de  Mahmoud  II.  portent 
Costhanthinue  .^* 

STAN,  a  frequent  termination  of  local  names  in  Persia  and 
India,  is  the  Sans,  sthdna,  site,  place,  station  ;  Pers.  ^^ULs  stdn, 
jdace,  situation,  country,  as  Hindustan,  the  place  or  country  of 
the  Hindus.  After  a  consonant  istda  is  used ;  as  Gulistiin,  a 
rose  garden.  (See  Forbes.)  Richardson  says  the  Pers.  stun  or 
istda  is  the  particijile  of  istddam,  istudan,  to  stand,  reside, 
dwell,  place,  fix,  &c.  Among  many  local  names  compounded  of 
stdn,  istdn,  we  find  Moghulistan,  Khuzistan,  Daghistan,  Laristan, 
Faristan,  Afghanistan,  Gurgistan,  Cafiristan,  Beloochistan. 

STAMFORD,  co.  Lincoln,  from  A.  S.  stda-ford,  stone  ford. 

STANG,  STANK.     Stany,  in  local  names  in  the  N.   of  Eng- 


256  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

land,  means  a  pond  or  pool,  from  L,  staynum  ;  thus,  Garstang, 
CO.  Lancaster,  for  Gai-ri-stang,  "  the  pool  or  pond  of  Garri,"  a 
Saxon  name.  Stank  means  a  boggy  piece  of  ground.  See 
Whitaker's  Craven,  422;  also  Whitaker's  Richmondshire. 

STANIZA,  ui  Russia,  is  a  district  composed  of  several 
Cossack  farms. 

STANLEY,  name  of  several  places  in  England,  from  A.  S, 
stein  a  stone,  leaff  a  field,  place ;  "the  stony  field  or  place." 

STANWICK,  CO.  Northampton,  from  A.  S.  stdn-weg, 
"  stone  way." 

STAPLE  INN,  London,  is  traditionally  reported  to  have  been 
a  sort  of  exchange  or  meeting-place,  called  Staple  Hall,  for  the 
wool-merchants  or  staplers.     (Herbert.) 

STAR  CHAMBER.  The  Star  Chamber,  a  court  of  criminal 
jurisdiction  in  England,  abolished  during  the  reign  of  Charles  I., 
was  named,  says  Cayley,  from  the  gilded  stars  which  orna- 
mented the  ceiling  of  the  apartment  in  which  it  was  held  ;  others 
say,  from  the  government  contracts  called  starra,  which  were 
made  with  the  Jews,  and  kept  in  a  box  in  this  court. 

STARGARD  or  NEW  STARGARD,  a  city  in  the  Prussian 
government  of  Pomerauia.  The  name  means  "ancient  city," 
from  Slav,  star  old,  and  gard  or  grad.     See  Gorod, 

STEAD,  STED,  in  local  names  in  England,  generally  signifies 
"  a  place,"  from  x\.  S.  sted  (Dan.  id.,  G.  statt,  D.  stede)  from 
Goth,  stads,  contraction  of  L.  status,  from  sto,  to  stand.  In 
names  of  places  situated  on  a  river  or  harbour,  it  may  be  from 
A.  S.  stathe,  border,  bank,  shore. 

STELVIO.  INIonte  Stelvio,  called  by  the  Tyrolese  Stilfser 
Joch,  takes  its  name  from  the  village  of  Stilfs. 

STEPNEY.  This  tract,  says  Pennant,  had  been  a  manor  in 
the  Saxon  times  called  Stibben-hedde,  i.e.  Stibbenheath.  The 
Bishop  of  London  had  here  a  palace,  as  appears  from  ancient  re- 
cords— "  Given  from  our  palace  of  Stebon-hyth,  or  Stebonheath." 
(See  Newcourt,  i.  733  ;  and  Pennant,  ii.  425.)  Stepney  is  also 
found  written  Stebenhethe  and  Stebunhith.  The  name  is 
variously  derived  from  two  A.  S.  words  meaning  a  timber  wharf; 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  257 

from  the  Christian  name  Stephen  ;  and  from  A.  S.  steb  a  boll, 
trunk,  and  hethe  a  heath. 

STETTIN,  or  ALT  STETTIN  {stetteen'),  found  written 
Stetin  ;  capital  of  the  province  of  Pomerania,  as  well  as  of  the 
government  of  Stettin.  The  Sidini  anciently  inhabited  this  and 
the  neighbouring  territory  :  Sidini,  sitini,  stitini,  stetin,  Stettin. 

STEYNING  (sten'inff),  a  parish  and  town  in  Sussex,  "  was 
called  in  Saxon  times  Steningham,  from  sfaen  (stan),  a  stone, 
either  because  the  place  was  stony,  or  because  some  conspicuous 
ruins  encumbered  the  same."  {Dallaway.)  The  Sfer/ne  Street, 
or  ancient  Roman  road  from  Arundel  to  Dorking,  passes  through 
this  place.     (A.  S.  ing,  a  meadow.) 

STIRLING,  a  town  and  a  county  in  Scotland,  found  written 
Strivilin  or  Stryviling,  and  Styrling.  On  an  ancient  seal  the  castle 
is  called  Castrum  Strivilense.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Stirlhig,  minister 
of  Port,  says  the  ancient  name  was  Strila,  which  he  derives  from 
strigh,  strife,  lagh,  the  bow,  bending  the  bow  ;  strighlagh,  the 
strife  of  archeiy. 

STOCKHOLM  was  probably  named  from  the  foundations 
of  the  houses  being  supported  by  stakes  or  timbers  driven  into 
the  earth  ;  from  Sw.  stock,  timber,  beam,  stock,  stake,  Jwim,  an 
isle  formed  by  a  river.  Hans  C.  Andersen  says  a  certain  king 
Olaf  endeavoured  to  enclose  another  king  Olaf's  fleet  here  with 
a  stockade  and  boom  across  the  mouth  of  the  Malar  Lake  ;  and 
that  the  city  may  thence  derive  its  name. 

STOKE,  STOCK,  in  English  local  names,  as  Stoke,  Stoke 
Newington,  Bishop's  Stoke,  Basingstoke,  is  the  A.  S.  stoc  a 
place ;  thus,  Woodstock  means  a  woody  place.  In  Adstock, 
(Jdstock,  Stock  Gayland,  Stockton,  and  Stockwood,  we  trace  the 
A.  S.  stoc,  stocce,  a  stock,  trunk,  block,  stick. 

STOKE  NEWINGTON,  Middlesex,  in  ancient  records  is 
called  Newtone  or  Neweton  ("the  new  town"),  whence  New- 
ington.    See  Stoke  and  Nkwinoton  Butts. 

STONEIIENGE,  an  assemblage  of  upright  and  horizontal 
stones  on  Salisbury  Plain,  England,  generally  supposed  to  be  the 
remains  of  an  ancient  Druidical  temple.     Mr.  Kemble's  deriva- 

s 


258  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

tion  from  stunhengena,  "  the  stone  gallowses,"  seems  the  most 
reasonable.     See  N.  &  Q.  2d  S.  iii.  2. 

STOR,  STORA,  in  local  names  in  Scandinavia,  is  the  Scand. 
stor,  great,  as  Stor  Fiord  and  Storhanimer,  in  Norway;  Stora 
Logdan  Elv  or  river,  Stora  Aby,  Stor  Sjon,  "  the  great  lake,"  in 
Sweden.     Stor  is  also  found  in  local  names  in  Finland. 

STOUR,  the  name  of  several  rivers  in  England,  as  the  Greater 
and  Lesser  Stour  in  Kent ;  the  Stour  in  Dorset ;  from  Anc  Brit. 
Ys  dwr,  "  the  water."     But  see  Ister  and  Thames. 

STOW,  in  local  names  in  England,  as  Barstow,  Walthamstow, 
is  the  A.  S.  stow  (Fries,  sfo,  Ice.  std),  a  place,  habitation. 

STRA'HOW,  a  monastery  at  Prague,  on  the  site  of  an  old 
watch-tower,  the  supposed  remains  of  a  strong  fortified  castle ; 
from  Boh.  strahowdni  a  station,  guard  (strahowat,  to  guard). 

STRALSUND,  a  port  of  Prussia,  said  to  derive  its  name  from 
A.  S.  stroil  an  arrow,  sund  a  narrow  sea  or  strait.  The  town 
arms  are  three  arrows.     But  see  Strelitz. 

STRAND,  a  street  in  London,  so  named  from  lying  on  the 
strand  or  bank  of  the  Thames  ;  from  A.  S.  strand,  bank  of  a 
river. 

STRASBOURG,  a  town  of  Alsace,  France,  formerly  Strata- 
burgum ;  from  L.  stratus  spread  out,  scattered.  Low  L.  burgus,  a 
town,  fort,  castle.     See  also  Greg,  de  Tours,  lib,  s.  ch.  19. 

STRAT,  STREAT,  in  local  names  in  England,  is  the  A.  S. 
strcBte,  strete  (G.  strasse,  D.  straat,  Dan.  strccde,  Sw.  strat.  It. 
strada,  Sp.  estrada,  W.  ystryd),  a  street,  road,  from  L.  stratum, 
a  paved  street,  lit.  strewed,  scattered,  laid  upon,  paved,  from 
sterno,  to  strew,  from  Sans,  stri  ;  thus  Stratton,  Stratford, 
Streatham.  Most  places  whose  names  are  compounded  of  strat, 
streat,  are  situated  on  Roman  roads. 

STRATFORD,  co.  Essex,  formerly  Stretford,  from  A.  S.  strcete 
a  street,  way.  Sic,  ford,  id.     See  Strat. 

STRATH,  found  in  many  local  names  in  Scotland,  as  in  Strath- 
earn,  Strath-more,  is  the  Gael.  S7-at/i,  sratha  (Ir.  id..  Corn,  and 
Sco.  strath),  a  mountain  valley,  the  bottom  of  a  valley,  a  low- 
lyino-  country  through  which  a  river  rolls  ;    the  low  inhabited 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  259 

part  of  a  country,  in  contradistinction  to  its  hilly  ground  ;  a  dell ; 
rarely  marshy  ground.     See  Armstrong. 

STRATTON,  a  small  town  in  Cornwall ;  according  to  Pryce, 
"  the  hill  full  of  fresh  springs  of  water."  Others  say  Strattoii 
is  a  corruption  oi  Strettun,  i.e.  street  town.  The  Saxons  called 
the  old  Roman  roads  streets,  and  places  situated  on  such  roads 
Stretton,  Streatham,  &c. 

STREATHAM  (stret'm),  Surrey,  in  A.  S.  means  a  dwelling 
or  habitation  situated  on  a  Roman  road.     See  Strat. 

STREL'ITZ,  a  city  of  Germany.  The  Strelitzers  (the  famous 
old  Russian  life-guards)  derive  their  name  from  the  Slav,  strelec 
or  strelitz,  a  darter,  shooter,  from  strela  or  striela,  an  arrow, 
bows  and  arrows  having  been  anciently  their  only  implements  of 
war.  The  word  is  probably  of  Icelandic  origin.  Conf.  Ice. 
striiUl,  a  ray  of  light,  Dan.  straale,  a  ray,  Sw.  strdle,  a  i"ay, 
beam,  A.  S.  strcel,  an  arrow,  dart,  missile  of  war.  Wend,  strela. 
It.  strale,  an  arrow,  and  voc.  Stralsund. 

STROM'BOLI,  one  of  the  Lipari  Islands,  Sicily,  named  from 
its  round  form  ;  corruption  of  Strongyle,  its  ancient  name,  from 
Gr.  TrpT/yjXoQ  round  ;  from  o-rpxyyu),  to  squeeze,  press. 

STURMINSTER,  Dorset ;  "  minster  on  the  River  Stower  or 
Stur." 

STUTGARD,  capital  of  Wiirtemberg,  has  its  name  from  the 
stuts  or  stallions  formerly  kept  there  for  purposes  of  war. 
Stutgard  translates  "  the  stallion  enclosure  "  from  stut  and  gard. 
(See  Go  ROD.)  Lamartiniere,  in  his  description  of  this  place, 
speaks  of  a  "  graude  cour,  couverte  de  sable,  pour  les  combats  a 
cheval,  avec  des  lices  et  des  carrieres  pour  courir  la  bngue." 
The  arms  of  the  city  are  a  mare  suckling  her  colt. 

STYRIA,  G.  Stciermark,  a  part  of  Austria  deriving  its  name 
from  its  chief  town,  Stcyer  (the  Austrian  Sheffield),  which 
again  takes  its  name  from  its  situation  at  the  junction  of  the 
River  Steyer  with  the  Enns.  Some  say  Stcyr  or  Steycr  is  the 
ancient  Astir,  Asturis,  or  Casturis.     See  Stour  and  Asturia. 

STYX,  in  auc.  gcog.  a  cold  poisonous  sj)ring  or  fountain  in 
Arcadia,  wiiich  afterwards  becomes  a  river  or  hike  ;  in  fable  a 

s  2 


260  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

water  or  lake  in  the  infernal  regions,  round  which  it  flows  nine 
times,  and  by  which  the  gods  swore,  "  From  cri'vysuj,  to  hate, 
to  dread ;  and  why  her  offspring  are  made  attendants  on  the 
Almighty  is  conspicuous,  says  the  scholiast."     (Cooke's  Hesiod.) 

SU,  in  names  of  rivers,  &c.,  in  Turkey,  is  the  Turc,  »^  su 
water ;  as  Ak  Sii,  white  water ;  Karah  Su,  black  water.  Beyaz 
Sii ;  Chamurlu  Sii  ;  Choruk  Su  ;  Injeh  Su  ;   Tokhmah  Sii. 

SUNDERBUNDS,  a  district  in  India  extending  along  the  Bay 
of  Bengal ;  properly  Sundari vana,  so  named  on  account  of  the  vast 
number  of  sundari  trees  growing  in  this  locality ;  from  Sans. 
sundari  vana  "forest  of  sundari  trees."     (See  Wilson.) 

STJNDERLAND,  the  name  of  places  in  Durham,  Northumber- 
land, and  Yorkshire ;  from  A.  S.  sundorlande,  lit.  land  sundered 
or  separated  from  other  land,  either  by  water  or  by  any  other 
means  ;  from  sundrian,  syndrian,  to  separate,  and  land,  id.  The 
A.  S.  sunder,  sundor,  synder,  syndor,  or  syndr,  mean  also 
separate,  different,  singular,  peculiar,  exclusive,  &c.  Dr.  Bos- 
worth  interprets  sunder-land,  "  separate  or  privileged  land, 
territory,  or  freehold  land." 

SURREY,  found  written  Suthrea,  Suthrie,  Suthriona,  Suthereia, 
Suderige,  Suthregia,  Suthrie,  Sudrei,  Surrie  and  Suthereye  ;  from 
A.  S.  siith  south,  ea  an  island  (for  ea-land  or  ig-land) — "  the 
southern  island ;  "  or  from  suth  south,  and  rice  a  kingdom,  as 
descriptive  of  its  situation  with  respect  to  Middlesex  and  the 
other  INIercian  territories  ;  or  from  suth  south,  and  rith  a  river — 
"  that  part  of  London  which  lies  on  the  S.  side  of  the  river." 

SUTTON,  name  of  several  places  in  England  ;  from  A.  S. 
suth  tun,  south  town,  like  Norton  from  north  tun,  north  town. 

SWABIA,  or  SUABIA,  G.  Schwahen,  one  of  the  ten  circles 
into  which  Germany  was  formerly  divided.  Schmittheuner  derives 
Schwabe,  a  Swabian,  from  O.  H.  G.  suab  (pi.  suaba),  "the  wise, 
the  intelligent,  a  person  full  of  understanding  and  discernment," 
from  sueban,  to  perceive,  understand,  know,  comprehend  ;  but 
the  ancient  Schwabeu,  which  was  more  extensive  than  the  modern 
circle,  was  more  probably  named  from  the  Suevi,  a  people  of 
Northern  Germany,  who  immigrated  thither, 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  261 

SWALE,  a  river  in  Yorkshire ;  a  river  iu  Kent ;  a  channel 
called  East  Swale,  between  the  Isle  of  Sheppey  and  the  coast  of 
Kent.  Some  derive  the  name  from  Gael,  suail,  small,  or  siial, 
famous.  Chalmers  says  neither  of  these  terms  is  applicable  to 
the  rivers  in  question,  and  he  thinks  the  Swale,  the  Swily  in 
Gloucestershire,  the  Swelly,  and  the  Swilly  and  Loch  Swilly  in 
Donegal,  may  have  been  designated  from  the  nature  of  the 
countries  through  which  they  run  ;  and  he  derives  all  these  names 
from  Brit,  r/s-ivall,  "  a  sheltered  place,"  "  an  inhabited  or  culti- 
vated country." 

SWAN  RIVER,  a  river  of  New  Holland  discovered  by  Vlamiug, 
a  Dutch  navigator,  who  named  it  the  Swan  River  from  the 
number  of  black  swans  he  observed  on  its  banks. 

SWANAGE,  CO.  Dorset,  found  written  Swanwich,  Swannage, 
and  Sandwich  ;  in  the  Sax.  Chron.  called  Swanawic  ;  by  Asser 
^lenevensis,  Suanavine  and  Gnavewic ;  in  Domesday  Swanwic 
and  Sonwic.  Two  Danish  fleets  perished  here  in  a  storm  in  the 
year  877,  one  fleet  having  been  first  defeated  by  Alfred.  The 
historian  of  Dorset  thinks  the  Danish  general  might  have  been 
named  Siiene,  and  the  place  called  after  him  Suene-wic,  from 
A.  S.  wic,  a  reach  of  a  shore  or  river ;  but  the  name  might  also 
translate  the  "  habitation  of  swans."  See  also  Asser 's  Life  of 
Alfred,  ed.  Wise,  p.  29  ;  and  Sax.  Chron.  a.d.  877. 

SWANSCOMB,  a  parish  of  Kent,  said  to  derive  its  name 
from  Sweyn^s  Camp,  from  the  Danish  king  Sweyn  having  erected 
a  fortress  here  to  preserve  a  winter  station  for  his  ships. 

SWANSEA  {swon'ze),  co.  Glamorgan,  S.  Wales,  called  by  the 
Welsh  "  Abertawy,"  from  its  situation  at  the  mouth  of  the  Taw  or 
Tawy,  which  here  falls  into  the  Bristol  Channel.  It  derived  the 
name  of  Swinesea  or  Swinesey,  according  to  Camden,  from  the 
number  of  porpoises  with  which  this  part  of  the  channel  abounded, 

SWEDEN,  Fr.  Suede,  It.  Svecia,  Sp.  Suecia,  G.  Schweden, 
D.  Zweden,  Sw.  Sveriga,  Dan.  Sverrig,  L.  Suedia  and  Suecia. 
According  to  some  authors,  the  Suevi,  who  anciently  inhabited  a 
large  part  of  N.  Germany,  called  after  them  Sucvia,  received  their 
designation  I'rom  tlieir  wandering  character,  or  from  a  king  or  liero 


262 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 


named  Suevus.  Cluverius  thinks  the  Suiones  (Swedes)  and 
Suevi  agree  in  name  with  Mount  Sevo  and  the  River  Suevus ;  he 
does  not,  however,  inform  us  which  appellation  is  derived  from  the 
other.  Again,  others  assert  that  the  Suiones  were  the  descendants 
of  the  Suevi,  and  that  Suiones  is  a  contraction  of  Sueviones.  The 
most  reasonable  conjecture  is  Wachter's,  viz.  that  the  Suiones  derive 
their  name  from  Sax.  sivein  (swan)  a  boy,  youth,  tyro,  and  that 
they  were  called  Suiones  because  the  first  colonies  in  Scandinavia 
were  a  German  youth.  Somner  gives  Siveon,  the  Suiones, 
Sweoland,  Suecia,  Suedia.  Ihre  says  the  Swedes  are  called  in 
A.  S.  monuments  Sweon,  and  the  country  Sweon-land.  In  Ice. 
the  Swedes  are  named  Sviar  ;  the  king  of  Sweden,  Svia  kongur  ; 
the  kingdom  of  Sweden,  Svia  velldi.  Lye  gives  Sveo-  vel  Sveod- 
land,  Swede-land ;  Sveon,  Suiones,  Swedi.  The  Sw.  Sveriga  is  a 
contraction  of  Svea-rike,  i.  e.  the  kingdom  of  Svea  or  Sweden. 
See  also  Cluv.  lib.  iii.  ;    G.  Ant.  c.  41  ;  and  Tacitus. 

SWINDON,  Wilts  ;  "  town  on  the  River  Swin."      See  Swine. 

SWINE,  the  centre  mouth  of  the  River  Oder  in  Germany.  It 
was  called  in  L.  Suevus  and  Suebus,  and  Spener  therefore  concludes 
that  the  name  is  connected  with  the  Suevi,  who  anciently  inhabited 
this  part.  Swine  or  Swin  is  the  name  of  several  rivers,  and  may 
be  derived  from  Celt,  swyn,  holy,  enchanted  (W.  dwfr  swyn, 
holy  water).     See  Le  Mans  and  Swindon. 

SWINEMUND  {svina'-moo7id),  a  town  of  Prussia  ;  "  mouth 
of  the  Swine"  (G.  mund,  mouth). 

SWITZERLAND,  G.  Schwys,  Schweiz,  Fr.  La  Suisse,  It. 
Svizzera,  Switzerland  ;  Low  L.  Suiceri,  Suicenses,  Suitenses, 
Suitones,  the  Swiss.  The  ancient  name  of  Switzerland  was  Hel- 
vetia, and  of  its  inhabitants,  Helvetii.  The  three  forest  cantons, 
Schwyz,  Uri,  and  Unterwalden,  were  the  first  to  assert  their  inde- 
pendence of  Austria,  and  in  the  beginning  of  the  fourteenth 
century,  their  population  began  to  be  known  as  the  Schwyzeru  or 
Schweizern,  a  name  said  to  have  been  first  given  to  them  by  the 
Austrians.  Schwyz,  the  name  of  the  wealthiest  and  most  populous 
of  these  three  cantons,  has  since  been  applied  to  the  whole  con- 
federation.    This,  does  not,  however,  account  for  the  name  of  the 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  263 

canton  of  Schwyz,  which  was  doubtless  derived  from  that  of  its 
inhabitants.  "Wachter  says  Suiceri  means  "  dwellers  in  valleys," 
and  he  derives  it  from  sveit,  which  in  the  Runic  Lexicon  is  inter- 
preted "  a  valley  habitation  surrounded  by  mountains,"  and  he 
thinks  Helvetia  had  very  nearly  the  same  meaning.  Others  derive 
the  name  of  the  Suiceri  from  their  leader  Schwyter  ;  or  from  Sued, 
i.  e.  the  Swedes.  It  is  more  than  probable,  however,  that  the 
only  etymological  part  of  Sch-wyz  and  Hel-vet-ia  {Hel-uet-ia)  is 
uitSf  icit,  and  that  the  Swiss  were  originally  a  tribe  of  the  XJits, 
Uihts,  Wihts,  Ytas,  or  Jutes.  See  also  voc.  Oude  ;  Csesar,  B. 
G.  hb.  i.  c.  9  ;  Tac.  Hist.  lib.  i.  c.  67,  and  Germ.  c.  28 ;  Fest. 
lib.  xiv. ;  Stumpf.  Chron.  Helv.  fol.  178  ;  and  Wachter,  Gloss. 

SYDENHAM,  Kent,  formerly  Cypenham.     See  Chipping. 

SYRACUSE,  Sicily,  was  named  from  a  marsh  in  the  vici- 
nity called  Syraco,  which  Bochart  derives  from  Phoen.  serach, 
or  sarach,  to  stink.  He  says,  however,  that  the  Carthaginian 
name  of  Syracuse  was  Sor-cosja,  "quasi  Tyrum  latentem  dicas." 
Thucydides,  speaking  of  Syracuse,  says  the  Sicilians  first  named 
it  Zancle,  because  in  shape  it  resembled  a  scythe,  which  they 
called  zanclum.  According  to  Bochart  it  was  called  Zancle,  from 
its  curved  shore,  from  Phoen.  vt.yh'i  zalga. 

SYRIA,  the  name  of  a  province  of  Asiatic  Turkey,  is  the  L. 
form  of  the  Gr.  Sy^i/a,  i.e.  Souria  or  Soria,  a  name  which  it 
received  from  the  city  of  Tsor  or  Sor,  i.  e.  Tyre.  It  was  called 
by  Orientals,  Aram.  Some  of  their  historians,  however,  style 
it  Souristau  or  Soristan,  i.  e.  the  stan  or  country  of  Souria  or 
Soria. 


T. 


TABOR,  in  auc.  gcog.  an  eminence  in  the  plain  of  Esdraelon, 
near  the  Jordan,  ^^nn  tabhur  may  mean  a  lofty  place,  or  a  stone 
(juarry,  from  bardr,  to  sever,  &c.  See  also  Polyb.  lib.  v.  c.  70  ; 
Joseph.  Ant.  lib.  v.  c.  2  ;  Matt,  xvii.,  Mark  ix.  1. 

TABOR,  a  town  of  Bohemia,  remarkable  as  the  stronghold  of  the 


264  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

Hussites,  who  founded  it,  and  who  are  supposed  to  make  a  Scrip- 
tural allusion  in  its  name,  inasmuch  as  the  hill  behind  the  town  is 
called  "  Horeb,"  and  a  pond,  not  far  off,  the  "  Jordan."  The  name, 
however,  is  more  probably  derived  from  Boh.  tdbor,  a  camp 
(castra).  The  word  is  also  found  in  Hung.,  and  in  Pol.  it 
translates  "  the  camp  of  a  nomadic  people  ;  a  place  fortified  with 
waggons  of  such  a  camp  ;  camp  of  the  Turks  and  Tatars." 

TxlBREEZ,  a  city  of  Persia.  Richardson  says  the  name 
Tabriz,  or  Tabriz,  is  conjectured  to  have  been  given  to  this  place 
on  account  of  its  healthiness  of  situation ;  the  first  word  imply- 
ing "  dispersing  a  fever,"  or  "  resisting  an  infection,"  but  that 
as  this  country  was  famous  for  the  adoration  of  fire,  the  name 
may  refer  to  that  circumstance,  for  tdb-riz  may  be  interpreted 
"scattering  heat,  diffusing  splendour."  The  Pers.  tibriz  is  a 
table,  sofa,  bench  ;  tab,  a  fever  ;  tub,  strength,  heat,  splendour ; 
the  Arab,  tabriz,  causing  to  come  forth,  &c. 

TALAVERA,  the  name  of  several  cities  of  Spain,  but  espe- 
cially of  Talavera  de  la  Reina,  on  the  Tagus.  It  received  the 
adjunct  "  de  la  Reina,"  from  Alonso  XI.,  who  gave  it  as  a  dowry 
to  his  wife.  Dona  Maria.  Some  writers  assert  that  it  was 
founded  a.m.  2066,  by  King  Brige,  who  named  it  Talabriga; 
that  the  Romans  afterwards  colonized  it  and  called  it  Libera 
Ebura,  but  that  the  Muhammadans,  becoming  masters,  named  it 
Tahareda,  on  account  of  the  fogs  prevalent  in  the  neighbourhood, 
whence  its  present  name  has  been  corrupted.  The  Moors,  how- 
ever, never  called  it  by  any  such  name.  Its  original  appellation 
was  doubtless  Tala,  to  which  was  afterwards  added  that  of  briga, 
to  denote  a  town.  Indeed,  the  Romans  called  it  Ebora  Talabriga, 
as  the  inscriptions  found  in  its  territory  show ;  and  its  present 
name  has  been  corrupted  from  Talabriga. 

TALGARTH,  Brecon,  Wales,  properly  Tdl  y  Garth,  "the 
front  of  the  hill." 

TAMWORTH,  co.  Stafford,  found  written  Taman-weorth-ege, 
Tame-wordina,  Tameweorde,  Tameworthe,  Tamesworthe,  Tame_ 
worth,  Thameworth :  "  Worth  on  the  River  Tame."  See 
Worth. 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  265 

TARSHISH,  mentioned  in  the  Old  Testament  in  connexion 
with  the  commerce  of  the  Hebrews  and  Phoenicians.  Tarshish, 
or  Tartessus,  is  supposed  by  some  to  have  been  a  city  of  CiUcia  in 
Asia,  the  modern  Tarsoos  ;  others,  with  more  probability,  place  it 
near  the  mouth  of  the  Beetis,  now  the  Guadalquivir,  in  Spain, 
and  they  assert  that  Tartessus  was  also  the  most  ancient  name 
both  of  the  surrounding  region  and  of  the  Bsetis  itself.  Those  who 
confoimd  Tarshish  with  Tarsus,  refer  to  a  fable  of  the  winged  horse 
Pegasus,  who  is  supposed  to  have  lost  the  hoof  of  his  foot  there, 
and  they  accordingly  derive  the  name  from  Gr.  raprxoc,  sole 
of  the  foot.  The  Rev.  Alfred  Jones  translates  ty^tyin  tarshhjsh, 
"breaking,  subjection,"  i.e.  of  enemies,  from  ra«A«*A  "to break." 
It  is  not  at  all  improbable,  however,  that  both  Tarshish  and 
Tarsus  may  derive  their  names  from  their  inhabitants,  who  may 
have  been  called  the  Tursh  or  Tursci.  See  also  Strabo,  140,  151  ; 
Herod,  iv.  152  ;  Mela,  iii.  6  ;  Stephens,  Byz.  ;  Curt.  iii.  4  ; 
Lucan  iii.  225  ;  Dion.  Perieg.  868 ;  and  voc.  Tuscany. 

TARTARUS,  the  classical  name  for  the  infernal  regions. 
Cooke  {Notes  on  Hesiod)  says,  "  Tartarus  is  said  to  be  brought 
forth  with  the  Earth,  because  it  is  feigned  to  be  in  the  inmost 
recesses  of  the  Earth."  Le  Clerc  derives  the  name  from  Phcen. 
tarahhtarahh,  from  Arab,  tarahh,  "  he  created  trouble."  The 
name  may  have  some  etymological  connexion  with  the  Hind. 
dhur-dhura,  signifying  the  boundary  formed  by  a  stream,  from 
dhdr  or  dhurd  a  stream,  dhiira  boundary. 

TARTARY,  "  the  land  of  the  Tartars,"  properly  Tatars.  The 
word  .Ub'  Tatar,  according  to  Abul-Ghazi  {Hist.  Mongh.  and 
Tart.)  and  other  Muhammadan  writers,  is  the  designation  of  a 
tribe  descended  from  a  prince  of  that  name,  who,  with  his 
brother  Monghol  were  descended  from  the  race  of  Tourk.  Some 
Oriental  writers  have  advanced  that  the  word  Tatar  is  derived 
from  the  name  of  a  river,  the  banks  of  which  were  first  inhabited 
by  this  tribe  ;  but  they  all  agree  in  applying  the  name  to  a 
particular  body  of  people,  and  not  to  a  race.  The  writers  of  the 
thirteenth  century  changed  this  word  to  Tartar,  because,  perhaps, 
it  has  uearly  the  bamc  sound  as  their  word  Tartarus,  a  corruption 


266  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

which  seems  to  coincide  in  some  measure  with  the  terror  that 
was  inspired  by  the  incursions  of  Jenghis  Khan  and  his  de- 
scendants. The  word  Tartary  is  therefore  not  only  vague  and 
undefined,  but  also  badly  applied.  See  Davids,  Gram.  Turke  ; 
Remusat,  Recherches  sur  les  Lang.  Tart.  torn.  i.  p.  1. 

TASMANIA  takes  its  name  from  Abel  Jansseu  Tasman,  a 
Dutchman,  one  of  the  greatest  navigators  of  the  seventeenth 
century,  who  first  discovered  this  island  in  1642,  and  called 
it  Van  Dieraen's  Land,  in  honour  of  the  Governor-General  of  the 
Dutch  East  India  Company,  Anthony  van  Diemen,  by  whom  he 
had  been  commissioned  to  proceed  on  a  voyage  to  ascertain  the 
extent  of  the  Australian  continent.  Of  late  years,  it  has  been 
found  much  more  convenient,  especially  in  commercial  affairs,  to 
call  it  Tasmania. 

TAUNTON,  anc.  Thonodunum,  co.  Somerset ;  named  from 
its  situation  near  the  river  Tone. 

TAURUS,  in  anc.  geog.,  a  great  chain  of  mountains  which 
extended  nearly  due  E.  and  W.  from  the  shores  of  the  .^gean  to 
those  of  the  supposed  Eastern  Ocean,  and  divided  Asia  into  two 
parts,  Asia  within  the  Taurus,  and  Asia  without  the  Taurus.  In 
modern  geography,  the  whole  chain,  from  the  S.  W.  of  Asia 
Minor  to  Ararat,  bears  the  name  of  Taurus.  The  name  is 
Latinized  from  Arab.  ,  J-  tawr,  tur,  a  mountain.  The  Arabs 
still  call  it  Ti'ir,  and  they  style  the  people  who  dwell  in  the 
vicinity,  Tuwara.  It  is  also  called  Ahdagh,  from  Turc.  al-tagh, 
high  mountain. 

TAVISTOCK,  CO.  Devon,  found  written  Tafing-stock,  Teaui- 
stoke,  Tauestoke,  Tavistoke,  Tavestok,  and  Thauistoke ;  named 
from  the  river  Tavy,  Taw,  Tau,  or  Tay,  which  flows  past  it,  and 
A.  S.  stoc,  a  place.  We  find  also  Peter  and  Mary  Tavy,  North, 
South,  and  Bishop's  Tawton,  and  Tawstock,  in  Devon,  all  situated 
on  the  Taw  or  Tavy. 

TAY,  Gael.  Tath  (pron.  ta),  a  river  of  Scotland  ;  Tay,  a  river 
in  Waterford  ;  Tay,  a  loch  and  a  river  in  Perth  ;  Ta  Loch,  in 
Wexford  ;  Taw,  a  river  in  Devon  ;  Taw,  a  river  in  Glamorgan  ; 
Taw  or  Tau,  the  name  of  several  rivers  in  Great  Britain.     Tacitus 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  267 

calls  the  Scottish  Tay,  Tavus;  Ptolemy  writes  Taoua.  We  find 
Tatha  in  several  local  names,  as  Broughty  ;  from  Bruich  Tatha, 
"  the  sloping  ground  or  brae  of  Tay  ;"  Kincarathie,  from  Cean- 
car-tatha,  "  the  head  or  turn  of  Tay  ;"  Abdie,  from  Abbey-tatha, 
"the  abbey  of  Tay;"  Dundee,  &c.  Chalmers  says  Tay  is 
merely  the  Eng.  pron.  of  the  Brit.  Taw.  See  Tivy  and 
Thames. 

TEDDINGTON,  on  the  Thames,  co.  Middlesex,  in  ancient 
records  written  Todynton  and  Totynton.  Some  have  supposed 
the  name  to  denote  the  ending  of  the  tide,  which  does  not  flow 
above  tliis  village;  Tide-end-town,  in  Sax.  Tyd-end-ton.  There 
can  be,  says  Lysons,  no  other  objection  to  this  etymology,  than 
that  the  place  is  called  Totyngton  in  all  records  for  several 
centuries  after  its  name  first  occurs.  Baxter  supposes  Tote  to  be 
a  corruption  of  theoda,  "  the  people  ;"  Bedwell  derives  Totenham 
from  toten,  "to  wind  like  a  horn;"  V?ix\.m%  {Hist.  Norfolk) 
conjectures  Tot  to  be  the  name  of  a  river  ;  but  Teddington  may 
be  from  the  same  root  as  Totness,  and  may  mean  the  "fox- 
meadow-town."     See  Totness. 

TEIGNMOUTH  (tin'muth),  Devon  ;  "  mouth  of  the  Teign." 
In  old  maps  it  is  called  Tingmouth ;  Bailey  writes  Teiguemoth. 

TEMESWAR  (teineshvar'),  a  town  of  Hungary,  on  the  river 
Temes,  which  falls  into  the  Danube  near  Belgrade  (Huno-.  vdr, 
vdrad,  a  castle). 

TENBURY,  CO.  Worcester,  formerly  Temebury,  named  from 
its  situation  on  the  south  bank  of  the  River  Teme. 

TENERIFFE  {ten-erif).  Port.  Tenarife,  Tenerife,  the  largest 
and  most  important  of  the  Canary  Isles.  Tenerife  is  a  cor- 
ruption of  Chinerfe,  the  name  which  the  original  inhabitants, 
the  Guanches,  called  it.  The  most  western  part  of  the  isle  is 
called  Punta  de  Tcna ;  the  highest  ground  is  designated  Teyde, 
from  its  native  name  Echeyde,  which  is  said  to  signify  "  hell," 

TEPETL,  terminating  names  of  mountains  in  some  parts  of 
America,  is  an  Aztec  word  for  a  mountain.  Some  of  the  highest 
mountains  between  the  capital  of  Mexico  and  the  httle  towns  of 
Cordova  and  Xalappa,  are  Popocatepetl,  from  popucuni,  smoke  ; 


268  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

Citlaltepetl,  "a  mountain  which  appears  as  brilliant  as  a  star," 
from  citaline,  a  star  (it  is  said  that  when  the  peak  of  Orizaba  is 
seen  at  a  distance  throwing  up  fire,  it  looks  like  a  star) ; 
Nauhcampatepetl,  from  nauhcampa,  "  a  square  thing,"  in  allusion 
to  the  form  of  the  little  porphyritic  rock  at  the  top  of  the  moun- 
tain of  Perotte,  which  the  Spaniards  have  compared  to  a  coffer. 
There  is  another  mountain  in  the  neighbourhood  called  Iztacci- 
huatl,  from  iztac  white,  ciuatl  woman.  (See  Vocab.  Lang. 
Azteque,  by  le  P.  Alonzo  de  Molina,  p.  63,  Mex.  1571.) 

TEPLITZ,  a  town  of  Bohemia,  renowned  for  its  hot  springs  ; 
from  Boh.  teplice  (pron.  teplitse),  warm  baths,  from  teple,  warm 
(fejjiet,  calescere,  calefieri ;  teplit,  calefacere),  from  Sans,  tap, 
to  make  hot,  to  burn,  whence  the  L.  tepidus, 

TER'MONDE,  formerly  Dendermonde,  a  town  of  Belgium, 
named  from  its  situation  on  the  Scheldt,  at  its  junction  with  the 
Dender  (Flem.  monde,  mouth). 

TERRA  DEL  FUEGO  (foo-a-go),  an  island  at  the  southern 
extremity  of  S.  America,  abounding  in  volcanoes;  from  Sp.  tierra 
del  fuego,  "  land  of  fire." 

TERRACINA  {terrafche'na),  a  town  of  Italy,  formerly  Tar- 
racina.  Strabo  writes  Tappaxlvrj  ;  Stephens,  the  geographer, 
Tappccuriva.  The  name  refers  to  the  position  of  the  town  ;  from 
'fpa^ivrj,  from  I'pcx.'xyQ,  rough,  rugged,  rocky.  "  II  etoit  sur  des 
roches  blanches,  et  on  le  voyoit  de  loin,  a  cause  de  son  devation, 
et  de  la  couleur  eclataute  de  ces  roches."  (Lamar tinier e.)  Livy 
mentions  a  river  of  Italy  called  Tarracina,  Archdeacon  Williams 
derives  Terracina  from  W.  tir  land,  and  kiii,  kan,  or  ken,  which 
he  says  are  Gaelic  forms  of  the  Cymric  ^jew,  the  head,  the 
end. 

TEWKESBURY,  co.  Gloster ;  from  Teuk,  and  Sax.  birig, 
a  town,  q.  d.  the  church  of  St.  Teuk,  a  hermit.   {Bailey.) 

THAMES  (temz),  a  river  in  England,  which  rises  in  Wilts  and 
flows  by  London  ;  the  Tame,  a  river  in  Cheshire ;  the  Tame  in 
Cornwall  and  Devon,  whence  Tamerton  or  Tomerton  ;  the  Tame 
in  Stafford,  upon  which  Tamworth  stands  ;  the  Tema,  which 
joins  the  Ettrick  in  Selkirk  ;  the  Teme  in  Worcester  ;  the  Temes 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  269 

in  Hungary,  which  falls  into  the  Danube  near  Belgrade,  whence 
Temes-var.      Csesar   calls   the  Thames,  Tatnesis   or    Thamesis ; 
Tacitus  and  Dion  Cassius,  Tamesa  ;  Ptolemy,  lcc[xrj(ra, ;  in  some 
MSS.  lociMEtraie ;  and  in  some  editions  idiJATtrcc.     In  A.  S.  it  is 
Temese,  Temcese,  and  Temis.     Some  authors  state  that  the  name 
of  this  river  is  properly  the  Isis  until  it  arrives  at  Dorchester, 
Oxon,  where  it  receives  the  waters  of  the  Tame  or  Thame,  when 
it  attains  the  compound  name  of  Tamesis,  Thamesis,  or  Thames. 
Dr.  Pughe  gives,  as  the  W.  name  for  the  Thames,  Tain,  which 
he  translates,   "  that  is  of  a  spreading  quality."     Others  assert 
that  Thamesis  in    Celt,    means    "winding  water,"    or   may  be 
derived  from  Anc.  Brit,  tavmj,  "  a  gentle  stream."     Lipscombe 
thinks  "  there  is  no  necessity  for  referring  to  the  Anc.  Brit.,  as 
the  word  tame,  in  our  tongue,   derived  from  the  Saxon,  is  suffi- 
ciently expressive  of  a  placid  quiet  current."     Chalmers  derives 
Tame  from  Brit,  tarn,  tern,  "  expanding,"  "■  spreading,"  from  ta, 
taw,  "  what  expands  or  spreads."     But  none  of  these  derivations 
accounts  for  the  final  s  or  esis,  which  is  most  probably  a  corrup- 
tion of  the  Brit,  isc,  Gael,  uisge,  water,  and  perhaj^s  the  first 
part  of  the  word,  Tam,  was  the  earliest  name  both  of  the  River 
Thames  and  of  the  Tame  or  Thame  which  falls  into  the  Thames 
at  Dorchester  ;  indeed,  Lye  says  "  Temese,  T^emese,  ita  dictus, 
ut  vulgo  creditur,  a  concursu  Tama3  et  Isidis ;  potiiis  tamen  a 
Brit.   Tam  isc,  i.e.  aquarum   agmen,  aqute  tractus."     We  have 
not,  however,  arrived  at  the  etymology  of  Thames  without  dis- 
secting  the  first  syllable  Tame  or  Tam.     The  Celts  undoubtedly 
made  use  of  am,  as  well  as  an,  for  a  river  (from  Gael,  amhainn, 
or  L.  amnis,),  and  an,  aw,  ah,  as  well  as  dwr  for  water,  and  per- 
haps ijt  and  ys  were  used  indiscriminately  for  the  definite  article. 
If  so,  we  at  once  get  at  the  derivation  of  many  names  of  rivers ; 
thus,  Ys-au,  Sau,  Savus,  Save  ;   Ys-dwr,  Ister  ;   Ys-dwr,    Stour ; 
Ys-am,  Sam,  Sam-ara,  Sambre ;  Yt-au,  Tau,  Taw,  Tav,  Tavy ; 
Yt-am,  Tam,  Tame,  Tam  esc,  Tamesis,  Thames.     Isis  or  Ouse, 
which  appears  to  have  been  another  name  for  the  Thames  above 
Dorchester,  is  merely  another  form  oi  isc  or  nisye,  which  has  also 
boon  corrupted  into  ash,  vsa,  use,  witsa,  oise,  ys,  is,  as,  cse,  wis, 


270  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

esk,  usk,  wisk,  ax,  ex,  oxe,  ux,  wax,  wox,  woxe.  Conf.  IscA, 
OusE,  Oxford,  Tay,  Tivy. 

THEBES,  in  auc.  geog.  a  city  of  Egypt,  called  by  Pliny  and 
Juvenal  Thehe  ;  iu  Gr.  ©i^/S/y,  ©^/3aj  ;  in  anc.  Egyp,  Tape  ;  in 
one  dialect  of  the  Copt.  pron.  Tliaba.  In  hieroglyphics  it  is 
written  Ap,  Ape,  and  vrith  the  fern.  art.  Tape,  signifying  "  the 
head,"  Thebes  being  the  capital  of  the  country.  Ap,  Ape,  Tape, 
Thaba,  Thebe,  Thehes.     But  see  Tattam,  Egyp.  Lex. 

THEISS  {tice),  a  river  of  Hungary ;  G.  Theiss  and  Theisse, 
L.  Tibiscus,  Hung.  Tisza,  Walach.  Tlsd.  On  an  ancient  inscrip- 
tion it  is  styled  Tibissus ;  Pliny  calls  it  Pathissus,  and  an 
anonymous  writer,  Tibisia.  Theiss  is  a  corruption  of  Tibiscus,  for 
Tabiscus  or  Tauiscus  ;  from  Celt,  ab,  au,  water,  river,  then  the 
name  of  a  river,  with  the  prefix  or  article  yt,  and  isc,  water. 
Thus,  au,  yt-au,  Tau,  or  ab,  yt-ab.  Tab,  Tab-isc,  Tibiscus,  Tiisc, 
Tiis,  Teis,  Theiss.     See  Thames. 

THERMOPYLAE,  a  celebrated  pass  in  Greece,  takes  its  name 
from  the  hot  springs  in  the  neighbourhood  ;  from  Gr.  Sef/x^ 
warmth,  heat,  ttuXtj  a  gate,  pass,  passage. 

THETFORD,  co.  Norfolk,  from  A.  S.  theod,  people,  or  Theot, 
the  river  Thet,  ford,  id. 

THIBET',  TIBET',  a  country  of  Asia,  found  written  Thupo, 
Tobut,  Tobot,  Tiibet,  and  Tebet.  The  name  has  been  corrupted 
from  Thu-pho,  signifying  the  country  of  the  Thu,  a  people  who 
founded  an  empire  on  the  Northern  Thibet  in  the  sixth 
century,  a.d. 

THORNEY,  CO.  Cambridge,  found  written  Thorneg,  Thorn- 
die,  Thorn-ey,  Thorn-ig,  from  A.  S.  thorn,  thorn,  ig  an  island  ; 
"  thorny  island."  Dr.  Bosworth  says  Thorney  was  the  ancient 
name  of  Westminster,  which  went  into  disuse  because  of  Thorney 
in  Cambridgeshire. 

THORP,  THORPE,  in  local  names  in  England,  as  Thorp, 
CO.  Northampton  ;  Thorp-en-le-Soken  or  Thorpe-le-Soken,  co. 
Essex ;  Thorparch,  co.  York,  is  the  A.  S.  thorpe,  a  village, 
synon.  with  Piatt  D.  dorp.  Fries,  theorp,  a  village,  torp,  teorp, 
cultivated  ground,   G.   dorf,    Dan.   torp,   and  Ice.   thorp,  town, 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  271 

village,  Adelung  gives  the  root  in  G.  trupp,  a  troop,  from  a 
gathering  together,  a  heap,  and  refers  to  Ice.  thryping,  congre- 
gatio,  turba  ;  at  thyrpaz,  congregari.  The  W.  has  torf,  a  multi- 
tude, troop.  The  root  of  all  may  be  the  L.  turba,  a  troop,  a 
multitude  assembled,  numbers,  lit.  tumult,  confusion,  crowd, 
from  Gr.  ruf/Sij,  tumult,  disorder,  uproar. 

THURGAU  (toor'gow),  a  canton  of  Switzerland,  takes  its 
name,  according  to  some  writers,  from  a  people  called  the 
Tigurini,  celebrated  in  Roman  history,  whose  territory  this 
canton  formed  part.  Others  connect  the  name  Thurgau  with 
Turig  or  Zurich ;  but  this  country  was  rather  designated  from 
the  River  Thur,  which  crosses  the  central  part  of  it  from  east  to 
west.     Thurgau  means  "  district  of  the  Thur." 

THURLE,  the  name  of  an  alley  in  Oxford  ;  from  A.  S.  thyrel, 
thyrl,  a  hole,  aperture. 

THURROCK,  the  name  of  three  parishes  in  Essex,  called  in 
Domesday  Turrock,  and  distinguished  from  each  other  by  the 
additional  names  of  West,  Grays,  and  Little.  These  parishes 
received  their  name  from  their  former  proprietors,  the  Thurrocks 
or  Turrocks.  Wright,  the  historian,  says,  from  similarity  of 
sound,  the  name  Turrock  is  supposed  to  be  from  Tiirold,  who 
held  S.  Okcndon  under  Geoffrey  de  jNIandeville  ;  but  it  is  more 
reasonably  conjectured  to  be  a  corrupt  pronunciation  of  taurus,  a 
bull,  the  arms  of  the  Turrock  family  being  a  fesse  between  three 
bulls'  heads  coupde.  Grays  or  Greys — sometimes  called  Great 
Thurrock — received  its  appellation  from  the  noble  family  of 
that  name  who  were  in  possession  of  it  above  300  years. 

THURSO,  a  parish  in  Caithness,  Scotland,  was  named  from 
the  River  Thurso,  a  compound  of  Thor,  the  Scandinavian  deity, 
and  Ice.  aa  a  river  ;  "Thor's  river." 

TIIUSIS  (too'sisj,  a  town  of  Switzerland,  near  the  Via  Mala. 
According  to  some,  Thusis  is  merely  Tuscin  (changed  in  the 
Roraansch  dialect),  "  the  country  of  the  Tuscans,"  who  first 
colonized  this  part  of  the  country. 

TIIWAITE,  a  termination  of  local  names  in  parts  of  Lanca- 
shire, Westmoreland,  and  Cumberland,   as   Cornthwaitc,  Micklc- 


272  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

thwaite  (A.  S.  mid,  much),  Salterthwaite,  Apple-treethwaite, 
Scarthwaite,  denotes  "  land  grubbed  up,  freed  from  roots  of 
trees,  and  converted  to  tillage."  (See  Nicholson  and  Burn, 
Hist.  Westm.  &  Cumb.  ;  Baines,  Hist.  Lancash.  vol.  iv.  710.) 
Whitaker  says  thioaite  means  "  stubbled  ground,"  but  the  Rev. 
J.  Ingram  derives  it  from  iV.  S.  thwcete,  a  watery  washy  place, 
from  thwean,  to  wash. 

TIBER,  found  written  Tiberis,  Tibris,  and  Thybris,  in  It. 
Tevere ;  a  river  of  Italy,  said  to  have  been  originally  called 
Albula,  on  account  of  the  whiteness  of  its  waters,  and  afterwards 
Tiberis  because  Tiberinus,  king  of  Alba,  Avas  drowned  in  it.  (See 
Liv.  ;  Ov.  ;  Fest.  ;  and  Virg.  Mn.  lib.  viii.  .330.)  Tyberis  is 
more  probably  a  corruption  of  Qufj^fSpiQ,  the  name  of  a  river  in 
Sicily  (See  Hesychius).  Bochart  derives  the  Thymbris  of  Theo- 
critus (Idyll.  1),  or  rather  Thymbrin  or  Thumbrin,  from  Phoen. 
tehum  bahar  or  thehum  baharin,  "  abyss  of  the  sea  or  seas." 

TIEN-TSIN,  a  city  of  China,  on  the  River  Pei-ho.  "Its 
Chinese  name  signifies  lit.  *  heavenly  spot,'  and  in  the  time  of 
Marco  Polo,  when  it  is  supposed  to  have  been  much  larger  than 
at  present,  it  was  called  Citta  Celeste,  and  it  is  said  to  have  a 
claim  on  this  appellation  from  its  situation  in  a  genial  climate, 
fertile  soil,  dry  air,  and  serene  sky."  (Rees.)  The  name  means 
lit.  "  a  serene  clear  sky,"  from  Chin,  teeti  heaven,  tsinff  clear, 
pure,  tranquil,  bright.  Tien  (Jee^i)  is  a  common  prefix  of  local 
names  in  China  ;  as  the  towns  of  Tienchang,  Tiencheu,  Tienpe, 
Tienho ;  the  fortresses  of  Tienchiu,  Tienciven ;  the  isle  of 
Tienheng ;  the  mountains  of  Tiencang,  Tienchung,  Tienlu ; 
Tienul,  "heaven's  ear;"  Tienmo,  "heaven's  eye."  There  is 
also  a  lake  named  Tien. 

TIFLIS,  TEFLIS,  or  TIBILISI,  capital  of  the  Russian  pro- 
vince of  Georgia,  has  been  chiefly  indebted  for  its  celebrity  to  its 
warm  baths ;  and  its  Georgian  name,  Tphilisk  Alaki,  is  equiva- 
lent to  "  warm  town."  Parrot  says  its  name  is  derived  from  the 
Georgian  word  tbili,  warm,  which  may  have  been  given  to  it 
either  on  account  of  its  warm  springs,  or  from  the  contrast  of  the 
great  warmth  of  the  climate  of  Tiflis  with  the  preceding  residence 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  273 

of  the  Georgian  kings  at  Mzchet,  which  lies  on  the  dedivity  of 
the  Caucasus  and  has  a  much  cooler  temperature.  Tbili,  Tphilisk, 
are  from  the  same  root  as  Tephtz,  q.  v. 

TILBURY,  a  parish  in  Essex,  takes  its  name  from  one  Tihel, 
who,  jointly  with  Tedric  Poiutel,  anciently  owned  the  land,  and 
A.  S,  hurig,  a  town,  fort.  Tilburg  is  the  name  of  a  town  in 
Holland  in  the  province  of  N.  Brabant. 

TILSIT,  the  chief  town  of  Prussian  Lithuania,  more  correctly 
Tilse  or  Tilzele  (pron.  tilshele),  named  from  its  situation  at  tlie 
confluence  of  the  Tilzele  with  the  Memel. 

TINXEVEL'LY,  a  district  forming  the  S.  E.  extremity  of  the 
peninsula  of  India  ;  corrupted  from  Trinavali,  one  of  the  names  of 
Vishnu. 

TINWALD  MOUNT,  Isle  of  Man,  a  circular  harrow  about 
eighteen  feet  high,  where  the  local  legislative  assembly  meet ;  from 
Ice.  tinff,  a  court  of  justice,  from  tinffa  to  speak,  and  valid  a  hill. 

TIVERTON,  Devon  ;  in  Domesday  Tunvertone  ;  in  the 
Nomina  Villarum,  Twyverton  ;  contracted  from  A.  S.  tioi-ford- 
tun,  "  the  town  having  two  fords,"  it  having  been  formerly 
approached  by  two  fords  over  the  Rivers  Exe  and  Loman. 

TIVY,  or  TEIVI,  a  river  in  Cardigan,  S.  Wales  ;  the  Tavy  or 
Theve  in  Devon  ;  the  Teviot  or  Tiviot  in  Roxburghshire  ;  the 
Tave  in  Glamorgan  and  Pembroke.  All  these  names  may  be 
traced  to  the  same  root.  Chalmers  says  tav,  in  Anc.  Gaulish 
was  applied  to  a  water  or  river;  teivi  or  tavi  in  Brit,  signifies 
"  what  expands  or  spreads,"  "  what  has  a  tendency  to  expand  or 
spread;"  tevi<j,  "expanding,"  "spreading  over  ;"  and  that  these 
streams  have  a  tendency  to  spread.  He  gives  the  root  in  the 
Celt,  ta,  tail,  "what  expands  or  spreads."     But  see  Thamks. 

TOBOLSK,  the  metropolis  of  a  province  of  the  same  name  in 
Asiatic  Russia,  is  situated  on  the  River  Irtiscb,  near  the  influx 
of  the  Tohol. 

TOD,  in  local  names  in  Lancashire,  as  Toddington,  Tod- 
morden,  is  an  O.  Eng.  word  for  a  fox. 

TOLEDO  (tola'do),  L.  Tole/nm,  a  city  of  Spain,  Its  origin 
is  attributed  to  some  Jews,   who  migrated  to  Spain  during  tlie 

r 


274  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

period  of  the  second  temple  in  Jerusalem,  and  who  called  it 
Toledoth,  i.e.  genealogies,  because  they  reviewed  their  family- 
genealogies  when  they  assembled  to  dig  wells  and  found  the 
city.  In  support  of  this  opinion,  many  towns  are  pointed  out 
in  the  province  of  Toledo  which  retain  to  this  day  the  names 
given  to  them  by  their  Hebrew  settlers  ;  such  as  Escalona, 
from  Ascalon  ;  Noves,  from  Nove ;  Maqueda,  from  Megiddo ; 
Jepes  or  Yepes,  from  Joppa,  &c.  (See  P.  Crjc.)  Mellado  says, 
*Es  probable  que  los  judios  fundaron  esta  ciudad  340  anos 
antes  de  la  era  cristiana  llamandola  Toledoch,  que  significa 
'  madre  de  pueblos,'  y  todavia  se  conserva  en  Toledo  una 
suntuosa  sinagoga  de  los  judios."  The  Heb.  mi^n  toledoth  sig- 
nifies generations,  families,  races. 

TOMSK,  capital  of  the  government  of  the  same  name  in 
Siberia,  stands  on  the  River  Tom. 

TONGRES  (fonffr),  a  very  ancient  city  of  Belgium,  has  its 
name  from  the  Tungri,  a  people  of  Gaul,  mentioned  by  Pliny  and 
Tacitus.  According  to  the  latter  historian,  they  were  the  first 
German  tribe  who,  crossing  the  Rhine,  expelled  the  Gauls,  and 
settled  in  their  country. 

TONQUIN  (tonkin'),  capital  of  the  empire  of  the  same  name  ; 
from  C.  Chin.  Bong-kinh  (Chin.  Tung-king),  the  eastern  city  ; 
from  dang  east,  and  Mnh,  ht.  great.     See  Cochin  China. 

TOOLEY  STREET,  London,  named  after  the  parish  church. 
Saint  Olave  ;  thus.  Saint  Olave,  St.  Olav,  St.  Ooly,  Tooly,  Tooley. 

TORR,  in  local  names  in  Devon,  as  Torr  Abbey,  Torr  Com- 
mon, Torr  Mohun,  is  the  A.  S.  tor,  torr,  tur,  a  tower,  rock, 
high  hill,  peak;  from  L,  turris,  from  Gr.  tvppic,  rupcrig,  or  rv§(roQ, 
a  tower  or  turret,  from  root  of  Taurus,  Tyre,  and  Syria. 

TORRINGTON,  co,  Devon,  named  from  its  situation  near  the 
river  Torridge. 

TOT,  a  frequent  termination  of  local  names  in  Normandy,  as 
Yvetot,  Hotot,  Langetot,  Pretot,  Valletot,  Tournetot,  Bouquetot, 
Franquetot,  Grastot,  Hetertot,  Crestot,  Brestot,  Cailletot.  Huet 
thinks  tot  may  be  the  Sax.  to/ta  (found  in  the  Monasticum 
Anglicanum).     Whitakor  {Whalley)  says  toft  was  a  messuage 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  275 

inferior  to  a  farm-house,  and  superior  to  a  mere  cottage,  or  a 
cottage  with  a  croft  or  other  small  portion  of  land  annexed  to  it ; 
and  in  Craven,  he  says  tofts  were  insulated  dwellings  surrounded 
by  tufts  of  trees,  "  toufe  de  bois,"  with  a  croft  or  field  adjoining. 
''Toft,  toftum,  a  messuage,  or  rather  a  place  where  a  messuage 
hath  stood."  {Coweh)  The  word  toft  frequently  occurs  in  deeds, 
and  is  probably  from  the  Danish,  which  has  also  tofte,  a  lea. 

TOTNESS,  Devon,  in  ancient  records  Totenais,  Toteneis, 
Toteneys,  Totonie,  Totton,  and  Tottenes  ;  in  Domesday,  Totneis. 
Some  say  Totness  means  "town  of  foxes;"  if  so,  the  name  may 
be  from  O.  Eng.  tod,  a  fox,  A.  S.  ncBse,  a  point  of  land. 

TOULON  {toolony),  a  city  of  France,  in  L.  Telonium,  Tela, 
and  Telo-Martlus,  named  after  Telo-Martius,  a  tribune  who 
colonized  it.     Telo,  Telonium,  Toulon. 

TOULOUSE  {toolooz),  a  town  of  France  in  the  Haute 
Garonne,  named  Tolosa  by  Caesar ;  Tolosa  Colonia  by  Ptolemy  ; 
Urbs  Tolosatium  by  Sidonius  Apollinaris ;  Civitas  Tolosatium 
in  the  Notice  of  Gaul ;  in  inscriptions  both  Tolosa  and  Tholosa  ; 
and  in  later  times,  Toulouse  and  Thoulouse.  It  may  take 
its  name  from  its  inhabitants,  the  Tolsatii,  i.e.  Dol-scetas, 
"  the  valley-dwellers "  (Celt,  dol,  a  valley).  Conf  Dorset- 
shire. 

TRALEE',  a  seaport  of  Ireland,  derives  its  name,  Traigh-lee, 
"  the  strand  or  shore  of  the  Lee,"  from  its  position  near  the 
outfall  of  the  little  River  Lee  or  Leigh,  into  the  Bay  of  Tralee. 
Tramore  means  "  the  great  strand "  (Ir.  traiffh  strand,  inor 
great) . 

TRANSYLVANIA,  a  principality  of  the  Austrian  empire, 
so  called  by  the  Hungarians  as  being  beijond  their  looodi/ 
frontier — "partes  Transijlvania;"  Trans  across,  sylva  a  wood. 
TRASTEVERE  {trasta-very),  the  j)art  of  Rome  situated  on 
the  right  bank  of  the  Tiber ;  tras,  from  L.  trans,  across,  and 
Tevere,  from  L.  Tiber. 

TRAVE.MUNDE  (Iruv-e-moond'e),  a  seaport  of  Northern 
Germany,  situated  at  the  mouth  (tnund)  of  the  Trave.  Trave 
may   be  another    orthograjjliy  of   Drare,    Ihau    (Hung.    l)r<\ru, 

T  2 


276  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

L.  Bravus,  Braus),  a  river  of  Hungary,  and  Brau  may  be  from 
Gr.  v^oop,  water  ;  or  from  Celt,  dwr-au.     See  Thames. 

TRE,  the  most  common  prefix  of  local  names  in  Cornwall,  is 
the  Corn,  tre,  a  town,  village,  dwelling,  gentleman's  seat.  It  has 
the  same  signification  in  Wales,  Cornwall,  Armorica,  and  Ire- 
land ;  occurring  frequently  in  Wales,  as  Tre-Newydd,  new  town  ; 
Tre-Taliesin,  "  the  town  of  Taliesin,"  a  celebrated  bard,  who  was 
buried  here.    It  is  sometimes  affixed,  as  Uchil-tree,  Ochil-tree,  &c. 

TREBIZOND',  Turc.  Tirdbizun,  a  town  of  Asiatic  Turkey  ; 
a  corruption  of  TpairrjiTovg,  its  ancient  appellation,  and  so  named, 
it  is  said,  because  built  in  the  shape  of  a  trapezium  ;  from  Gr. 
tpuTtstiiov,  a  figure  with  four  unequal  sides,  lit.  a  small  table, 
from  rpccirsKcc  a  table,  from  rerpac  four,  te^ac  (from  ifoue) 
a  foot. 

TREF  (trev),  found  in  local  names  in  Wales,  is  the  W.  tref, 
a  dwelling-place,  homestead,  hamlet,  township,  town,  from  tre, 
homestead,  hamlet,  town  ;  as  Tref  Asser,  the  town  where  the 
celebrated  Asser  Menevensis  was  born  ;  Tref  Gam,  "  the  town 
of  the  rock  ;"  Trefecca  or  Tref  Fecca,  or  Becca,  "  Rebecca's 
mansion  ;"  Uchil-tref  in  Anglesea,  and  Uchel-tref  in  Merioneth, 
both  signifying  "  the  high  dwelling." 

TREFFOREST,  a  village  on  the  Taff  Vale  Railway  ;  "  the 
forest  village,"  from  W.  tref  a  village,  forest  a  forest. 

TREGONHAY,  TREGONICK,  TREGONIN,  Cornwall. 
Pryce  translates  tre-gon-hay,  tre-giin-hay,  tre-gonick,  tre-gonin, 
"the  dwellings  enclosed  on  the  common  ;"  and  tregony  {tre-gu-ny), 
"  the  dwellings  on  the  common  near  the  river."   (Corn.) 

TRELAWN,  Cornwall,  "  the  wool  town,"  or  "  the  open  or 
clear  town."     Trelawny,  "  by  the  water."  (Corn.) 

TRELECH,  CO.  Monmouth,  named  from  three  upright  stones 
called  Harold's  Grave  ;  from  W.  tri  three,  llech  a  stone. 

TREMADOC,  near  Caernarvon,  Wales,  a  town  of  modern 
origin  built  by  the  late  W.  A.  Madock,  Esq.,  whose  name  it  bears, 
with  the  W.  tre,  a  town  or  village,  prefixed  to  it.  The  family 
name,  Madock,  may  be  derived  from  that  of  a  place,  perhaps 
Mawdd-ach,   "the  slow  stream;"  or  from  madawg,  goodly,  from 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  277 

mad,  good.     Madawg  is  also  an  epithet  for  a  fox,  equivalent  to 
Reynard. 

TREMATON,  Cornwall,  "king's  town,"  or  "royal  town." 
(Corn.)     Trematon  Castle  belongs  to  the  Duchy  of  Cornwall. 

TREMAYNE,  Cornwall,  "the  town  on  the  shore  or  sea- 
coast  ;"  or  from  tremyn,  a  passage.  Tremaine,  "  the  stone 
town,"  or  "  the  river  or  passage  town."   (Corn.) 

TRE:MENHERE,  Cornwall,  "  the  long  stone  town,"  or  "  the 
long  passage."   (Corn.) 

TRENT,  G.  Trient,  It.  Trento,  a  city  of  South  Tyrol.  Trient 
is  a  contraction  of  Tridentum,  its  former  name.  Some  authors 
affirm  that  it  was  called  Tridentum  from  the  trident  of  Neptune, 
to  whom  the  city  was  consecrated.  This  opinion  took  its  rise 
from  an  ancient  marble  discovered  here,  on  which  was  a  Neptune 
holding  his  trident.  Others  derive  the  name  from  three  streams 
and  torrents  that  fall  into  the  Adige,  near  the  city  ;  or  from  three 
high  rocks  in  the  neighbourhood,  which  appear  like  three  teeth, 
tres  denies. 

TRENT,  found  written  Trenta,  Treonta,  Trehenta,  Treenta, 
a  river  in  England,  from  Brit.  Troilent,  said  to  have  been  named 
from  its  winding  course.     Qu.  W.  dirwyn  to  wind. 

TREPORT  {tra'por),  the  port  of  Eu,  in  France,  anciently 
called  Veteris  Portus,  Veterior  Portus,  and  Ulterior  Portus. 
Thus,  Veterisportus,  terisportus,  tresport,  Treport.  {Menage.) 

TREVES,  G.  Trier,  the  most  ancient  city  of  Germany,  for- 
merly called  Trevirorum  Civitas,  from  its  inhabitants,  the  Treviri. 

TREVETHAN,  Cornwall,  "  the  town  among  trees,"  "  the 
meadow  town,"  or  "  the  old  town."  Trevethen,  "  the  birds' 
town."     (Corn.) 

TREVILLION,  Cornwall,  "the  dwelling  of  the  seaman." 
(Corn.) 

TREVISO  {trave':o),  found  written  Trevisi,  and  Trevisio  ;  a 
town  situated  between  Trent  and  Venice  ;  the  ancient  Tarvisiuin. 
There  is  a  tradition  that  Osiris  reigned  ten  years  in  Italy,  and 
that  having,  on  the  death  of  Dionysius,  inherited  the  kingdom  of 
Egypt,  he  went  to  take  possession  of  it,  but  did  not  return  to  Italy  j 


278  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

that  after  his  death  the  Egyptians  adored  him  as  a  god,  under 
the  form  of  a  bull  {taurus),  which  they  called  Apis  or  Serapis  ; 
and  that  from  taunts,  this  city  was  named  Taurisium,  and  by 
corruption  Tarvisium  and  Trevisium.  Laraartiniere  says,  "  ad- 
mitting that  Treviso  was  built  by  Osiris,  could  he  have  given 
it  a  name  which  he  had  not  himself  until  after  his  death?" 
This  is  not  exactly  correct ;  as  Osiris  might  have  built  and 
named  the  city,  which  might  have  been  called  Taurisium  after 
his  death.  Tarvisium,  however,  may  have  been  named  from 
its  inhabitants,  the  Tarvisii,  from  Celt,  dwr  water,  gwys  men ; 
thus,  Dwr-gwys,  durwys,  darvis,  Tarvisii,  Tarvisium,  Trevisium, 
Trevisio,  Treviso.     Conf.  Dorsetshire. 

TREWITHEN,  Cornwall,  "  the  place  of  trees."     (Corn.) 

TRI,  a  prefix  of  many  names  in  the  south  of  India,  is  a  cor- 
ruption of  the  Tam.  tiru,  implying  auspicious,  venerable,  sacred ; 
as  Tripetty,  for  Tiru-pati ;  Trivatoor,  Tiru-vatur.    (See  Wihon.) 

TRICHINOPOLY  {tritshenop' olee),  a  city  of  Hindustan, 
for  Trisira-palli,  "  the  city  of  the  giant  T?'isii'd."     See  Poly. 

TRIESTE  {tre-est'),  G.  Triest,  a  city  and  seaport  of  Austria; 
corrupted  from  L.  Tergeste. 

TRING,  CO.  Herts,  in  Domesday  Treunge,  and  in  other  anc. 
documents  found  written  Treungla,  Truangle,  Trenges,  Treung, 
Treug',  and  Treing' ;  said  to  derive  its  name  from  Brit,  tre, 
a  village,  and  L.  angulus,  a  corner  ;  the  latter  name  having 
been  probably  added  by  the  Romans,  on  account  of  its  situation 
near  the  Ikenild  Street. 

TRIPOLI,  Turc.  Tirubolus,  a  seaport  on  the  N.  coast  of 
Africa.  It  is  built  upon  the  site  of  the  ancient  Oea,  which,  with 
the  cities  of  Leptis  Magna,  and  Sabrata,  formed  the  province 
called  Tripolis,  under  the  Roman  Emperors.  It  was  called 
Tripolis,  "  three  cities,"  because  composed  of  three  cities  distant 
from  one  another  the  length  of  a  furlong.  One  belonged  to  the 
Arabians  ;  another  to  the  Sidonians  ;  the  third  to  the  Tyrians. 
(See  Diod.  Sic.  lib.  xvi.  c.  41  ;  Strab.  hb.  xvi.  519  ;  Plin.  lib.  v. 
c.  20.)     From  Gr.  T^ntoKiQ ;  r^i  for  r^Bic,  three,  itoXiq  a  city. 

TROLLHATTEN   {trohlhet'n),    the   falls   of,   on   the   Gdta 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  279 

River,  in  Sweden.  The  Sw.  troll  is  a  hobgoblin,  monster; 
the  Dan.  trold,  an  elf,  imp.  Ihre  says  the  Su-Goth.  trolla. 
Ice.  trylla,  trilla,  is  to  charm,  to  use  magic  arts,  and  he 
derives  it  from  Gr.  9pyAAoc,  murmur,  giving  several  names  apper- 
taining to  magic,  similarly  derived.  He  says  the  Su-Goth. 
hcetta  is  an  abyss,  the  Lapp,  hcette  danger,  haute  an  abyss, 
and  he  thinks  the  aborigines  may  have  used  Trolh'dtta  to  denote 
"  the  abode  of  spectres." 

TROP,  a  termination  of  local  names  in  England,  is  another 
orthography  of  thorp,  thorpe,  q.  v. 

TROPPAU  {troppow),  L.  Troppavia  and  Oppavia,  a  city  in 
Silesia,  named  from  its  situation  on  the  Op2ia,  at  its  confluence 
with  the  jMohre  :  "  the  au  or  meadow  of  the  Oppa." 

TROWBRIDGE,  co.  Wilts,  formerly  Trubridge,  which  some 
translate  "  a  firm  or  true  bridge  ;  "  but  "  for  what  reason  it  had 
this  name,  does  not  at  all  appear."  {Camden.)  Dr.  Holland 
thinks  the  right  name  is  Trulbridge  ;  "  for,  besides  the  natural 
melting  of  I  into  u,  there  is  a  tithing  in  the  liberty  and  parish 
called  Tral,  and  a  large  common  near  it  of  the  same  name ; 
besides  which,  in  a  manuscript  history  of  Britain,  the  place  is 
written  Trolbridge." 

TROY,  L.  Troja,  in  anc.  geog.  a  city  of  Asia  Minor.  It  was 
first  called  Dardania,  and  afterwards  Tf  o<a  from  Tf  wc,  its  king, 
lulus,  succeeding  Tros,  it  was  named  after  him,  Ilium. 

TROYES  (frwah),  a  town  of  France,  situated  on  the  left  bank 
of  the  Seine.  Lamartiniere  says  the  L.  name  was  Tricassium  or 
Treces,  i.e.  Tres  arces,  "  three  castles,"  and  that  a  portion  of 
one  of  these  castles  still  exists,  but  only  the  ruins  of  the  other 
two.  "  It  was  known  to  the  ancients  by  the  name  of  Augusta- 
bona  or  Augustabana,  and  was  the  chief  town  of  the  Trecasses  or 
Tricasses,  a  Celtic  nation,  from  whom  it  afterwards  took,  towards 
the  close  of  the  Roman  period,  the  name  Tricasses,  Trecasses, 
Trecases,  or  Tricassae  (for  it  is  thus  variously  spelt),  and  at  a 
period  still  later,  that  of  Trecte,  from  the  oblique  cases  of  which 
the  modern  name  Troyes  has  been  derived."     {P.  Cyc.) 

TRURO,  a  town  of  Cornwall,  situated  near  an  iiilct  of  the  sea 


280  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

called  the  Truro  Creek  or  Elver.  Borlase  derives  the  name  from 
Corn,  tre-vur,  "  the  town  on  the  (Roman)  road  ;  "  others  from 
tru-ru,  "  the  three  streets ;"  but  the  place  most  probably  origi- 
nated in  a  castle  belonging  to  the  Earls  of  Cornwall,  and,  if  so, 
the  name  may  be  from  tre-ru,  "  the  castle  on  the  water." 

TUAM,  CO.  Galway,  Ireland.  In  anc.  Ir.  tuam,  tuaim,  is  a 
village,  homestall,  dyke,  rampart,  moat,  fortified  town,  fort,  fence, 
hedge,  from  or  allied  to  Chal.  Dia  toom,  to  fortify,  block,  shut, 
shut  or  close  up.  The  mod.  Ir.  has  tomhra  a  protection,  tuaman, 
tooman,  a  district  of  villages  ;  the  Egyp.  torni  a  village. 

TUILERIES  (tweel'yer-e),  formerly  Tuilleries,  i.e.  a  place 
where  tiles  were  made,  from  tuille,  a  tile.  The  Fr.  tuile  (for- 
merly tuille,  tieide,  tieuller.  Norm,  teigle,  Eug.  tile)  comes  from 
L.  tegula,  from  tego,  to  cover,  from  Gr.  a-rsyuj,  from  Sans,  sthag, 
to  cover.  Menage  remarks  that  there  was  a  quarter  in  Athens 
called  Ceramicus,  i.e.  Tuillerie. 

TUN,  TON,  TOWN,  in  local  names  in  England,  is  the  A.  S. 
tun,  an  enclosure,  fence,  garden,  village,  town  ;  as  Tunstall, 
Wilton,  Weston,  Bruton,  Frampton,  Somers  Town.  When  ton 
is  preceded  by  ings  or  s,  the  first  part  of  the  name  generally 
denotes  the  original  owner,  as  Grimston,  Clenston,  Godmanston. 

TUNB RIDGE  or  TONBRIDGE,  Kent,  found  written  Tone- 
bricge,  Tunbricge,  Tunebricgia,  Tunebruge,  Tonebrigg,  Tonebryge, 
Tunebregge,  Tunebrige,  Tunebrigge,  Tunnebrugg,  Tunebrig.  It 
takes  its  name  from  the  bridges  over  the  different  streams  of  the 
Medway,  which  flow  on  the  S.  side  of  the  town ;  from  A.  S.  tun, 
an  enclosure,  town,  bricge,  a  bridge  ;   "  a  town  near  a  bridge." 

TUNSTALL,  a  village  in  Kent,  situated  upon  an  ascent ; 
Tunstall,  co.  Stafford  ;  "  a  place  upon  a  hill ;  a  high  place  ;  "  from 
A.  S.  dun,  a  hill,  steal,  stal,  a  place  (Sans,  sthala,  site,  place). 

TURIN  {toorin'),  L.  Taurinum,  It.  Torino,  capital  of  Pied- 
mont ;  named  from  its  inhabitants,  the  Taurini.  It  was  formed 
into  a  Roman  colony  by  Julius  Csesar,  who  named  it  Julia ;  aiid 
it  was  called  Augusta  Taurinorum  by  his  successor.  The  Tauri 
were  a  people  originally  inhabiting  the  Tauric  Chersonese. 

TURKEY.      The   origin  of    the   Turkish   race   is   by   most 


LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY.  281 

Muhammadan  writers  attributed  to  Turk,  eldest  son  of  Japhet, 
and  he  is  accordingly  called  Yi'tfis-ughlun,  "  son  of  Japhet,"  and 
Japhet  is  styled  Abu  all  Turk,  "father  of  the  Turkish  race." 
Some,  arguing  from  the  nomade  character  of  this  people,  derive  the 
name  from  Arab,  ^^y  taraka,  to  abandon,  to  wander.  Accord- 
ing to  other  authors,  the  remains  of  a  race  called  the  Hyoung- 
nou,  who  were  of  Turkish  origin,  some  time  after  the  commence- 
ment of  the  Christian  era,  estabhshed  themselves  in  the  valley  of 
Kia-chan,  or  "  mountains  of  gold,"  which  they  called  Altai 
(Turc,  altun  gold),  where  they  founded  a  city  at  the  foot  of  a  hill, 
which  resembled  a  helmet ;  and  as  in  their  language,  says  the 
Chinese  historian,  the  word  thou-kiou  signifies  a  helmet,  the 
people  took  that  name.  The  name  Thou-kiou  thus  given  to  the 
remnant  of  the  Hyoung-nou,  is  the  Chinese  transcript  of  S y 
Turki.  Extraordinary  as  this  derivation  may  seem,  it  is  fortified 
by  the  fact,  that  in  modern  Turkish,  the  word  to  which  allusion 
is  here  made,  exists,  without  contradiction,  and  in  the  sense 
in  which  it  is  here  used.  The  Turkish  word  ,jjy  tark,  read 
together  with  ilstiin,  signifies  "  a  helmet ;"  which  corroborates 
the  testimony  of  the  Chinese  writer,  and  at  the  same  time 
furnishes  an  etymology  much  more  probable  than  that  deduced 
from  an  imaginary  patriarch.  See  Davids,  Gram.  Turke,  pref. 
ix.  X. ;  Remusat,  Rech.  12,  256;  Salverte,  Essai  sur  les  Noms 
Propres;  Klaproth,  "  Thou-khiu ;"  Meninski,  Onomasticon, 
tom.  i. ;  Plin.  lib.  vi.  c.  7  ;  Mela,  lib.  i.  c.  19. 

TURNBERRY  UEAD,  on  the  coast  of  Carrick,  Ayrshire  ;  a 
corruption  of  Truynbernj,  from  Brit,  trwyn,  a  nose,  snout  (Ir. 
sron,  id..  Corn,  tron,  a  nose,  promontory).  There  is  Truyn 
Point,  on  the  coast  of  Kyle,  Ayrshire;  Duntroon  Point  and 
Castle,  in  Loch  Crinan,  Argyleshire ;  Duntroon,  in  Dundee 
parish,  Forfarshire ;  Trwyn-y-park,  a  promontory,  Trwyn  Melin 
Point,  and  Trwyn-du  Point,  &c.,  in  Anglesea  ;  Trwyn-Gogarth 
Point,  in  Denbigh  ;  Trwyn-y-Bylan  Point,  in  Caernarvon  ;  and 
An-Tron  (the  jjoint)  in  Cornwall. 

TUSCANY,  It.   Toscuna,  L.    Tuscia,    Thmciu.     The  Tuscans 


282  LOC^^x  etymology. 

or  Etruscans  are  mentioned  by  the  Romans  under  the  names  of 
Hetrusci,  Etrusci,  Tusci,  Thusci,  and  Tyrrheni ;  and  by  the 
Greeks  they  are  called  Touo-koi.  Some  authors  derive  the  name 
from  Gr.  Qvuj,  to  sacrifice,  on  account  of  the  religious  ceremonies 
which  flourished  among  them,  especially  in  their  chief  city 
Caere  ;  whence  cceremonia.  (See  Liv.  lib.  vii.)  According  to 
others,  the  Umbrians  called  the  Etruscans  Tursci,  which  the 
Romans  converted  into  Tusci  and  Etrusci,  whence  Etrusia,  and 
then  Etruria.  (See  Newman,  Reg.  Rom.)  Tusci,  Tuscia, 
Tuscania,  Tuscany.     See  Tarshish. 

TWEED,  a  river  in  Cheshire  ;  a  river  in  Berwick  ;  from  Brit. 
tiiedd,  the  border,  the  limit  of  a  country. 

TWICKENHAM  AIT.  In  ancient  records  the  name  of  this 
place  is  found  written  Twitham,  Twittanham,  Twiccanham,  and 
by  most  popular  writers  in  the  early  part  of  the  last  century, 
Twitenham.  Norden  says,  "  it  is  so  called,  either,  for  that  the 
Thames  seems  to  be  divided  into  two  rivers  by  reason  of 
the  islands  there,  or  else  of  the  two  brooks  which  neere  the 
town  enter  the  Thamis ;  for  Twicknam  is  as  much  as  Twynam, 
quasi  inter  hinos  amnes  situm,  a  place  scytuate  between  two 
rivers."  Ait  is  corrupted  from  eyof,  dim.  of  ey,  an  isle,  from 
A.  S.  iff. 

TWISTLE,  TWISLE,  TWISEL,  in  local  names  in  England, 
is  "  a  boundary ;  "  an  abbrev.  of  A.  S.  betwixt,  betvjyxt,  be- 
tweox,  betweoh  (Teut.  entwischen,  G.  cwiscken,  Belg.  ttvisschen), 
lit.  "  between  two,"  "  in  the  middle  of  two."  Thus,  Extwistle, 
"  the  boundary  of  oaks  "  (A.  S.  ac,  cec,  an  oak)  ;  Oswaldtwistle  ; 
Birdtwistle  ;  Twistleton,  now  Twiston,  Lancashire. 

TWYFORD,  Oxon,  found  written  Twiford,  and  Twyfyrd ;  from 
A.  S.  twi,  twa,  two,  ford  a  ford.  Twyford  is  the  name  of 
places  situated  near  two  fords  of  a  river. 

TYNE.  The  North  Tyne,  a  river  which  falls  into  the  sea  at 
Tynemouth,  in  Northumberland ;  the  South  Tyne  joins  the 
Trent  in  Staffordshire  ;  the  Tyne  runs  by  Tyningham,  co.  Had- 
dington, into  the  sea ;  the  Teyn  or  Teign  falls  into  the  sea  at 
Teignmouth,  in  Devon  ;  a  small  stream  called  the  Teyn  joins  the 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  283 

Dove  in  Derby ;  the  Tiau  falls  into  the  sea  in  the  isle  of  Jura, 
CO.  Argyle;  a  rivulet  called  the  Tyuet  falls  into  the  sea  in 
BanflFshire.  All  these  names  may  be  traced  to  the  Anc.  Brit,  tain, 
which  signified  "a  river,"  "running  water."  "Tain  signified 
the  same  in  the  Anc.  Gaulish,  and  in  the  kindred  dialect  of  the 
Irish  it  still  means  water."  {Chalmers.)  Owen  translates  the 
W.  tain,  "  that  is  of  a  spreading  quality." 

TYNEMOUTH,  co.  Northumberland;  "the  mouth  of  the 
Tine;"  from  A.  S.  Tina^i,  the  River  Tina  or  Tine,  mutha, 
a  mouth. 

TYR'CONNELL,  the  ancient  name  of  the  county  of  Donegal, 
in  Ireland;  from  Tyr-ConeU,  "the  land  of  Couell." 

TYRE,  anc.  Sor,  a  celebrated  city  of  the  Phoenicians,  on 
the  eastern  shore  of  the  Mediterranean.  The  more  ancient 
part  was  on  the  main  land;  the  later  city  was  built  on  an 
opposite  island.  The  Latins  changed  Sor  into  Sarra,  and  the 
Greeks  into  Tu^oe,  whence  Tyros,  Tyrus,  Tyre.  It  received 
the  name  of  Sor  or  Tsor,  from  being  built  on  a  rock,  from 
Heb.  "^iv  tsur. 

TYROL  {tir'ul),  takes  its  name  from  the  Castle  of  Tirol 
(anc.  Teriolis),  near  Meran.  This  castle  was  the  residence  of 
its  princes  down  to  13(i3,  when  the  country  was  united  to 
Austria. 


u. 

UKRAINE  {xjv'hrane  or  ooJtrajie'),  a  name  now  applied  to  a 
tract  of  land  on  the  banks  of  the  Dnieper,  together  with  the 
territory  of  the  Cossacks,  but  anciently  to  the  frontier  towards 
the  Tatars  and  other  nomadic  tribes.  U/crui?ia  in  Pol.  means 
"  marches,"   "  borders." 

ULSTER,  a  province  of  Ireland.  Chalmers  says  its  original 
Gaelic  name  was  Ulladh,  pron.  UUa,  and  that  the  Scandinavians, 
who  settled  in  this  part  of  the  island,  added  the  Gothic  termina- 
tion stailr  or  sler,  and  thus  formed  Ulstt-r  {Ullu-sler). 


284  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

ULTIMA  THULE  {thool)  ;  Gr.  0ouA^,  W.  Tylau  and  Tyle ; 
"  The  furthermost  Thule."  It  is  frequently  mentioned  by  Roman 
poets,  and  is  supposed  to  have  been  the  most  remote  northern 
island,  but  its  existence  is  now  doubted.  Pliny,  Solinus,  and 
Mela  take  it  to  be  Iceland  ;  others  say  it  refers  to  Tilemark  in 
Norway ;  or  to  Jutland ;  or  Newfoundland  ;  or  Ireland.  Ains- 
worth,  on  the  authority  of  Camden,  says  Shetland  was  by  seamen 
anciently  called  Thylensel,  "  the  Isle  of  Thyle."  Others  think 
Thyle  may  refer  to  one  of  the  Shetland  Isles,  called  "  Foula," 
the  interchange  of/ for  th  being  common,  thus,  Foula,  foule, 
6oyAij,  Thule.  Isidorus  speaks  of  Thule  as  an  island  to  the 
N.W.  of  Britain,  which  derived  its  name  from  the  sun,  "  because 
it  here  makes  its  summer  solstice,  and  beyond  it  there  is  no  day." 
Others,  again,  have  derived  QouX-ri  from  r^A^j  or  rriKov,  afar ;  or 
from  Thule,  king  of  Egypt,  whose  existence  Bochart  denies. 
He  says  the  northern  regions  are  always  described  as  dark, 
and  that  some  of  the  poets  call  this  island  Black  Thule; 
that  the  Syrians  used  the  word  thule  to  denote  "  shades  "  (thule 
ramsa,  "the  shades  of  evening"),  and  that  the  Phoenicians 
doubtless  named  it  >hro  thule,  darkness,  or  Gezirnt  Thule,  "  island 
of  darkness."  See  also  Isid.  Orig.  xiv.  6,  4  ;  Procop.  Bell. 
Goth.  ii.  15  ;  Oros.  i.  2;  Tac.  Agr.  c.  10  ;  Strab.  i.  4,  2,  ii.  4, 
i.  iv.  5,  5  ;  Plin.  N.  H.  ii.  77 ;  Virg.  G.  i.  29 ;  Stat.  Sylv. 
iii.  5,  19  ;  and  Notes  and  Queries,  2d  S.  vol.  iv. 

UMBRIA,  in  anc.  geog.  a  large  tract  of  country  on  both 
sides  of  the  Apennines,  inhabited  by  a  Gaulish  tribe  named  the 
Umbri,  Ambrones,  Ombres,  or  Ambra  ;  all  these  words  being 
corruptions  of  Amhra,  meaning  "  vahant  men,"  "nobles." 
They  were  called  by  the  Greeks  0|t^/3po/  and  Oy.^^ioi,  and 
by  some  writers,  Veteres  Galli.  See  Anton.  G.  apud  Serv. 
Mn.  ad  fin.  ;  Isid.;  Orig.  hb.  ix.  c.  2,  Conf.  Thierry,  Hist,  des 
Gaulois. 

UNKIAR  SKELESSI,  a  village  on  the  Asiatic  shore  of  the 
Bosphorus,  celebrated  for  the  treaty  signed  there  on  June  26, 
1833,  between  Russia  and  Turkey.  The  name  in  Turc.  means 
"  the  landing  place  of  the  emperor." 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  285 

UPSALx\  (oopsala),  formerly  the  capital  of  Sweden,  situated 
upon  the  borders  of  the  Sal  or  Sala.  John  Magnus  Gothus 
(Hist.  Goth.,  lib.  i.),  who  was  archbishop  of  this  city,  states  that 
246  years  after  the  deluge,  JJbbon  reigned  over  the  Swedes,  and 
that  he  either  founded  this  city  and  gave  it  his  name ;  or  that 
it  was  anciently  his  residence;  as  though  Ubbonis-sal,  i.e.  hall 
or  palace  of  Ubbon ;  or  that  he  named  it  Upsala,  from  its  situa- 
tion on  the  Sal.  We  may  believe  all  but  the  date.  See  also 
Zeyler,  Descr.  Suev.  173. 

URQUHART  {er'kert),  a  parish  by  the  Frith  of  Dingwall,  co. 
Ross,  Scotland,  said  to  have  been  named  from  the  great  length  of 
its  sea  margin ;  from  Gael,  oire  coast,  edge,  brink,  fad  long, 
amhan,  a  river  or  water.  The  Highlanders,  speaking  Gaelic, 
pronounce  the  word  urachadan.  This  etymology,  although  appa- 
rently far-fetched,  seems  to  derive  confirmation  from  the  simikr 
name  and  situation  of  another  parish  on  one  side  of  Loch  Ness 
in  Invernessshire.      (See  Stat.  Ace.  Scot.) 

UTICA,  in  anc.  geog.,  a  city  of  Africa,  noted  for  the  death  of 
Cato.  Bochart  derives  Utica  or  Ityca  from  Pun.  t^p^-ir  atica,  old, 
ancient.  (See  Carthage.)  Utica  is  the  name  of  a  city  in  the 
state  of  New  York,  U.  S. 

UTRECHT  {yu'trekt)  a  city  of  Holland,  called  by  the  Romans 
Trajectits  ad  Rhenum,  "ford  on  the  Rhine,"  and  by  the  monks, 
Ultra  Trajeetuniy  i.e.  "  on  the  other  side  of  the  ford,"  from  which 
its  present  name  has  been  corrupted. 

UXB RIDGE,  Middlesex,  found  written  Oxebrugc,  Oxebreugo, 
Woxebruge,  Woxebrugge,  Woxbridge,  Waxbridge,  and  Oxbridge, 
said  to  have  been  noted  in  ancient  times  for  the  passage  of  oxen, 
from  the  rich  pastures  of  Buckinghamshire,  by  a  bridge  over  the 
Colne.  Leland  says  "  there  be  two  wooden  bridges  at  the  west 
ende  of  the  towne,  and  under  the  more  weste  goeth  the 
great  arme  of  the  Colne  River ;  the  lesser  arnie  goeth  under 
the  other  bridge,  and  each  of  them  serve  there  a  great  mille." 
Uxbridye  is  more  probably  "  the  bridge  over  the  Ux"  i.e.  the 
water,  from  Brit,  isc,  Gael,  uisye.  See  Isca,  Oxford,  and 
Thamks. 


286  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 


V. 


VAL'HALLA,  G.  Walhalla,  a  Grecian  temple  of  the  Doric 
order,  erected  by  the  late  King  Ludwig  of  Bavaria,  on  the  left 
bank  of  the  Danube,  below  Ratisbon.  The  name  is  derived  from 
the  old  Norse  valholl,  "the  hall  of  the  chosen." 

VALPARAISO  {—ri'zo)  a  city  of  Chili,  S.America  ;  from  Sp. 
val  (from  L.  vallis,  a  valley),  paraiso  paradise,  any  pleasant  or  de- 
lightful place. 

VALTELINE  {—leen),  It.  Val  Tellina,  G.  Feltli?i,  the  vale 
of  the  Adda,  extending  from  Bormio  to  Colico,  in  Italy.  The 
town  of  Volturena,  built  by  the  Tyrrheni,  stands  or  stood  at 
the  end  of  the  valley,  upon  the  border  of  the  Lago  di  Como, 
and  the  inhabitants  of  the  valley  are  said  to  call  themselves 
Voltureni.  VolUirena  ma.jheixoxa.  Vallis  Tyrrhena.  According 
to  others,  the  valley  has  its  name  from  a  castle  on  the  heights, 
Teglio  (L.  Tilium,  G.  Tell),  which  was  formerly  its  principal 
place. 

VAN,  a  town  of  Asiatic  Turkey,  on  a  lake  of  the  same  name  ; 
built  by  King  Van. 

VANNES  (van),  a  seaport  in  the  W.  of  France,  capital  of 
the  department  of  Morbihan.  Camden  derives  the  name  from 
Gaul,  venna,  a  fisherman.  Vannes,  however,  is  rather  the 
capital  of  the  Veneti,  of  whose  name  the  word  is  a  corruption. 
The  Breton  appellation  is  still  TVenet  or  Guenet.  It  is  not 
however  improbable  that  the  Veneti,  whom  the  Latins  distin- 
guished as  Veneti  Italise  and  Veneti  Gallise,  may  derive  their 
name  from  the  Gaul,  venna.  Wachter,  under  "  Heneti,"  synony- 
mous with  Veneti,  says,  "  gens  Sarmatica,  a  latrociniis,  ut  videtur, 
sic  dicta ;  nam  henden  (A.  S.)  non  solum  est  capere,  sed  etiam 
rapere.^^ 

VASARHELY  ( — ha'ly),  which  produces  one  of  the  best 
Hungarian  white  wines,  called  by  the  Germans  Schomlauer ;  from 
Hung,  vdsur,  a  market  (from  Turc.  hdzur),  hehj  a  place. 


LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY.  287 

VAUD  (vo),  called  also  Pays  de  Vand,  G.  TFaadt  and  Waad- 
land;  a  canton  of  Switzerland,  named  from  the  Waldenses  (L. 
Fallesi,  It.  Valdesi,  Swiss  dial.  Vaiides).  The  Waldenses, 
Valdenses,  Valdesi,  or  Vaudois,  were  formerly  considered  to 
derive  their  name  from  Peter  Valdo  or  Waldo,  a  citizen  of  Lyons 
in  the  12th  century,  and  an  opponent  of  Romish  doctrines  ;  hut 
it  has  since  been  proved  that  this  religious  community  existed 
long  before  Waldo,  and  indeed,  the  canton  of  Vaud  is  called 
Waldensis  Comitatus  by  the  chronicler  Berlin  as  early  as  839. 
"  From  Waldo,  however,  the  separatists  from  Rome  in  the  south 
of  France,  have  been  called  Waldenses,  and  this  has  caused  them 
to  be  confounded  with  the  Vaudois  or  Vaudes  of  the  Alps." 
{P.  Cyc.)  Waldenses  or  Valdenses  means  simply  "  inhabitants 
of  valleys,"  and  may  be  traced  to  L.  vallis,  a  valley. 

VAUXHALL  {voxhawV).  King  John  bestowed  upon  Fouke 
alias  FaidJc  (Falcasius)  de  Brent,  a  Norman  by  birth,  the  very 
opulent  heiress  Margaret  de  Ripariis,  (Speed's  Chron.  p.  .582  ; 
Annales  Eccles.  Wigorn.,  A.  S.  I.  486).  By  this  marriage,  he 
became  possessor  of  the  manor  in  Lambeth,  to  which  FanAs- 
hull  was  annexed  :  and  Mr.  Lysons  has  with  probability 
suggested,  that  it  might  be  from  him  that  the  district  acquired 
its  appellation.  Weight  will  be  added  to  this  surmise,  if  it  be 
considered  that  in  Annales  EcclesicB  Wigorniensis  the  name  is 
spelt  Faukisius;  whence  it  may  be  presumed  that  in  Eno'lish 
he  was  vulgarly  called  Faukes  (Bibl.  Topoy.  Brit.  Lond.  1795). 

VEAN,  VL\N,  in  local  names  in  Cornwall,  as  Trevean,  "  the 
little  town  ;"  Trevyvian,  "the  town  by  the  small  water;"  is  tlie 
Com.  vean,  vian,  contracted  from  loiggan,  wignn,  bighan,  little. 
These  words  are  sometimes  corrupted  into  brigh,  briggan,  h'iggan  ; 
as  Lambriggan,  for  Lambournc-wigan,  "the  little  Lambourne;" 
Brighton,  Brightor,  Briggantor,  Biggantor,  "the  little  hill." 
Conf.  Gael,  beagan,  W.  bychan,  \xm.  biham,  O.  Fr.  bechan, 
Franche  Comtd  pechon. 

VENACIIOIR,  a  loch  in  Perthshire,  Scotland;  "  the  lake  of 
the  fair  valley."     {Stat.  Jcc.  Scot.) 

\E.\EZL'ELA  ( — zwa'la),  a  republic  of  S.  America;   "Little 


288  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

Venice  ;"  a  name  given  to  it  on  account  of  some  Indian  villages, 
which  the  first  conquerors  found  on  the  Lakes  of  Maracaibo. 

VENICE  ;  It.  Venecia,  Fr.  Fenise,  G.  Venedig,  Sp.  Venecia, 
L.  Venetice.  In  a.d.  421,  the  inhabitants  of  Aquileia,  Padua, 
and  other  Italian  cities,  in  order  to  escape  the  fury  of  Attila,  fled 
to  the  islands  at  the  mouth  of  the  Brenta.  Here  they  founded 
two  cities,  Rivo  Alto  and  Malamocco,  which  were  incorporated  in 
697  under  one  magistrate,  entitled  "  doge."  Pepin,  as  king  of 
Italy,  granted  some  territory  along  the  banks  of  the  Adige,  and 
Rivo  Alto  (Rialto),  united  with  neighbouring  islands,  took  the 
name  of  VeneticB,  from  the  province  of  Venetia,  the  territory  of 
the  ancient  Veneti,  of  which  these  islands  formed  a  dependency. 
The  Veneti,  Venedse,  Winidse,  Henneti,  'Everoi,  were  a  Celtic 
people  originally  from  Sarmatia.  See  Ptol.  lib.  iii.  c.  5 ;  Liv.s 
Polyb.  ;  Jornan.  ;  Strab.  ;   Cess.  ;  and  voc.  Vannes. 

VENLOO',  a  town  in  the  Netherlands,  named  from  its  situa- 
tion ;  from  D.  veen  a  fen,  loo  a  plain.     See  Loo. 

VENTON  is  a  Corn,  word  signifying  a  spring,  fountain,  well, 
as  Venton  Vean,  "the  little  well." 

VERDUN',  an  ancient  town  of  France  situated  on  the  Meuse. 
The  name  is  found  written  Verunum,  Veronum,  Vironum,  Vero- 
dunum,  Verdunum,  Veredunum,  and  Urbs  Vereduna,  Viridunum, 
or  Virdunum.  Saumaise  derives  the  name  from  Celt,  ver,  a  ford 
or  passage,  dunum,  a  town  ;  but  ver  meant  also  "  water."  See 
YvERDUN  and  Dun. 

VERONA,  Italy,  according  to  Sempronius,  owes  its  origin  and 
name  to  the  Tuscan  family  Vera.  See  Plin.  lib.  iii.  c.  19; 
Liv.  lib.  V.  c.  3.5 ;  Catull.  Carm.  68  ;  Martial,  hb.  xiv,  epig. 
195. 

VERULAM,  Herts,  supposed  to  have  been  situated  in  tbe 
neighbourhood  of  St.  Albans.  The  name  is  found  written  Vero- 
lamium,  Velolamium,  Velovanium,  and  Vrolanium,  all  corrupted 
from  Verulamium,  its  Roman  name.  The  Saxons  called  it  Wer- 
lame  and  Werlame-ceaster ;  the  inhabitants  were  styled  Verulee 
and  Veroli ;  and  by  Pliny  Verulani.  Bailey  derives  the  name 
from  W.  gwar  fortress,  and  lawn  pleasant,  from  the  pleasantness 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  289 

and  fertility  of  the  place.  According  to  others,  it  received  its  name 
from  its  situation  near  the  small  River  Verlam,  a  feeder  of  the 
Coin  ;  but  there  is  no  evidence  that  the  Ver  was  ever  called 
the  Verlam.  Perhaps  the  original  Celtic  name  was  Ver-alauni-din, 
i.e.  "  the  town  of  the  Alauni,  who  dwelt  on  the  Ver"  or  "  the  town 
of  the  Fir-Alauni,"  i.e.  "  the  men  called  the  Alauni:'  The  Celtic 
name  may  have  been  changed  by  the  Romans  to  Veralaunidunum, 
and  subsequently  contracted  to  Verulamium,  and  then  corrupted  by 
the  Saxons  to  Werlame,  whence  its  present  appellation.  "  The 
Roman  road  called  by  the  Saxons  Watling  Street,  was  also  called 
Werlaem  Street,  because  it  first  went  direct  to  Verulam,  passing 
close  under  its  walls."     (See  Gibson's  Camden,  vol.  i.  79.) 

VESUVIUS,  a  volcano  near  Naples  ;  anciently  Vesvius,Vesbius, 
Vesevus,  and  Vesujus.  The  name  has  been  derived  from  Gr.  s^roj 
within,  inward,  or  from  soo  to  send  or  throw,  and  /3m  violence, 
or  lOQ  dart,  missile,  weapon ;  because  the  smoke  and  fire  which 
issue  from  it  denote  a  violent  agitation  within,  or  may  be  com- 
pared to  the  hurhng  of  darts.  "Ecr/3»a,  /-£crjSia,Vesbia,Vesbius,Ves- 
vius,  Vesujus,  Vesuvius. 

VEVEY  or  VEVAY,  a  town  of  Switzerland,  named  from  its 
situation  near  the  foot  of  the  Alps,  at  the  centre  of  a  deep  gorge 
formed  by  the  Veceyse,  a  corruption  of  its  ancient  name, 
Vibsicus,  i.e.  the  Vip-isca,    "  the  water  called  the  Vip"     See 

ISCA. 

VICENZA  (ve-fshen-tsa),  a  city  of  Italy,  from  L.  Picentia, 
probably  Latinized  from  its  original  name. 

VIENNA,  G.  TFien,  Ft.  Vienne,  It.  Vienna,  Sp.  Viaia,  Turc. 
Batch ;  capital  of  Austria.  According  to  some  authors,  it  was 
formerly  known  by  the  names  of  Ala  Flaviana,  Castra  Flaviana, 
Flavianum,  and  Juliobona.  Others  say  it  occupies  the  site  of  the 
Roman  station  Vindobona,  supposed  to  be  a  corruption  of  Vindevon 
or  Vendemn,  either  an  O.  Celt,  or  Slav,  word,  denoting  the 
"  dwelling  place  of  the  Vends,"  a  Slavonic  tribe  still  occupying 
Camiola;  and  that  Vindobona  may  have  successively  become  7'Yat-i- 
ana  or  Favianajlana,  and  JVien.  The  city,  however,  stands  on  the 
south  bank  of  the  Danube,  at  its  confluence  with  the  little  River 

u 


290  LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY. 

Wien,  and  the  name  of  tlie  river  may  be  from  Celt,  beagan  little, 
or  beag-an,  "  tlie  little  river." 

VINTSCHGAU  { finch' gow).  The  upper  part  of  the  vale  of  the 
Adige,  from  its  source  to  Bozen,  is  called  the  Vintschgau,  from  its 
ancient  inhabitants  the  Vennonetes.  Thus  Vennonetes-gau, 
Vents-gaa,  Vintschgau.  The  G.  gau  means  country,  district, 
from  Gr.  yri,  ya,  land,  earth. 

VIRGINIA,  one  of  the  United  States  of  America,  named  in 
honour  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  in  vi'hose  reign  Sir  Walter  Raleigh 
made.the  first  attempt  at  a  colony  here. 

VISTULA;  G.TFeichsel,  Vol  Wisla,  Fr.  Vistule ;  a  river  of 
Poland ;  found  written  Vistillus,  Vistla,  Viscla,  Bisula,  Visula, 
Visela,  Weixel,  Wiessel,  "VVeissel,  and  Weisel,  may  be  derived 
from  the  Celt,  wys-y-lliv,  "the  floody  water."  Thus,  wys-y-Uiv, 
wysuil,  wisyl,  wistyl,  Vistula.     Conf.  voc.  Willy. 

VOLD,  in  local  names  in  Norway,  is  the  Dan.  void,  a  rampart, 
mound  of  earth,  dam. 

VOLGA,  the  largest  river  of  Europe.  In  Sarmatian,  volga 
means  "the  great." 

VORARLBERG  {foral'bairg),  a  province  of  Austria,  \n  front 
(G.  vor,  before)  of  the  mountain  called  the  Arlberg,  q.  v. 


w. 


WxlDY  {a'adec).  Wadys  in  Arabia  are  hollow  valleys  or  de- 
pressions, more  or  less  deep,  wide,  or  long,  washed  by  the  moun- 
tain torrents  or  winter  rains.  Stanley  gives  the  following  Wadys 
in  Sinai  and  Palestine  :  "  Wady  Fairan,  Wady  Howar,  Wady 
Mokalteb,  Wady-es-Shaykh,  *  shaik's  valley,'  so  called  from  the 
tomb  of  Shaykh  Salah,  the  Muhammadan  sanctuary  of  the 
peninsula ;  Wady  Tayibeh,  so  designated  from  the  goodly  water 
and  vegetation  it  contains  ;  Wady  Sagal,  or  '  of  the  acacia  ; ' 
Wady  Musa,  closed  by  overhanging  cliffs  ;  Wady  Tidri,  expanding 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  291 

into  a  level  space  with  rare  bushes  of  whitethorn,  whence  its  name  ; 
WacJy  Abu  Hamad,  '  the  father  of  fig  trees,'  that  grow  in  its  clefts  ; 
and  Wady-el-Arabah,  a  true  wady,  marshy  hollow,  or  depres- 
sion. For  a  few  weeks  or  days  these  valleys  present  the  appear- 
ance of  rushing  streams,  but  their  usual  aspect  is  absolutely  bare 
and  waste,  only  presenting  the  image  of  thirsty  desolation,  and 
the  more  strikingly  so  from  the  constant  indications  of  water,  which 
is  no  longer  there."  Freytag  interprets  the  Arab,  wddi  "  locus 
depressior  inter  monies  collesve,  vallis,  alveus  fluvii,  et  ipse  fluvius." 
It  is  found  in  the  nam.es  of  many  rivers  in  Spain,  as  lodd-al-Mbir, 
"the  great  river,"  since  corrupted  into  Guadalquivir,  q,  v. 

WAKE'S  COLNE  {—co7ie),  Essex,  sometimes  called  Colne 
Maskerel,  Colne  Quincy,  and  Colun  Saer,  takes  its  name  from 
the  ancient  baronial  family  of  JVake.     See  Colnes. 

WALDSHUT  (valds'hoot),  a  forest  town  between  Basle  and 
Schaffhausen  ;  from  G.  tvald  wood,  hiitte  hut,  cottage. 

WALLACHIA  (wol-la'ke-a),  a  principality  of  Turkey.  The 
name  Wallachs  given  to  this  people  by  foreigners,  belonged  to 
some  people  in  Thrace,  Macedonia,  and  Thessaly.  The  Byzantine 
historians  frequently  mention  the  Vlachi  (BAap^^oi)  ,who  lived 
chiefly  in  the  country  round  Mount  Pindus.  The  name  Vloch, 
or  Wloch  is  said  to  be  the  Slav,  for  "  Itahan  "  or  "  Roman  ;  " 
and  Wallach  is  equivalent  to  the  native  name  Rdmani.  {Eng. 
Cyc.)  In  Hung,  a  Wallachian  is  called  Oldh  ;  in  G.  Walache, 
in  Low  L.  Vulachus,  Vlaehus,  and  Dacromanus.  Vloch,  Vlach, 
&c.,  are  from  the  root  of  Gaul  (q.v.).  Lamartiniere  says  Wallachia 
was  anciently  called  Flaccia,  from  one  Flaccus,  who  was  sent  by 
Trajan  with  30,000  men  to  colonize  it. 

WALLINGFORD,  Berks,  found  written  AYealinga-  Waling- 
Walling-  Walin-  Wallyng-ford,  Walingaforda,  Wallengafort, 
^\'allyngforth,  and  Wallyngfort ;  from  Gualenya-ford,  "  the  ford 
or  passage  of  the  Gauls."  According  to  others,  its  aucicnt  Brit, 
name  was  Gvftl-hen  "the  old  wall.'' 

WALMIOR  {warmer),  Kent;  from  Sax.  wall  hwaW,  and  L. 
mnre  the  sea  ;   "  a  sea  wall."      (liailey.) 

W.\r/rn,\.M     (irnu-l'lni,i),\\;\\\\^,    found    written   WcjiII  linm. 


292  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

Weald-ham,  Walteham  ;  from  A.  S.  loeald  a  wood,  weald,  ham  a 
dwelling,     {Bosworth.) 

WALTON,  the  name  of  several  places  in  England,  as  Walton- 
on-Thanies,  Walton-on-the-Naze ;  from  A.  S.  weal^  wall,  tun  an 
enclosure  ;  or  from  root  of  Waltham. 

WANDLE,  a  river  in  Surrey ;  from  A.  S,  wandrian,  or  Dan. 
vandler,  to  wander.     Bailey  calls  it  the  Wandle  or  Vandali. 

WANDSWORTH,  Surrey,  formerly  Wandiesworth,  and 
perhaps  originally  Wandle' s-worth,  i.e.  a  farm  or  habitation  on 
the  River  Wandle. 

WARBURTON,  Oxon  ;  "  the  place  where  iEthelfreda,  Queen 
of  the  Mercii,  built  a  citadel ;"  found  written  Weard-burh,  Wead- 
byrig,  Wardebirh,  Wardeburgh,  and  Wardborough ;  from  A.  S. 
weard  a  watch,  burh  a  fort,  city,  tun  a  town. 

WARDINE  (—deeii),  a  frequent  termination  of  local  names  in 
Herefordshire,  Salop,  and  Radnor  ;  as  Carwardine,  Shilwardine, 
Shrawardine  (Castle),  Chiswardine.  It  occurs  also  in  Scotland,  as 
Bradwardine  (Waverley).  Perhaps  from  Low  L.  gardiamis,  a 
warden  ;  "  he  that  hath  the  keeping  or  charge  of  any  person  or 
thing  by  office  ;  "  as  warden  of  the  marshes,  warden  of  the  forest, 
warden  of  peace,  warden  of  the  Stannaries. 

WARE,  Herts,  found  written  Guare  ;  originally  a  ivear  or  dam 
constructed  on  the  River  Lea,  and  strongly  fortified  by  the  Danes 
in  964,  in  order  to  defend  their  vessels ;  from  A.  S.  wear,  wer. 

WAREHAM,  Dorset.  The  Britons  called  it  Durngneis ; 
the  Saxons,  Vepham,  and  Thorusseta.  In  ancient  records  it  is 
written  Warham  and  Varham,  said  to  be  a  compound  of  var  and 
ham,  and  to  denote  a  habitation  on  a  fishing  shore.  But  see 
Ware. 

WARRINGTON,  co.  Lancaster  ;  in  Domesday  Wallington, 
and  according  to  some  authors,  the  Vara-tin  of  Ravenuas,  and  the 
Roman  Veratinum  ;  "the  ford  town,"  from  Celt,  vera  a  ford,  din 
a  town.  The  opinion  that  this  place  was  a  Roman  station  rests 
cliiefly  on  the  circumstance  of  three  Roman  roads,  each  leading 
to  a  ford  here  over  the  Mersey,  the  vestiges  of  a  castrum  and 
fosse,   which  are    still   discernible,    and   the  discovery  of  some 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  293 

Roman  relics.  Since  its  occupation,  however,  by  the  Saxons,  it 
assumed  the  name  of  Werington,  from  iccering  a  fortification, 
tun  a  town. 

WARWICK  (ivorrik),  found  written  Wsering-wic,  Ware-wic, 
Waringe-wyke,  War-wyk,  Warwych,  and  Warwyk  ;  from  A.  S. 
wcBringh  bulwark,  mound,  icic  a  dwelling  ;  "a  fortified  dweUing." 
"  From  W.  guarth,  a  safeguard,  a  garrison,  and  wic."  {Camden.) 
"  Ethelfleda,  daughter  of  King  Alfred  and  wife  of  Ethelred,  Earl 
of  Mercia,  in  913,  built  a  castle  on  the  northern  steep  banks  of  the 
Avon,  and  erected  a  mound  of  earth  on  its  western  side,  which 
still  exists,  and  on  which  it  is  supposed  that  a  fort  was  erected." 
(Gent.  Mag.,  March,  1841,  p.  359,  and  Nov.  1844.) 

WARWICK  LANE,  formerly  Eldenese  Lane,  Newgate  Street. 
"The  same  is  now  called  Warwick  Lane,  of  an  ancient  house 
there  built  by  an  Earl  of  Warwick,  and  was  since  called  Warwick 
Inn."  (Stow,  p.  128.)  At  the  corner  of  Newgate  Street  is  a 
bas-relief  of  Guy,  Earl  of  Warwick,  bearing  the  date  1668. 

WATFORD  (loot' — ),  CO.  Herts,  situated  on  the  Uolne,  and  said 
to  derive  its  name  from  the  Wailing  Street  which  passed  in  the 
vicinity,  and  from  a  ford  over  the  river. 

WATLING  STREET,  London.  The  ancient  Watling 
Street  was  a  road  supposed  to  have  been  constructed  by  the 
British,  and  reconstructed  by  the  Romans,  which  extended  from 
Sandwich  in  Kent  to  Caernarvon  in  Wales.  The  name  is  found 
written  Guetheling,  Wethehng,  and  Wetlinga.  One  writer  says 
Wetlinga  Street  is  "  the  road  of  the  sons  of  King  Wetla  or 
JFelthe ;  "  another  says  it  was  '•  a  consular  road  made  by  the 
Romans,  thrown  up  considerably  above  the  level  of  the  sides,  kept 
up  with  large  stakes  driven  into  the  ground,  and  lesser  wood  woven 
between  them  ;  and  that  these  were  called  by  the  Saxons,  wattes, 
fr(jm  which  the  road  had  its  name."  This  etymology  seems  far- 
fetched ;  besides,  wattles  would  never  be  sufficiently  strong  to  keep 
together  the  weight  of  gravel,  sand,  linio,  and  stone  "raised  high 
above  the  level  of  the  sides."  The  Rev.  J.  Kempe  thinks  it 
was  an  ancient  Hritisii  way,  from  (jwydd-lahi,  "  the  wav  tlirough 
tlic   forests  or   woods;"   and  he  says  this  etymology  would  be  at 


294  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

once  expressive  of  its  British  origin,  of  the  primitive  state  of  the 
country  through  which  it  ran,  and  of  its  subsequent  adoption  by 
the  Romans  as  a  miUtary  road ;  that  with  the  Britons  it  was  a 
forest  lane  or  track  way,  and  with  the  Romans  it  became  a 
stratum,  street,  or  raised  road,  constructed  according  to  their 
well-known  manner.  The  most  reasonable  suggestion  is  that  of 
Thierry,  who  says  Wetlinge  is  merely  a  Saxon  corruption  of 
Gwydelin,  i.e.  Gwydelinsarn,  "the  way  of  the  Gwydel  or  Gael," 
i.e.  the  Irish  ;  "  nom  fort  convenable  a  une  route  qui  conduisait 
d'e  Douvres  a  la  cote  de  Chester."  See  also  Thierry,  Norm. 
Conq.  vol.  i.  pp.  2,  70,  note,  and  p.  151  ;  Notes  and  Queries,  2d 
S.  p.  271  ;  Whitaker,  Hist.  Manchester,  vol.  i.  p.  130  ; 
Archseol.  Append,  to  vol.  vi.  p.  130,  and  Append,  to  vol.  xxvi. 
p.  468—9  ;  Hoveden,  p.  248  ;  and  Camden,  Brit.  p.  343. 

WEALD,  WEALT,  WALD,  WALT,  WOLD,  in  local 
names  in  England,  denotes  a  situation  near  woods  or  groves,  as 
JFeald-ham,  Wealt-ham  (Waltham)  ;  the  wealds  of  Kent,  i.e. 
the  woody  parts  of  this  county  ;  from  A.  S,  weald,  wold.  (Plat. 
uoold,  woold,  D.  woud,  G.  wald,  Dan.  ved,  Sw.  wed,  W.  gwydd.) 

WEDNESBURY  {we7iz'—),  co.  Stafford;  from  Woden's- 
beorcj,  from  Woderi,  the  Saxon  god  of  war,  beorg  a  hill,  or  burg 
a  fortified  place.  We  find  in  Domesday  that  this  town,  previously 
to  the  Norman  Conquest,  belonged  to  the  Saxon  kings. 

WELLINGTON,  co.  Somerset,  formerly  Waliutone ;  per- 
haps "  the  town  of  the  Gualeu."     See  Wallingford. 

WENBURY  or  Wembury,  co.  Devon  ;  in  A.  S.  found  written 
Wicgan-beorch,  Wicgam-beorg,  Wigganbeorh,  and  Winbeorn 
{Bosworth)  ;  perhaps  "the  burg  or  fortress  of  the  Wiccii." 

WENT,  a  river  in  Yorkshire  (whence  Went  Bridge),  from 
Anc.  Brit,  dwr-gwent,  "water  which  flows  thro'  an  open  region." 
But  see  Derwent  and  Winchester  from  same  root. 

WESER  (  va'zer),  a  river  of  Germany.  Strabo  calls  it 
B/troufyjc ;  Ptolemy,  in  one  place  OuiVoyj/'e  ;  in  another 
Ov'io-ovi^iyiQ  ;  Dion  Cassius  writes  OuiVoD^yoc  ;  all  the  Latin 
writers  call  it  Visurgis.  Wachter  says,  in  the  middle  ages  the 
Weser  was   called  Wisar-aha  (flumen  Visara;),  and  the  Cherusci 


LOCxVL    ETYMOLOGY.  29.5 

may  have  called  it  Weser-gus,  of  which  the  Romans  made 
Fisurgis.  He  derives  Weser,  Hister  (Ister),  Oder,  and  Eider 
from  Celt,  dwr,  water,  and  says  gus  is  a  Francic  word  for 
a  river,  from  giessen,  to  flow  ;  hut  Ister  is  more  probably  tVoiu 
Celt,  ys-dwr ;  Oder  from  G.  ader,  an  artery,  vein ;  or  both  Oder 
and  Eider  from  Gr.  uouj^,  water ;  and  Isar  and  IVeser  may  come 
from  Celt,  wijs-aru,  "  the  turbid  stream,"  from  uisge  water,  garw 
rough.     See  also  Ptol.  lib.  ii.  c.  11  ;  and  voc.  Isca  and  Yarrow. 

WESTERAS  (vesferoas'),  a  town  of  Sweden.  The  name  is  a 
corruption  of  Vestra  Jros,  Yv'estern  Arosia,  as  distinguished 
from  Ostra  Aros,  Eastern  Arosia,  now  Upsala. 

WESTMINSTER,  from  A.  S.  ivest  id.,  mynster  a  monastery, 
cathedral,  so  named  from  being  built  at  the  west  side  of  London. 

WESTMORELAND,  found  written  West-moringa-land,  West- 
raariland,  Westmeriland,  and  Westmerland ;  "  the  west  moor 
land,"  from  A.  S.  west-,  moring  or  mor,  and  land. 

WESTPHALL\,  G.  Westphalen,  Fr.  Vestphalie,  It.  Fest- 
falia  ;  an  extensive  district  in  the  N.  W.  of  Germany,  first  so 
called  about  the  ninth  century.  According  to  some  writers,  this 
country  was  formerly  called  Vestalia,  after  the  goddess  Festa. 
Others  derive  the  name  from  icest,  id.,  and  walen  (G.  fallen), 
a  colt,  because  Westphalia  is  situated  ivest  of  the  Weser,  and  its 
first  inhabitants  bore  the  device  of  a  colt  in  their  ensigns.  Others 
say  from  west-wallen,  i.e.  the  western  ramparts,  dams,  or  dykes ; 
or  from  a  German  people  called  the  Fales  or  Falen,  and  divided 
into  the  West  and  Ost  Falen.  But  who  were  these  Fales  or 
Falen?  Wachter  says  the  East  and  West /a/aA/,  fcdai,  fulahos, 
or  falos  were  clients  or  dependants  of  the  Franks  ;  and  he  refers 
to  Low  L.  fulahus,  "  one  who  delivers  himself  up  and  becomes  the 
client  of  another,"  from  O.  G.  fuluhen  ox  feluhun,  tradere  fidei, 
committere,  concredere.  Conf.  Tiffauges,  in  La  Vendee,  France, 
a  name  corrupted  from  Tei-phalia  or  Thei-phalia,  the  country  of 
Tei-phali,  Tai-fali,  or  Tai-jjliali.  The  G.  waJde  is  a  foreigner  ; 
w'ulder,  an  elector;  the  Su-Goth. /«/«,  a  j.lain  ;  the  Gael.  y<>/j 
fail,  a  circle,  fold,  fence,  enclos\ire,  wall. 

WKVmUDGE,  CO.  Surrey  ;    "  bridge  over  (he  Wry." 


296  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

WEYMOUTH  {wa'muth),  found  written  Waimutli  and 
Waimue  ;  co.  Dorset ;  "  mouth  of  the  Wey."     See  Wye. 

WHAMPOA,  the  European  anchorage  in  the  Canton  River  ; 
from  Chin,  hwang-poo.  Poo  or  foo,  among  other  meanings,  is  a 
mart,  a  place  where  ships  and  traders  assemble  ;  hwang  signifies 
"  yellow,"  and  is  the  name  of  a  hill,  of  an  ancient  country,  and 
of  a  district. 

WHITBY,  CO.  York  ;  from  A.  S.  hwit  white,  Dan.  hij  a 
town. 

WHITCHURCH,  co.  Hants  ;  from  A.  S.  hwit  white,  circe 
a  church. 

WHITEHORNE  or  WHITTERNE,  co.  Galway,  Ireland; 
the  Lucophibia  of  Ptolemy  ;  the  Candida  Casa  of  Bede  ;  from 
A.  S.  hwit  white,  em  a  place. 

WICH,  WICK,  WIC,  a  termination  of  local  names  in 
England,  as  Berwick,  Dulwich,  Greenwich,  Norwich,  is  the  A.  S. 
ivic,  wye  (Plat,  ivik,  D.  ^v^Jk,  Fries,  ivic,  O.  G.  wik,  wiek,  iveich, 
a  town,  castle,  monastery,  bay,  Dan.  vig,  bay,  ford,  viig,  cove, 
Sw.  vik,  cove,  creek.  Ice.  vik,  a  little  bay),  a  dwelling  place, 
habitation,  street,  village,  monastery,  convent,  castle,  fortress 
for  soldiers,  camp,  station,  creek,  bay,  from  L.  viciis,  a  street, 
also  a  village  or  several  houses  close  together  in  the  country, 
from  Gr.  oiKog,  a  house. 

WICKHAM,  HIGH,  Bucks  ;  "  dwelling  on  the  River  Wick." 
The  little  River  Wick  may  derive  its  name  from  W.  bgchan, 
small. 

WICKLOW,  a  town  in  Ireland ;  from  Dan.  vig  a  bay,  ford, 
Sw.  vik  a  cove,  creek,  or  A.  S.  wic  a  dwelling-place,  fortress;  and 
Eng.  low  a  hill  or  rising  ground,  or  Ir.  lot(gh  an  arm  of  the  sea. 

WIDDIN,  a  strong  fortress  of  Bulgaria  on  the  Danube.  The 
Turks  call  it  Kikadova  and  Vidin.  It  may  have  been  named 
from  the  Vidini,  Udini,  or  Budini,  a  people  from  Sarmatia. 
Udine,  a  city  in  the  Venetian  territory,  may  have  received  its 
appellation  from  the  same  people. 

WIESBADEN  {vees'bahdn),  capital  of  the  duchy  of  Nassau, 
Germany,  owes  its  name  and  prosperity  to  its  hot  springs,  which 


LOC^VL   ETYMOLOGY.  297 

were  known  to  the  Romans  and  are  spoken  of  by  Pliny  the  Elder. 
Baden  in  G.  means  "  baths,"  and  the  first  part  of  the  name  may 
be  wiese,  a  meadow,  from  Gr.  Trsicrsa,  TTJcroe. 

WIGAN,  CO.  Lancaster,  near  which  King  Arthur  defeated 
the  Saxons  in  a  memorable  battle.  Bailey  derives  the  name  from 
Sax.  wibbigan,  of  ivi  sacred,  or  ivibed  an  altar,  and  biggin  or 
bicgan,  to  build,  q.  d.  sacred  buildings.  Camden  calls  it  Wiggin, 
"  which  some  say  was  anciently  called  M'ibiggin,  of  which  name 
I  have  nothing  to  observe,  but  that  '  biggin '  is  a  Lancashire 
word  for  '  houses.'"  Baiues,  the  historian,  says,  in  all  ancient 
documents  relating  to  ^yigan,  the  name  is  written  as  a  dissyllable, 
with  slight  variations  in  the  orthography  ;  and  he  derives  it  from 
A.  S.  wig,  a  fight. 

^yILLY,  WILLEY,  or  WILY,  a  river  in  Wilts;  Avon- 
uille,  the  old  name  of  the  River  Helmsdale  in  Sutherland. 
Chalmers  says  these  rivers  are  so  named  from  their  rising  rapidly 
after  rains ;  that  Avon-uile  (the  Ila  of  Richard's  map),  means 
*'  the  floody  river ; "  and  he  derives  these  names  from  Brit. 
y-llif  or  y-lliv,  "  the  flood."  The  111  in  Alsace,  and  the 
Ilz,  i.e.  the  Ill-ese,  which  joins  the  Danube  at  Passau,  may  be 
traced  to  the  same  root. 

WILTON,  a  town  in  Wilts,  situated  near  the  River  Willg. 

WILTSHIRE,  (icilshurj,  contraction  of  Wiltun-scire,  "the 
shire  of  Wilton."  Its  inhabitants  were  anciently  called  the 
Wilscetas. 

WIMBLEDON,  Surrey,  found  written  Wibban-dun,  and 
Wilbandonum,  may  have  been  named  i'rom  one  of  its  early  pro- 
prietors. Somner  derives  the  word  from  Mlbba,  the  name  of  its 
builder,  and  A.  S.  dune,  a  hill.  Lysons  has  seen  records  in 
which  the  name  Wimbaldus  occurs. 

WIN'CIIELSEA,  CO.  Sussex,  formerly  Wincelcs-ea,  from 
A.  S.  wincel  an  angle  or  corner,  and  ea  water.  Otliers  translate 
ea  an  island.  "This  latter  explanation  well  suits  the  situation 
of  old  Winchelsea,  which,  belore  the  reign  of  Henry  III.,  was 
washed  by  the  waters  of  the  Channel  on  the  south  and  east,  and 
by  the  Rother  on  tiie  north."      (P.  Cyc.) 


298  LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY. 

WIN'CII ESTER.  The  expounder  of  Nennius  says  Winton 
or  Winchester  was  called  by  the  Britons  Cair-Gimtin.  Camden 
writes  it  Caer  Gwent,  "white  city;"  and  says  "the  Romans 
converted  Gwent  into  Venta,  and  added  Belgarum  to  denote  its 
situation  in  the  country  occupied  by  the  Belgse."  The  W. 
gwent  signifies  fair  or  open  regions,  from  ywen,  white,  fair,  beau- 
tiful. The  name  may  therefore  have  meant  either  "  white 
city,"  or  "  the  city  in  the  open  country;"  indeed,  the  county 
itself  was  called  Gwent  by  the  ancient  British.  Chester  is  from 
A.  S.  ceaster,  a  fortress ;  from  L.  castrum,  castra.  Conf. 
BiCETRE,  Derwent  aud  Windermere,  from  same  root. 

WINDERMERE,  or  WINANDERMERE,  a  lake  in  West- 
moreland. Winandermere  is  from  W,  gwyn  hen  dwr,  "  the  clear 
ancient  lake  ;"  or  a  corruption  of  Windermere.  Winder  comes 
from  gwen  dwr,  the  "  clear  water  ;  "  the  last  syllable  is  a  Sax. 
expletive,  signifying  a  lake. 

WINDSOR  (winzer),  co.  Berks,  found  written  Windles-ofra, 
Windles-oure,  Windles-ora,  Windleshora,  Winlesores,  Windles- 
hores,  Winleshores,  Windeshores,  Windesoure,  Windelsores, 
Windlesores,  Winlesores,  Windesoure,  Windesore,  Windesour, 
and  Wyndosor;  "  the  dwelling  on  the  winding  shore,"  from  the 
winding  course  of  the  Thames  in  this  part ;  from  A.  S.  windan 
to  wind,  ora  for  A.  S.  ofer,  a  margin,  bank,  shore. 

WINTERTHUR  {vintertoor),  the  second  town  in  the  canton 
of  Zurich,  Switzerland.  Lamartiniere  says  it  took  its  name  from 
the  fortress  of  Windthurn,  built  by  the  Counts  of  Kybourg  in 
the  neighbourhood,  and  that  about  a  league  from  the  town  is  the 
village  of  old  Winterthour,  the  ancient  Vitodurum  ;  but  it  is 
quite  as  reasonable  to  suppose  that  the  town  was  named  from  the 
village.  Vitodurum  may  mean  "  the  water-dwelling,  or  the  ford 
of  the  Vits  or  Wihts."  The  Celt,  dwr  is  "  water,"  but,  according 
to  Cluverius,  it  sometimes  signifies  a  ford  or  passage.  Windthurn 
means  "  wind-tower,"  from  G.  wind,  id.,  thurm  a  tower,  from 
L.  turi'is.     Conf.  Oude  and  Switzerland. 

WISBEACH,  CO.  Cambridge  ;  a  corruption  of  Ousebeach,  its 
former  name.  Before  the  time  of  Henry  III.,  the  River  Oiise  is 
supposed  to  have  had  its  outfall  at  or  near  Ousebeach, 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  299 

WITH,  WATH,  in  local  names  in  England,  as  Langwith, 
Darwath,  means  a   ford ;  from  Sw.  vad,  Dan.  vade. 

WOKING,  CO.  Surrey,  found  written  Okyng  and  Oking,  and 
in  the  reign  of  Edward  the  Confessor  and  in  old  maps,  Woch- 
inges ;  probably  a  corruption  of  Wey-ioicingas,  i.e.  the  dwellers 
on  the  River  Wey.     Couf.  Dorking. 

WOLVERHAMPTON  {wool-),  co.  Stafford,  formerly  Wul- 
frunshampton,  was  anciently  called  Hampton.  It  received  the 
addition  of  Wulfmn  in  the  time  of  King  Ethelred,  from  Wul- 
fruna,  relict  of  Athelm,  duke  of  Northampton,  who  founded  a 
monastery  here  in   honour   of  the   Virsin. 

WONG,  WANG,  a  termination  of  local  names  in  England,  as 
Basfordwong,  Cornerwong,  is  the  A.  S.  wang,  wong,  a  plain,  field, 
allied  to  Dan.  vang,  a  meadow,  green  field,  as  UUensvang,  in  Nor- 
way. Wong  occurs  frequently  in  Norfolk.  Swang  in  York- 
shire, &c.,  as  White  Cross  Swang,  is  a  low-lying  grassy  place 
liable  to  be  flooded,  a  fresh  piece  of  greensward  lying  in  a  bot- 
tom among  arable  and  barren  land.  Some  consider  it  the  Nor- 
folk icang  sibilated. 

WOODSTOCK,  CO.  Oxon,  from  A.  S.  wuda  wood,  stoc  a 
place. 

WOOLWICH  {wool'idj),  Kent,  found  written  Wolwiche  and 
Wollewic  ;  in  the  Textus  Roffensis,  Wlewic  ;  in  Domesday,  Hulnz, 
which  Hasted  translates  "the  dwelling  on  the  creek."  The 
last  part  of  the  name  may  be  the  A,  S.  ivic,  a  dwelling,  station, 
bay. 

WORCESTER  {woos'ter),  called  by  Ptolemy  Branogenium,  by 
Antoninus  Branonium,  by  Nennius  Guorangon  and  Guorcon,  and 
by  some  authors  Guarangon,  of  which  its  present  Welsh  name 
Caer-wrangon  or  Caer-angon  is  a  corruj)tion.  One  writer  translates 
Branonium,  "  a  city  facing  the  water."  All  these  names,  how- 
ever, seem  corruptions  of  BarangoUy  denoting  "a  frontier  town 
garrisoned  by  a  military  class  called  Baraiigii "  (sometimes 
Guarangi,  Gorangi,  Gerongi,  and  Cuoroiigi),  whose  name  may 
be  traced  to  the  Low  L,  haro,  haroniK.  Tiie  Saxons  called  this 
town  Wegcorna-  Weogare-  Wigor-  M  igora-  Wigra-  ^\'ige^a-  and 
Wiger-ceastci     ^^'ic-ware-tt•abtcr,   W  iie-ccastre,    and    M'ir-cestre, 


300  LOCAL  ETYMOLOGY. 

Camden  derives  the  present  name  from  "  wire,  nemoroso  saltu 
adjuucto,"  but,  says  Cowel,  this  is  a  mistake,  for  that  wood  is 
almost  twelve  miles  distant.  The  historian  of  Worcester  says 
"  Wiga-erne  means  'the  warrior's  lodge,  the  hero's  place  of 
retirement,'  and  that  this  may  account  for  the  name  which  the 
Saxons  gave  to  the  ceaster,  or  to  a  Roman  fort  they  found  here, 
which  they  called  first  Wigerna,  Weogerna,  Wigorna,  and  in 
time,  Wegrin-  Wigra-cester  and  Wigornceaster  ;  that  the  name 
was  afterwards  corrupted  to  Wirceaster,  a  mode  of  writing  that 
prevailed  about  the  Norman  Conquest,  and  gave  way  to  the  pre- 
sent spelling,  Worcester."  The  original  Saxon  name,  from 
which  its  present  appellation  has  been  corrupted,  was  per- 
haps Wic'Wara-ceaster,  i.e.  the  fortress  of  the  people  [loara) 
called  the  Wiccii.  These  Wiccii  or  Iluiccii  appear  to  have  given 
their  name  to  this  part  of  the  country,  which  in  a  charter  of 
Ethelwald,  king  of  Mercia,  is  called  Huicca  mcBgthe,  i.e.  the  pro- 
vince of  the  Wiccii  or  Huiccii.  It  has  been  asserted  that  Wor- 
cester was  first  called  Wigornia,  by  Joseph  of  Exeter,  in  some  verses 
which  he  addressed  to  Baldwin,  Archbishop  of  Canterbury ;  but  the 
name  Wigornia  occurs  in  Florence  of  Worcester,  who  died  about 
sixty  years  before  Joseph  of  Exeter  wrote.  For  a  plausible  deri- 
vation of  the  name  of  the  Wiccii  and  of  the  province  of  Wiccia, 
we  must  refer  to  the  historian  of  Worcester.  See  also  Camd. 
Brit.  vol.  i.  p.  210,  Cough's  ed.  ;  Spelm.  Gloss,  under  Baro, 
Barongus ;  and  Stukeley's  Itin.  Cur.  p.  64. 

WORTH,  WORTHY.  Worth,  in  local  names  in  England,  is 
the  A.  S.  worth  (G.  oi't,  O.  G.  oort,  oord,  a  place,),  a  farm, 
hall,  court,  manor,  mansion,  dwelling-place,  as  Bedworth,  co. 
Warwick  ;  Emsworth,  co.  Sussex  ;  Bloxworth,  formerly  Bloces- 
worth  "Bloc's  manor;"  Chilworth ;  Chillingworth ;  Colster- 
worth ;  Epsworth,  co.  Lincoln  ;  Lulworth  ;  Nailsworth,  co. 
Gloucester  ;  Sawbridgeworth,  co.  Herts  ;  Tamworth,  co.  Stafford  ; 
Wandsworth,  co.  Surrey  ;  Wordsworth  ;  Worth  Maltravers,  "  the 
manor  of  Maltravers."  Dr.  Bosworth  says  worth,  worthy,  in 
local  names,  is  the  A.  S.  weordig,  worthig,  wurthig,  worth,  a  field, 
portion  of  land,  farm,  manor,  estate  ;  as  Bosworth,  Holds- 
worthy. 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  301 

WOOTTON  BASSETT,  co.  Wilts,  was  named  Wootton,  from 
the  great  quantity  of  toood  in  the  neighbourhood,  and  received 
the  addition  of  Bassett  from  a  family  to  whom  it  formerly 
belonged. 

WREXHA^r,  CO.  Denbigh,  N.  Wales,  formerly  Writtlesham  ; 
from  Sax.  writheh  wreaths,  ham  a  village.  {Bailey.)  The  reason 
for  this  derivation  is  not  evident ;  the  A.  S.  tvritheh  is  a  band, 
cover  ;  icrceth,  wrath,  is  a  wreath,  bandage,  pillar,  prop,  defence. 

WROTHAM  (rohi'm),  co.  Kent ;  in  Domesday  Broteham  ; 
in  the  Textus  Roffensis,  Wroteham  ;  and  found  written  Wortham  ; 
"  so  called  from  icort  (A.  S.  wi/rt),  a  herb  growing  there  in  great 
plenty."  (Plat/fair.) 

WiJRTEMBERG  (vur'tyn-bairg),  found  written  Wurtenberg 
and  Wirtenberg.  This  kingdom  received  its  name  from  the 
seignorial  chateau  of  Wiirtemberg,  situated  upon  a  hill  between 
Stutgard  and  Essingen.  Some  translate  Wiirtemberg  "  lord  on 
the  hill  "  {iciirt  an  dem  berg).  The  0.  G.  ivirt,  lord,  master, 
host,  is  the  modern  wirth,  an  innkeeper ;  and  wirtschaft,  which 
was  used  to  denote  the  conviviality  which  reigned  in  the  halls  of 
princes,  is  now  written  wirthschaft,  and  denotes  an  inn.  Wirt 
comes  from  ioprxl^co,  to  feast,  ko^ryj,  feast,  festival. 

WURZBURG  (vurt/boorg),  capital  of  the  Bavarian  circle  of 
the  Lower  Maine,  received  its  appellation  from  the  beautiful 
gardens  with  which  it  is  surrounded.  There  are  7000  acres  of  vine- 
yards in  the  vicinity.  The  name  translates  "  herb  or  plant  town  " 
(O.  G.  wilrz,  wurce,  every  kind  of  herb,  plant,  fructus  et  gcr- 
mina). 

WYCH  STREET.  Stow,  speaking  of  Drury  Lane,  London, 
says,  "before  the  Drurys  built  here,  the  old  name  for  this  lane 
or  road  was  called  f'la  de  Aldwych  ;  "  "hence,"  says  Cunning- 
ham, "the  present  Wych  Street,  at  the  bottom  of  Drury  Lane." 
(A,  S.  eald  old,  wic  a  dwelling,  farm,  village.) 

WYE,  a  river  in  the  counties  of  Montgomery,  Radnor,  Here- 
ford, and  Monmouth  ;  Wey,  a  river  in  Dorset ;  the  Y,  an  arm 
of  the  Zuyder  Zee,  Holland.  Lye  derives  Wye  from  A.  S.  wa-y, 
a  wave  ;  I'hilpot  from  the  O.  Brit,  word  //;//,  analogous  to  L.  vaya, 
wandering.        \\\   Domesday  and  otlier   old    records,    the    name 


302  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

of  this  river  is  found  written  Gwy,  Wy,  Wi,  Wie.      Wye,  Weij, 
and  Y,  are  from  the  Celt,  givy  or  ivy,  water. 

WYND,  WINT.  The  narrow  streets  of  Edinburgh,  and  of 
certain  towns  in  Lancashire  are  so  called.  The  name  means  an 
alley  or  lane,  from  A.  S.  wind-an,  to  turn. 


X. 


XANTHUS,  in  anc.  geog.  a  river  of  Troas,  generally  called 
the  Scamander  ;  a  river  of  Lycia  ;  a  small  river  of  Epirus  ;  per- 
haps named  from  their  supposed  colour  ;  from  Gr.  ^av6&c>  yellow. 


Y. 


YARMOUTH,  called  by  the  Saxons  Garmud  and  Jiermud,  co. 
Norfolk,  situated  at  the  mouth  of  the  River  Tare  or  Yar.  Yar- 
mouth in  the  Isle  of  ^Yight  is  situated  at  the  mouth  of  the  estuary 
of  the  western  Yar.     See  Yarrow. 

YARRA  Y^ARRA,  a  river  of  Australia,  which  runs  by  Mel- 
bourne, and  falls  into  Port  Phillip.  The  name  is  Australian,  and 
means  "  ever-flowing." 

YxARROW,  CO.  Selkirk,  Scotland.  In  the  foundation  charter 
of  Selkirk  Abbey,  by  King  David,  in  the  twelfth  century,  it  is  called 
Garua,  and  is  afterwards  found  written  Zarof,  Yara,  and  Yharrow. 
It  takes  its  appellation  from  the  river  which  runs  through  the  parish. 
The  River  Yarro  joins  the  Douglas  in  Lancashire  ;  the  Yair 
rivulet  falls  into  the  Tweed  in  Selkirk ;  the  Yare  joins  the  Ex  in 
Devon  ;  Yarmouth  in  Norfolk,  and  Yarmouth  in  the  Isle  of 
Wight,  stand  on  rivers  called  the  Yar  or  Yare.  The  names  of 
all  these  rivers  are  derived  from  Anc.  Brit,  garw,  signifying 
"  what  is  rough."  Bochart  derives  the  Celt,  garw,  garaw  (Gael. 
garbh,  rough,  rugged,  severe,  fierce,  terrible,  boisterous,  turbid  ; 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  303 

Corn,  garou,  "W.  garw,  rugged,  rough,  Kxm.  garv  rapid)  from 
Arab,  garaph,  v\bich  he  says  has  nearly  the  same  meaning,  and 
he  quotes  Giggejus  to  prove  that  sail  gar oph  in  the  Arabic  is  "a 
torrent  which  sweeps  all  before  it."  (Conf.  Garonne.)  Bailey 
derives  Yarroio  in  Durham,  memorable  as  the  birth-place  of  the 
Venerable  Bede,  from  A.  S.  gyrwa,  a  marsh,  moor,  fen. 

YENI,  YEXGI  {ya'ne,  yang'e),  in  local  names  in  Turkey,  as 
Yeni  Kale,  in  the  Crimea  ;  Yengi  Bar  or  Nour  (the  ancient 
Nora)  ou  the  road  between  Kaisariyeh  and  Tarsus,  is  the  Tare, 
yengi  new. 

YEXI  KALE  {ka'lu)  a  town  in  the  Crimea,  whence  the  straits 
of  the  same  name  ;  from  Turc.  yengi  new,  kaVeh  a  fortress. 

YEOVIL  {ydvil),  Somerset,  called  by  the  Saxons  Gevele ; 
in  Domesday,  Givele  and  Ivle  ;  named  from  the  River  Ivel 
or  Yeo,  near  which  it  stands.  Li  old  maps  the  name  of 
this  town  is  written  Yeovill,  and  that  of  the  river,  Evill.  See 
Ilchester. 

YORK,  called  by  the  ancient  Britons,  Caer  Efroc,  by  the 
Romans,  Eboracum,  by  the  Saxons,  Efroc-wyc,  Ever-wyc,  Efer-wic, 
Eofer-wic,  Eofer-wic-ceaster,  Eofor-wic,  Euer-wic,  Euor-wic,  and 
Yvor-wyc.  Some  derive  Eboracum  from  Ebiira,  in  Andalusia,  or 
Eboi-a,  now  Evora,  in  Portugal,  or  from  the  Eburaci  or  Ebroici 
a  people  of  Celtic  Gaul,  whose  chief  city  was  Eboraicum. 
According  to  others,  its  British  appellation,  from  which  the 
Latin  form  Eburacum  or  Eboracum  was  derived,  was  Eburac 
or  Eborac,  and  may  have  denoted  "  a  town  or  fortified  place 
on  the  banks  of  a  river,  or  near  the  confluence  of  waters."  There 
is  a  tradition  that  about  a.c.  983,  when  Silvius  Latinus  reigned 
in  Italy,  Ebraucus,  third  king  from  Brute,  built  a  city  north  of 
the  Ilumbir,  which,  after  his  own  name,  he  called  Kuer-Ebravc, 
"  the  city  of  Ebraucus."  Baxter  derives  Ebvracvm  "  from  Brit. 
eur  or  ebr  (answering  to  the  Gr.  oufov),  whence  evraiic  watery  ; 
Cacr-Evrauc,  a  watery  city."  Others  say  York,  like  Eureux 
(Evreux)  in  Normandy,  has  its  name  from  the  River  Eure,  on 
which  it  stands.  This  is  the  opinion  of  Camden  ;  and  yonuier 
writes   the   name    " /wz-j/re-jc/r,  a  fortress  at  or  near  the  water." 


304  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

We  have  no  evidence,  however,  that  the  Ouse  was  anciently 
called  the  Eure  at  York.  There  is  a  tradition  that  the  place  was 
built  as  a  retreat  from  the  wild  boars  in  the  forest  of  Gantries  ; 
and  if  so,  both  the  Latin  and  Saxon  names  may  be  derived 
from  the  British  name,  and  the  latter  from  Gr.  KccirpOQ  a 
wild  boar  ;  thus,  kapros,  kapr,  aper,  afer,  aferoc,  afroc,  Efroe. 
Efroc,  evroc,  ebroc,  eboroc,  eborac,  Eboracum ;  Efroc,  efroc-wyc, 
ever-wic,  evor-wic,  evoric,  yvoric,  yvorick,  yorik,  York ;  or  the 
Saxons  may  have  first  called  York,  Efroc-wyc,  from  the  Brit, 
word,  and  afterwards  Ever-ioyc,  from  A.  S.  ever,  eber,  efor 
(from  L.  aper),  a  wild  boar. 

YPRES  {e'pr),  a  town  of  Flanders,  situated  upon  a  small 
stream  called  the  Yper.  The  kind  of  linen  called  diaper  (i.e. 
d'Ypres,  from  Ypres),  was  first  manufactured  here. 

YSSEL  (i'sel),  a  river  in  the  Netherlands,  whence  the  places 
named  Ysselmond  and  Ysselsten.  Yssel  may  be  a  dim.  of  ys, 
■water.     See  Isca,  Lewes,  and  Thames. 

YSTRAD,  in  local  names  in  Wales,  as  Ystrad  Yw,  Ystrad 
Tywr,  &c.,  is  the  W.  ystrad,  a  flat,  a  vale,  a  bottom  or  valley 
formed  by  the  course  of  a  river. 

YSTWITH  {ist'with),  a  river  of  S.  Wales,  whence  Aberyst- 
wyth. Owen  derives  the  W.  ystwyth,  springing,  from  ys  and 
twyth,  a  spring  or  pliancy,  aptness  to  proceed,  celerity. 

YUCATAN,  a  republic  of  Central  America,  situated  in  the 
Mexican  isthmus.  Some  derive  Yucatan,  or  Jucatan,  from 
Joctan,  son  of  Heber,  who  came  from  the  East  and  inhabited 
this  part  of  America  1  Others  say  that  when  the  Spaniards  first 
arrived  here,  and  inquired  of  the  natives  the  name  of  the  coun- 
try, the  latter,  not  understanding  them,  answered  ''jucatan,'" 
which,  in  the  Lidian  language,  means  '-What  do  you  say?" 
and  that  the  Spaniards  have  ever  since  called  the  country 
Jucatan,  or  Yucatan. 

Y VERDUN  {ever- dung'),  a  town  of  Switzerland,  at  one  end 
of  the  Lake  of  Neuchatel;  corrupted  from  its  ancient  name 
Ebrodunum  ;  from  Celt,  y-ber-din  "  a  town  near  the  water." 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  305 


z. 


ZANGUEBAR  {zamj'gebar),  Pers.  Zanghdr  and  Zmjistan ; 
Arab.  Zanj ;  the  Agisimba  of  Ptolemy;  a  country  on  the 
eastern  coast  of  Africa.  The  largest  of  the  islands  belonging  to 
it  is  called  Zanzibar.  The  name  Zanguebar  means  "the  sea,  or 
sea-coast  of  the  Zangis"  or  negroes  {Zangi,  and  Arab,  bahr  the 
sea).  It  was  named  either  by  the  Persians  or  the  Arabs.  The  Pers. 
zangi  is  an  Egyptian,  Ethiopian,  a  moor,  a  negro,  vulgb  a  savage  ; 
zayig,  among  other  meanings,  signifies  the  rays  of  the  sun,  the 
light  of  the  moon,  clear  water,  hot,  burning,  Egypt,  Ethiopia  ; 
the  Arab,  zayij  or  zinj,  the  Ethiopians.  Zangbar  is  also  the 
name  of  a  fabulous  island  in  India.  See  also  Texeira,  de  Regib. 
Pers.  lib.  i.  c.  6  ;  and  Bochart,  Geog.  Sacr. 

ZAN'TE,  one  of  the  Ionian  Islands,  the  anc.  Zacynthus, 
from  which  the  name  has  been  corrupted  ;  thus,  Za?cLiy9oc, 
zacynthus,  zacynth,  zacynt,  zayut,  zant,  Zante.  Bochart,  quoting 
Texeira,  says  this  isle  is  entirely  surrounded  with  high  moun- 
tains, the  loftiest  of  which  is  Monte  Elato,  and  he  derives 
Zacynthus  from  Heb.  zachuth,  sublimity,  height,  from  zuach, 
to  be  raised. 

ZEAL,  ZELL,  ZILLER  {zeel,  tzel,  tziller) ;  Zell  is  not 
an  uncommon  local  name  in  some  parts  of  Germany,  Tyrol,  &c. ; 
as  Zell  in  Hanover,  Zell-am-See,  in  the  Pinzgau,  so  called  to  dis- 
tinguish it  from  Zell  in  the  Ziller  Thai  in  Tyrol.  Places  named 
Zeal  and  Zell  were  originally  cells,  shrines,  or  chapels,  from  L. 
cella,  as  Zeal  Monachorum,  "the  monks'  cell,"  a  place  in  Devon. 
The  ZUler  Thai  either  takes  its  name  from  the  stream  which 
runs  through  it,  or  from  Zell,  the  chief  place  in  the  valley  ;  thus, 
Zell,  Zellcr,  Ziller. 

ZEALAND,  an  island  forming  part  of  Denmark.  Some  derive 
Zealand  from  Dan.  si)  sea,  land  id.,  but  the  name  is  properly 
SJfi'/liiti'f,  froinyn-/,  soul,  spirit. 

X 


306  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

ZEEKOE,  a  river  of  x\frica  ;  "  the  sea-cow  river."  (D.) 

ZEITUN  {zy'tun),  a  town  of  Greece,  near  the  Turkish  frontier, 
may  have  heen  famed  for  its  ohves  ;  and  if  so,  the  name  may  be 
derived  from  Arab.  .  Jjj  :  zaitun  an  ohve.  Some  derive  the 
Arab.  vFord  from  Tsze  thung,  now  Tseun  chowfoo,  a  celebrated  port 
of  southern  China,  formerly  visited  by  the  Arabs  and  other 
Mussulmen  (See  Klaproth)  ;  but  this  latter  derivation  can  only 
be  upheld  on  the  hypothesis  that  the  Arabs  first  brought  their 
olives  from  this  port. 

ZOUT,  a  river  of  Africa  ;  "  the  salt  river."  (D.) 

ZUG  (tzoog),  capital  of  the  Swiss  canton  to  which,  as  well  as 
to  the  lake  (Ziiger  Zee),  it  gives  its  name.  Zug  is  a  corruption  of 
Tugium,  its  former  appellation,  which  it  received  from  the  Tvgeni, 
a  people  who  anciently  inhabited  this  and  the  neighbouring 
territory.  Strabo,  in  his  description  of  Helvetia,  speaks  of  the 
Tugeni,  who  joined  the  Cimbri  in  their  expedition  against  Italy. 

ZURICH  {tsu'rik),  found  written  Turig  and  Turreg  ;  a  canton 
and  city  of  Switzerland.  The  city  is  said  to  have  been  destroyed 
by  Attila,  and  rebuilt  hy  Thuricus  (son  of  Theodoric),  and  named 
after  him  Thuricum,  whence  by  corruption  its  present  name. 

ZUTPHEN  {tsoot'fen),  found  written  Zutfania  ;  in  the  middle 
ages,  Sudven  ;  a  town  of  Gelderland,  in  the  Netherlands;  from 
D.  veenen  fens,  zud  south;  "the  southern  fens." 

ZUYDER  ZEE  {zi'der  ze,  D.  zoy'der  za),  an  inland  sea 
between  Holland  and  Friesland,  so  called  in  contradistinction  to 
the  North  Sea,  although  in  fact  it  is  merely  a  wide  bay  of  that 
sea  ;  from  U.  zuider  southern,  from  zuid  south,  zee  sea. 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  307 


Bbtittfons    anb  CTontctfons. 

ADDER,  ADUR.  The  Adder,  a  river  in  Wilts  ;  the  White 
Adder  and  Black  Adder,  co.  Berwick  ;  the  Adur  in  Sussex  and  in 
Ireland.  Chalmers  derives  these  names  from  Brit,  aweddur, 
"  running  water."     Conf.  Adderbourn  and  Adur,  p.  3. 

ADIGE  {ad-ee'jeh),  a  river  of  Tyrol  and  Italy,  G.  Etsch ;  cor- 
rupted from  its  L.  name  Athesis,  from  Celt.  Yt-ese,  "  the  water." 
Conf.  Tees  (Low  L.  Athesis,  Teesis,  and  Teesa ;  called  by 
Ptolemy  Tu'etrcra),  a  river  co.  Durham,  from  same  root.  See 
IscA,  Thames. 

AFGHxlNISTAN  is  said  to  take  its  name  from  Malik  Afghdna, 
son  of  Armiah,  to  whom  the  mountain  tract  of  Kdseghar  and  the 
district  of  Rudah  were  assigned  in  feudal  tenure  by  Siilimau,  son 
of  Daoud.  The  name  Afghana  is  derived  from  the  Vers.  Jig/idn, 
complaint,  lamentation,  because  this  king  was  a  cause  of  lamen- 
tation to  the  devils,  jins,  and  mankind.  It  is  asserted  that  he 
fixed  his  residence  at  a  place  named  Push  or  Pash,  in  the  moun- 
tains, and  that  from  this  place  the  people  have  derived  the  name 
of  Pushtiin,  and  their  language  that  of  Pushto,  their  original  lan- 
guage being  called  Ibrahami,  i.e.  Hebrew.  See  As.  Soc.  Beng. 
Jour.  vol.  xxiii.  .5.50,  1854.     Conf.  p.  3. 

AIX  (ace),  name  of  several  places  in  France  ;  Aix,  in  Savoy  ; 
Aix-la-Chapelle,  G.  Aachen,  in  Prussia.  Aix  and  Aachen  are  cor- 
ruptions of  L.  afji'ce,  waters,  and  these  places  were  named  from 
their  hot  or  cold  springs.  One  Aix  in  France  was  founded  by  the 
Roman  general  Sextus,  who  named  it  Aquce  Sextiee.  Aix-la- 
Cliapelle  was  called  by  the  Latins,  Aqitisffraniou,  from  aquce,  and 
Serenus  Granus,  by  whom  it  was  founded  under  the  Emperor 
Adrian,  about  a.d.  124. 

ALBANIA,  a  province  of  European  Turkey,  for  Alania,  said 
to  be  from  a  German  race  called  the  Alains. 

ALDBURY  (awffjiinj),  Herts,  from  A.  S.  eald-burh,  "old 
burgli  or  town." 

X    2 


308  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

AMOY,  China ;  in  Mandarin  dialect,  Ilea  mun,  pronounced  by 
the  natives  ha-moy.     Hea  is  the  name  of  a  dynasty. 

ARABIA.  The  Rev.  Alfred  Jones  says  '' Aruhh,  Apafiio,, 
desert  or  sterile,  so  called  from  its  sterility,  from  the  root  ardbh, 
to  exchange  articles  of  traffic,  to  set  as  the  sun  ;  Arab,  gharaba, 
to  depart  far  away,  to  wander,  i.  q.  Hardbh.'^  Mr.  Geo.  R. 
Gliddon  (Otia  ^Egyp.)  translates  the  name  Arabs  (whence  Bar- 
bary),  "  men  of  the  west,"  and  Berber,  "  sons  of  the  west," 
from  pi  the,  ereb  west,  bar  son.     Conf,  p.  13. 

ARARAT.  The  Rev.  Alfred  Jones  says  "  \DT\ii.  arardt,  'a  moun- 
tain of  descent,'  which  Josephus  says  the  natives  called  it.  The 
Armenians  call  it  *  the  place  of  descent ; '  hence  it  is  considered  a 
compound  of  Ar-arat,  and  in  Heb.  should  be  written  Har-yaradh. 
The  Samaritan  Pentateuch  has  Hararat.  By  this  mode  it  would 
be  from  in  a  mountain,  and  IT'  to  descend.  That  this  is  the  true 
signification  appears  also  from  Moses  Chorenensis,  the  Armenian 
historian,  who  affirms  that  the  city  at  the  foot  of  this  mountain 
is  called  Idsheuaii,  but  at  the  place  itself,  Nachidsheuan,  which 
signifies  '  the  first  place  of  descent.' "     Conf.  p.  I  4. 

ARRAS  (Fr.  pron.  arrah),  according  to  some,  was  anciently 
inhabited  by  the  Atrebates,  whose  name  became  corrupted  to 
Adertes  or  Adratas,  whence  the  place  was  called  Pagus  Adertisus, 
and,  by  further  corruption.  Arras  ;  whence  also  jVrtois.  Conf. 
p.  16. 

BARBARY.     See  Arabia,  supra,  and  Barbary,  p.  27. 

BESSARABIA,  a  province  of  Russia.  The  last  settlers  were 
the  Comans,  afterwards  known  as  the  Bessarabeni,  from  their 
ruler  Bessarab.  They  appear  for  the  first  time  under  this  new 
term  in  a  public  act  of  1259,  quoted  by  the  anonymous  arch- 
deacon of  Ghesne,  who  wrote  his  chronicle  about  a.d.  1395,  See 
Malte-Brun,  vol.  vi.  380,  Edinb,  1827  ;  Sommersberg,  Scrip. 
Rer.  Siles.  i.  82,  ii.  73,  92. 

BLACKHEATH,  Kent ;  "  of  the  colour  of  the  earth  ;  or 
blcecheath,  of  the  high  and  cold  situation,  for  bleake  signifieth 
cold  also."      {LambardeJ) 

BORYSTHE'NES,  in  anc.  geog.  a  river  of  European  Sarmatia, 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  309 

now  the  Dnieper.  The  name  is  said  to  signify  "  a  rampart  formed 
by  a  forest  of  pines  ;"  from  Slav,  bor  a  pine,  a  pine  forest,  stena 
a  wall.  Its  banks  are  covered  with  forests  of  pines.  Mela 
represents  it  as  flowing  through  a  country  of  the  same  name, 
and  as  the  most  pleasant  river  of  Scythia,  more  gentle  in  its 
course  than  any  other,  and  affording  water  more  agreeable  to 
drink. 

BOYNE,  from  Gael,  bui-on,  the  yellow  river.  Conf.  p.  42. 
BRENTA,  Fr.  Brente,  L.  Brentesia,  a  river  which  falls  into 
the  lagunes  near  Venice  ;  Brent,  a  river  of  Middlesex,  which  falls 
into  the  Thames  at  Brentford.  From  Celt,  par-ywent ;  from  /;«/• 
or  var,  water,  gwent  fair  or  open  country  ;  thus  par-gwent,  par- 
went,  prcnt,  Brent,  Brenta. 

BROMLEY,  BROMPTON,  names  of  several  places  in  England, 
from  A.  S.  brom-leag,  a  field  or  pasture  of  broom ;  brom-tim  a 
broom  enclosure  or  town. 

BUCHAREST  or  BUCHOREST  (boo/c'arest),  more  correctly 
Bukaresht,  capital  of  "Wallachia;  "city  of  enjoyment."  (P.  Cyc.) 
BURTON-UPON-TRENT,  co.  Stafford,  so  named  to  distin- 
guish it  from  sixty  other  Burtons.  (See  Index  Villaris.)  In  the 
Saxon  annals  it  is  written  Byreton,  synon.  with  Bureton  or 
Burylon,  words  used  by  the  Saxons  to  denote  places  of  Roman 
or  British  origin  ;  hence  we  may  conclude  that  in  this  neighbour- 
hood, a  Bury,  a  capital  mansion  or  manor-house,  was  the 
residence  of  some  eminent  personage  before  the  Saxons  visited 
our  island,  (See  Hist.  Stajf.)  Spelman  derives  beria  vel  buria 
(curia,  civitas,  burgus,  habitatio,  manerium),  from  Sax.  byr,  bur, 
Gr.  Pupsiov,  casa,  habitatio.    See  also  Somner,  Sax.  Die. 

CANDIA,  chief  city  of  the  island  of  Candi,  anciently  called 
Crete.  Candid  or  Khandia  is  said  to  be  the  Venetian  form  of 
Khandax,  "great  fortress,"  applied  to  the  city  by  its  Saracen 
founders.  The  name  has  been  commonly  extended,  in  Europe, 
to  the  island  itself,  which,  however,  is  never  called  Candia  by  the 
natives. 

CARLOW,  Ireland,  pron.  by  the  Irish,  cuirlouyh  ;  from  Gael. 
ralhuir-loiiyh,   "  the  fortress  or  town  on  the  lake." 


310  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

CARTHAGE.  Bochart  says  it  was  called  in  Phoen.  Carthada, 
*'  new  city  ;  "  and  by  the  Chaldeans  and  Syrians,  Kartha-hadath 
or  — hadtha.  This  derivation  seems  the  most  reasonable, 
especially  when  compared  with  that  of  Utica,  which  signified 
"the  ancient."     See  Solin. ;  Steph. ;  and  Eustat.     Conf.  p.  62. 

CATA'NIA,  formerly  Catana,  an  ancient  city  and  seaport  of 
Sicily,  on  a  gulf  of  the  same  name,  at  the  foot  of  Mount  Etna. 
Bochart  derives  the  name  from  Phcen.  «3top  katana,  "little,"  it 
having  been  only  a  small  town  before  it  was  colonized  by  the 
Naxii.  He  derives  the  name  of  the  neighbouring  river 
Asines  or  Acesines,  from  Phcen.  hassin,  "  river  of  cold."  He 
says  its  waters  being  remarkably  cold,  it  was  called  by  the 
Arabs  Wadi  albarid,  "  cold  river,"  and  by  the  modern  natives 
Fiume  freddo. 

CEUTA  {su'ta),  a  seaport  of  Morocco,  in  the  possession  of 
Spain,  stands  on  the  site  of  the  Roman  town  of  Sej}ta,  which 
received  its  name  from  a  neighbouring  mountain  with  seven 
summits,  which  the  ancients  called  Ad  Septem  Fr aires. 

CHINE.  Any  considerable  chasm  in  the  Isle  of  Wight  is 
provincially  so  called.  The  term  is  analogous  to  the  backbone  of 
an  animal,  and  is  peculiarly  expressive  of  a  high  ridge  of  land 
cleft  abruptly  down.  Several  parts  of  the  southern  coast  of  the 
Isle  are  so  called,  and  correspond  with  this  description.  At 
Blackgang  Chine  every  part  is  without  a  particle  of  vegetation, 
and  the  cloven  sand-rocks  are  nearly  black.  The  Sax.  gang 
signifies  any  opening  or  way  in  a  cliff  to  the  sea-shore.  See  Sir 
R.  Worsley's  Isle  of  Wight,  and  Bridden's  Guide.)  Chine  may 
be  from  A.  S.  cina,  cinnu,  a  fissure,  cinan,  to  gape,  from  Gr.  "xcavM. 

CHURN,  a  river  in  Wilts  ;  Cerne,  a  river  in  Dorset.  Chalmers 
says  churn  or  chiiirn  is  merely  the  oblique  case  of  Brit,  cam, 
which  he  translates  "  a  stony  or  rough  stream."     Conf.  p.  68. 

COLNE,  name  of  several  rivers  of  England  ;  from  Celt,  cul-un, 
"  the  narrow  or  confined  river."  Chalmers  gives  the  Colne  in 
W^ilts,  the  Calner  in  Lanarkshire,  the  Callen  in  Kilkenny,  the 
Culany  in  Sligo,  the  Culan  water  in  Banffshire  ;  he  says  the  Gael. 
coalan  means  "  the  small  water,"  hence  a  small  lake  in  Argyle  is 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  311 

named  Caolan  ;  and  that  the  Brit,  call-na  means  "  the  water  that 
is  apt  to  run  out  of  its  channel."     Conf.  p.  7.3. 

CRETE,  in  anc.  geog.  an  island  in  the  Grecian  x\rchipelago, 
and  now  called  by  Europeans  Candi  or  Candia.  Bochart  says 
Palestine,  or  at  least  part  of  its  littoral,  was  called  by  the  Syrians, 
Creth ;  that  the  chief  arms  of  the  Philistines  were  bows  and 
arrows;  that  the  Phoenicians  called  a  Phihstine  archer,  Ti'',::  crethi 
or  creti,  and  that  those  Greeks,  who  excelled  in  the  art  of  the 
bow,  were  called  Crethi  or  Creti ;  and  that  the  Chaldee  interpre- 
tation always  has  crethi  for  sagittarii,  i.e.  archers.  Robinson 
(Gesen.)  says  Cherethite  is  a  Gentile  name,  i.  q.  Philistine  ;  that 
the  Sept.  and  Syr.  render  it  "  Cretans,"  from  which  and  other 
passages  in  Am.  ix.  7,  Jer.  xlvii.  4,  and  Deut.  ii.  33,  the 
conjecture  would  be  strong  that  the  Philistines  sprang  from 
Crete,  were  it  certain  that  Capthor  signified  the  island  of  Crete. 
See  also  Pliny,  Plato,  Virg.,  Solin.,  and  Lucan,  libb.  iii.  vii. 

DAMASCUS.  Gesenius  (Robinson)  says  "  from  Heb.  and 
Arab,  dimeshk,  activity,  alertness,  perhaps  in  reference  to  traffic 
(Arab,  damshuka,  to  be  quick,  hasty,  active ;  damshak,  dimashk, 
quick,  active,  alert)."     Conf.  p.  81. 

DEAL,  Kent,  memorable  as  the  place  where  Julius  Caesar 
first  landed,  and  fought  the  Britons.  "  Caesar  ad  Bole  helium 
pugnavit "  [Nennius)  ;  from  anc.  Brit,  dol,  a  dale  or  low  place. 

DORKING,  found  written  Darking  and  Darkinge,  Surrey. 
This  town  was  anciently  called  Dorchinges,  a  name  said  to  be 
derived  from  its  situation  in  a  valley  abounding  with  springs  of 
water.  Dorchinges  is  probably  a  corruption  of  Dur-vicingas, 
i.e.  the  water-dwellers,  or,  as  others  say,  "those  who  dwell  near 
springs  of  water;"  from  Celt,  divr  water,  A.  S.  wician  to  dwell. 

Conf.   DORSKTSHIRK. 

DUMBLANE,  according  to  some,  derives  its  name  from  St. 
Jilane,  a  Culdce,  and  dim  a  hill,  i.e.  Holme  Hill,  which  overlooks 
the  cathedral.     Conf.  p.  91. 

EVESHAM.  "  Efesham,  Eofesham,  Euesham,  Evisham  ;" 
efcs  a  brim,  hum  a  dwelling  ;  "  residence  on  the  liank  of  a  river." 
(Busicorth.)     Conf.  p.  102. 


312  LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY. 

EW'ELL,  CO.  Surrey,  found  written  Etwelle  and  Awell ;  in 
Domesday  Etwel ;  i.e.  "  at  the  spring,"  in  allusion,  possibly,  to 
its  situation  at  the  head  of  a  small  stream  which  runs  to  Kingston. 
There  is  also  Ewell,  near  Dover. 

FINLAJMD.  Both  Ihre  and  Wachter,  on  the  authority  of 
Stiernhielm,  derive  this  name  iroxn  fen  (Ice.  id.  A.  ^.fen,fenn, 
D.  veen),  a  marsh,  marshy  land.  Finland,  in  the  eastern  and 
central  parts,  is  intersected  by  lakes,  rivers,  and  swamps,  and  the 
natives  call  themselves  Suomilins,  and  their  country,  Soorna,  from 
soo  a  marsh,  ma  earth.     Conf.  p.  104. 

GOD'ALMING,  co.  Surrey,  situated  on  the  Wey.  Aubrey 
thinks  it  was  called  Goda's  Aiming,  from  having  been  bestowed 
in  alms  to  a  neighbouring  monastery  by  Goda  (Godiva),  Countess 
of  Mercia ;  but  it  is  asserted  that  this  lordship  was  never  in  the 
possession  of  any  religious  body  till  given  by  Henry  II.  to  the 
church  of  Salisbury.  Manning,  with  more  probability,  derives 
the  name  from  its  Saxon  proprietor,  Godhehn,  and  from  its 
situation  at  the  extremity  of  an  ing  or  meadow.  Godelminge, 
moreover,  is  applied  to  it  in  Domesday  and  several  ancient  docu- 
ments. (See  Mantell ;  also  Lewis,  Topog.)  The  neighbouring 
hundred  of  Godley  was  anciently  called  Godlei,  i.e.  God's  ley  or 
land,  the  greater  part  of  the  district  having  been  church  laud 
belonging  to  the  abbey  of  Chertsey. 

GUILDFORD  {gilford),  co.  Surrey,  found  written  Geldeford, 
Gegildford,  Guldeford,  Guldford,  and  Gildeford ;  generally  derived 
from  A.  S.  gild,  in  reference  to  a  guild  or  trading  fraternity,  which 
established  themselves  here,  and  yb?'6?,  the  town  being  situated  on 
the  banks  of  the  Wey,  which  flows  in  a  narrow  channel  along  the 
rift  in  the  chalk-hills.  Camden  thinks  it  may  have  originally  been 
Goldenford,  "golden  ford;"  Mantell  infers  some  Brit,  word 
prefixed  to  the  Sax.  ford,  and  expressing  "  the  ford  at  the  end 
of  the  back  or  ridge,  "  i.e.  the  well-known  ridge  of  hills  called 
the  Hogsback.  If  the  first  syllable  is  of  Celtic  origin,  it  may  be 
derived  from  the  same  root  as  Wallingford,  and  imply  "  the  ford 
of  the  Gaidheal  or  Gael." 

HEIDELBERG    {h/dlbumi),    on    the    Neckar,    Germany; 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  313 

found  written  Haidelberg  and  Heydelberg.  Some  derive  the 
name  from  Teut.  heyden-berg,  "  hill  of  the  pagans  ;"  others  from 
heydel,  myrtle,  which  still  grows  in  great  abundance  ujiou  the 
Geisberg,  and  at  the  back  of  the  chateau. 

HEILBRONN  {hile — ),  found  written  Hailbronn,  was  named 
from  its  medicinal  springs  ;  from  O.  G.  hailen  {heilen),  to  heal, 
bronn  (brumien),  a  well,  fountain.  The  fable  goes,  that  a  noble 
hunter  missed  his  way,  and  being  quite  exhausted,  suddenly  came 
upon  a  most  dehghtful  spring,  which  so  refreshed  him,  that  he 
afterwards  caused  a  shooting-box  to  be  built  on  the  spot.  This  is 
said  to  have  formed  the  nucleus  of  the  town,  and  an  old-fashioned 
house  is  still  shown  as  the  "  hunter's  lodge." 

HO'BOKEN,  New  Jersey,  U.  S.  Here  was  held  the  council 
between  the  whites  and  the  natives,  when  they  smoked  "  the 
pipe  of  peace"  together.     Hoboken  means  lit.  "  smoke-pipe." 

HODDESDON  (kodsdun),  co.  Herts,  found  written  Hodes- 
done  and  Odesdone  ;  the  supposed  residence  of  Hodo  or  Oddo,  a 
Danish  chief ;  or  the  site  of  a  tumulus  raised  to  his  memory; 
from  Oddo,  and  A.  S.  dun,  a  hill. 

HONTTON,  CO.  Devon,  in  Domesday  Honetone,  Hunitone, 
and  found  written  Honyton,  Hunniton,  and  Hunnington.  One 
writer  translates  it  "honey-town,"  which  is  absurd.  Camden 
thinks  it  may  be  from  Brit.  civ7i  y  tun,  "  oppidum  canina;  aquae," 
from  cwn  dogs,  y  water ;  but  it  is  most  probably  from  Brit. 
onnen  y  din,  "  town  of  ash-trees."  See  also  Baxter,  Gloss,  in 
voce  Hunnium.  In  Devon,  we  have  also  Honeychurch,  formerly 
Honichurch  and  Honecherche  ;  also  Honeland. 

LAPLAND  ;  "  the  land  or  country  of  the  Laj)ps."  The 
name  of  the  Lapps  is  said  to  denote  their  attachment  to  sorcery, 
ffipp  in  their  language  signifying  a  wizard. 

LEATIIERUEAD,  co.  Surrey,  more  correctly  Letherhed, 
was,  in  the  time  of  King  Alfred,  called  Leodride.  In  Domesday, 
the  church  of  Leret  is  mentioned  in  connexion  with  the  kings 
manor  of  Ewell,  and  the  name  of  the  place  is  found  written 
Lerrcd,  Ledred,  Ledrcde,  Leddercd,  and  Ltdered.  Manlell 
says  this  ancient  p  lace,   which  is   pleasantly  situated   f»n  a  sin. 


314  LOCAL    ETYMOLOGY. 

gularly  declivitous  bank  of  the  Mole,  was  so  called  by  tlte 
aborigines  of  this  island,  from  that  circumstance,  and  that  the 
Anc.  Brit,  has  many  words  to  signify  such  a  sloping  situation  ; 
as  lleddf,  llethr,  Uethrod,  llethredd,  &c.  See  also  Gent.  Mag. 
May  and  April,  1844. 

LEITH  {leeth),  co.  Edinburgh,  formerly  Inver-Leith,  named 
from  its  situation  at  the  mouth  {inver)  of  the  Leith.  There  is 
the  River  Leith  in  Westmoreland  ;  the  Laith,  now  called  Dyfr,  in 
Merioneth  ;  the  Leithan,  in  Peebles.  Chalmers  says  these  streams 
swell  suddenly  into  a  flood  ;  and  he  derives  their  names  from 
Brit,  llith,  a  flood.  He  says  leith-an  is  a  dim.  of  Uith,  and  lui- 
dur  is  "a  muddy  or  discoloured  water,"  or  "  the  lesser  water." 

LIFFEY,  a  river  passing  through  Dublin  ;  the  LifPar,  another 
river  in  Ireland  ;  the  Liver  in  Cornwall  and  Argyle.  From  Brit. 
lifor  lliv,  a  flood  or  inundation.  Chalmers  says  lliv-ei-  means 
the  "  floody  river." 

MAIN,  G.  Mein,  a  river  of  Germany,  on  which  Frankfort  is 
situated  ;  from  Gael,  meadh-an  (pron.  mean),  the  middle  river. 
The  rivers  Mayne  in  Antrim,  South  Munster,  and  Stafford ;  the 
Main  in  Wigton  ;  the  Mean  in  Dumfries  ;  the  Lower  Mein, 
Rother  Mein,  and  Weisser  Mein  in  Germany ;  and  Mayenne  is 
the  name  of  a  river  and  Mayenne  and  Maine-et-Loire,  of  depart- 
ments in  France.  All  these  names  may  be  from  the  same  root, 
or  from  Brit,  mai-an,  which  Chalmers  translates  "  the  agitated 
or  troubled  water." 

MALMESBURY  (mahms—),  co.  Wilts  ;  found  written  Mal- 
dulfes-burh,  Maldmes-burh,  Meadelmes  burh,  Maldelmesburh, 
Maldesmesburh,  Malmesbires.  It  was  first  called  Maldulfes-burh, 
or  Maldmes-burh,  "Maildulph's  city,"  from  the  name  of  its 
founder  ;  then  Aldelmesburh,  "  Aldhelm's  city,"  from  Aldhelm, 
one  of  Maidulph's  chief  disciples.  From  both  names  was  formed 
Meald-elmes-burh,  Malmesbury.    {Bosworth.) 

NEVERS,  NIEVRE.  Nievre  may  be  from  Celt.  7iever,  "  the 
gentle  stream,"  or  na-var,  "  the  water."  The  Never  or  Nevern 
falls  into  the  sea  in  Pembrokeshire ;  the  Naver  or  Navern  runs 


LOCAL   ETYMOLOGY.  315 

from  Loch  Naver  through  Strath-Naver,  into  the  sea  in  Suther- 
land.    Conf.  p.  189. 

O'DER,  L.  Viadnis,  Fiadus,  Slav.  Jdera,  G.  Ader,  a  river 
of  Germany.  Some  derive  the  name  from  G.  ader,  an  artery, 
vein.     But  see  Weser,  p.  294. 

PARIS.  The  Parisii  may  derive  their  name  from  Celt,  paiys, 
"  men  who  live  near  water,"  from  par  water,  c/u'i/s  (in  compos,  ys) 
men.     Conf.  p.  202,  and  voc.  Dorset  and  Treviso. 

PERU,  an  extensive  kingdom  of  S.  America.  Some  derive  this 
name  from  the  river  Beru,  first  discovered  by  Pizarro  ;  or  from  a 
promontory  called  Pelu.  According  to  others,  it  was  formerly 
called  Biru,  from  the  name  of  a  cacique  or  prince  of  one  of  its 
states  on  the  coast  of  the  Pacific. 

QUIMPER.     For  "  cynmer"  read  "  cymmer"     Conf.  p.  218. 

RAYSE  (rayz),  in  local  names  in  England,  means  "  a  heap  of 
stones  ;"  as  Stan-rayse  ;  Dunmal-rayse,  in  Cumberland. 

RIG,  RIGG,  often  found  in  local  names  in  the  Northern  coun- 
ties, as  Whitrigg,  Cumberland ;  Rigmaiden,  Rayrigg,  West- 
moreland ;  Rigby,  Lancashire  ;  Brownrigg,  Grayrigg,  means  a 
ridge  ;  from  A.  S.  7-ig,  ricg,  hric,  hricy,  (Sw.  rygg,  Dan.  ryg,  D. 
rug,  G.  riicken,  Ice.  hriygur,  Low  L.  riga,  reuga,  reugia),  a 
ridge,  the  back. 

RINGWOOD,  Hants  (in  L.  Regni  Sylva),  formerly  Regen- 
wood,  and  anciently  the  metropolis  of  the  Regni,  lit.  "  the  wood 
or  forest  of  the  Regni,'"  whither  they  fled  for  protection. 

SAONE  (sone),  a  river  of  France  ;  from  Gael,  sogh-an,  "  the 
placid  river." 

STROUD  {strowd),  or  STROUDWATER,  co.  Gloucester, 
on  a  river  of  the  same  name ;  Strood,  formerly  Stroud,  Kent ; 
from  root  of  Isfer  and  Stour,  pp.  \\\,  258. 


INDEX  OF  GROUPED  NAMES. 


FOR 

SEE 

FOR 

SEE 

Aachen 

Aix,  p.  307. 

An-Tron 

Turnberry  Head 

Abdie 

Tay. 

Apple-tree- 

Aberavoa 

Avon. 

thwaite 

Thwaite. 

Aberayroii 

Aber. 

Aray 

Inverary. 

Aberbroath 

Arden 

Ardennes. 

Aberbrothwick 

Arbroath. 

ArghanaMaden  Maden. 

Aberconwy 

Conway. 

Arn 

Ern. 

Aberdale 

Aber. 

Ascanderoon 

Scanderoon. 

Aberg-ele 

Asines 

Catania,  p.  310. 

Abertawy 

Aber  &  Swansea. 

Astapa 

Asto. 

Abton 

Ab. 

Astig-e 

Abury  Hatch 

Hatch. 

Astobeza 

Acesines 

Catania,  p.  310. 

A^tura 

Achaltic 

Ach. 

Asturica 

Acharn 

Attenrode 

Rode. 

Acharnellan 

Augustabriga 

Briga. 

Achenboni 

Ayr 

Ayrshire. 

Achepan 

Axholm  Carr 

Carr. 

Achinver 

Axley 

Isca. 

Achirg-arn 

Achnacrieve 

Baden  Baden 

Baden. 

Achiiag'iniu 

Bagshot 

Shot. 

Achoau 



Bala  Khanen 

Bala  &  Hisaar. 

Adstock 

Stoke. 

Ballapore 

Dodaballa. 

Adur 

Adder,  p.  307. 

Ballinahinch 

Bally. 

iEg^ean 

Archipelago. 

Balliiitra 

Ak  Serai 

Sarai. 

Ballymony 



Alchurch 

Alton. 

Ballyraore 

Alcomb 

Comb. 

Balquhonvie 

Leslie. 

Aldershott 

Shot. 

Balscote 

Cote. 

Alexaiidretta 

Scanderoon. 

Balsillie 

Leslie. 

Ahnelo 

Loo. 

Bamfleet 

Beamfleet. 

Alvetori 

Alton. 

BarrowfordBooth  Booth. 

Arnarapura 

Ava. 

Barstow 

Stow. 

Amtruii 

IJUII. 

Basfordwong 

Wong. 

318 


INDEX    OF    GROUPED    NAMES. 


FOR 

Basingstoke 

Batavodurum 

Bearainster 

Bed  low 

Bedminster 

Bedworth 

Beerselini 

Beersheba 

Beindeirg- 

Beloochistan 

Bencleughs 

Benmore 

Benveiiue 

Bere  Regis 

Berwick  Law 

Bethaven 

Bethsaida 

Bethseda  • 

BettwsGarmon  Bettws 


SEE 

Stoke. 

Dur. 

Minster. 

Low. 

Minster. 

Worth. 

Beer, 

Ben  Lomond. 

Stan. 

Ben  Lomond. 


Regis. 

Law. 

Beth. 


Betuwe 
Be^'az  Sii 
Biddenden 
Biggantor 
Binardri 
Birdslip 
Birdtwistle 
Bishop  CHst 


Batavia. 

Su. 

Den. 

Venn. 

Leslie. 

Lip. 

Twistle. 

Chst. 


Bishop's  Stoke     Stoke. 
Bishop's Tawton  Tavistock 
Blackgang Chine  Chine. 


Blandt'ord 

Bletchingley 

Bletchley 

Blinkinsop 

Bloxworth 

Bodmyn 

Boiodurum 

Borkulo 

Botley 

Boscomb 

Bosworth 

Bouquetot 

Bradford 

Bradwardine 


Ford. 
Ley. 

Sop. 

Worth. 

Bodmin. 

Dur. 

Loo. 

Ley. 

Comb. 

Worth. 

Tot. 

Bradpole. 

Wardine. 


Braigh  Raineach  Breadalbane. 


Brandreth 

Branogenium 

Branonium 

Brent 

Brestot 

Briggantor 

Brighton 

Brierhtor 


Reth. 
Worcester. 

Brenta,  p. 

Tot. 

Vean. 


309. 


FOR 

Britergh 

Brorapton 

Brownrigg 

Broadstairs 

Broughty 

Bruton 

Bryn-Arw 

Buda 

Bullsnape 

Burgclere 

Binnham 

Burstal 

Byzapoor 

Caer  Wrangon 

Cailletot 

Calatrava 

Callen 

Calmende 

Calner 

Calshott 

Chamurlu  Sii 

Chandernagore 

Charlottenlund 

Charminster 

Cheapside 

Chepstow 

ChikaBallapore 

Chilcomb 

Chillingworth 

Chiltern 

Chilworth 

Chiswardine 

Choruk  Sii 

Chow  bent 

Christianslund 

Christiaijso 

Chunargurh 

Chutterpore 

Citlaltepetl 

Clenston 

Cleuch 

Cleugh 

Cleves 

Clontarf 

Closterworth 

Clough  Pike 

Colne  Maskerel 

Colne  Quincey 

Colun  Saer 

Comarden 

Comberbatch 

Combhill 


SEE 

Argh. 

Bromlev,  p.  309, 

Rig,  p.  315. 

Rams"'ate. 

Tay.  ° 

Tun. 

Arro. 

Ofen. 

Snape. 

Clere. 

Ham. 

Borstal. 

Poor. 

Worcester. 

Tot. 

Calahorra. 

Colne,  p.  310. 

Lusitania. 

Colne,  p.  310. 

Shot. 

Su. 

Nagore. 

Lund. 

Minster. 

Chipping. 

Dodaballa. 

Comb. 

Worth. 

Em. 

Worth. 

Wardine. 

Su. 

Bent. 

Lund. 

0. 

Gurh. 

Poor. 

Tepetl. 

Tun. 

Clough. 

Cleveland. 
Clon. 
Worth. 
Pike. 
Wake's  Colne. 


Ardennes. 

Batch. 

Comb. 


INDEX    OF   GROUPED    NAMES. 


319 


FOR 

Constable-le- 

Booth 
Coptus 
Cornberrie 
Cornerwong- 
Cornouailles 
Cornthwaite 
Cotsmore 
Cottington 
Counterslip 
Cow  Pill 
Craiginisli 
Ciaize  Lownd 


Booth. 

Egypt. 

Beria. 

Wong. 

Cornwall. 

Thwaite. 

Cote, 

Lip. 
Pill. 
Innis. 
Lawnd. 


Crawshaw  Booth  Booth 


Crestot 

Crewkerne 

Crusca 

Culan 

Culany 

Cynwyd 

Daghistan 

Darwith 

Debreczin 

Dobra 

Dobre 

Dobraschka 

Dobiawitz 

Dort 

Dovre  Field 

Dowbiggin 

Drave 

Dulwich 

Dumbar 

IJunlop 

Dunmal-Rayse 

Duntroon  Point 

Durocortorum 

Dwina 

Earl's  Colne 

East  Ham 

East  Lo 

Eastlow 

Eastonness 

Eboracum 

Eckelo 

Edwy 

Efymwy 

Elwy 

Erns 

Eruflworth 

Eiifcaiiie  Colne 


Tot. 
Ern. 

Florence. 
Colne,  p.  310. 

Rhaidr. 

Stan. 
With. 
Dobrutscha. 


Dordrecht. 

Field. 

Biggin. 

Travemunde. 

Wich. 

Dunbar. 

Lop. 

Rayse. 

Turnberry  Head. 

Dur. 

Duna. 


Einden. 
Worth. 
Cohiesi. 


FOR 

Epsworth 

Erin 

Erith 

Ermelo 

Ermine  Street 

Escalona 

Euscalerria 

Evreux 

Fairsnape 

Faristan 

Feldhung 

Fille  Field 

Flagpool 

Plaviobriga 

Flegg 

Foot's  Cray 

Foulness 

Fox  Hatch 

Fraisinish 

Franquetot 

Frederickslund 

Frisergh 

Frydenlund 

Futihgurh 

Gains  Colne 

Garmsir 

Garstang 

Gau 

Gaur 

Gawilgurgh 

Ghazipoor 

Ghieuzel  Hissar 

Giliingham 

Godley 

Godmanston 

Gosport 

Gothland 

Grastot 

Grayrigg- 

Grays 

Greenan 

Greenhithe 

Grimsargli 

Grimston 

(iripsholm 

Groenlo 

(ruadalbacar 

Guadalcazar 

(■iuadalliorra 

(iuudaljara 


SEE 

Worth. 

Ireland. 

London. 

Loo. 

Hermann. 

Toledo. 

Basque. 

York. 

Snape. 

Stan. 

Ins-. 

Field. 

Pool. 

Briga . 

Runhara. 

Cray. 

Ness. 

Hatch. 

Innis. 

Tot. 

Lund. 

Argh. 

Lund. 

Gurh. 

Colnes. 

Persia. 

Stang". 

Vintschgau. 

Lucknow. 

Gurh. 

Poor. 

Hissar. 

Ham. 

Godalming',  p. 

312. 
Tun. 
Port. 
Oude. 
Tot. 

Rig,  p.  315. 
Thurrock. 
Baalbec. 
Hithe. 
Argh. 
Tun. 
Holm. 
Loo. 
Guadalquivir. 


320 


INDEX    OF   GROUPED    NAMES. 


FOR 

Guadalquiton 
Guadarrama 
Gurgistan 
Gwent 

SEE 

Stan. 
Winchester. 

FOE 

Iztaccihuatl 
.1  epes 
Jonkoping 
Joudpore 

SEE 

Tepetl. 
Toledo. 
Chipping. 
Oude  &  Poor 

Hammoon 
Hanley 

Ham. 
Ley. 

Juanpoor 
Juliobriga 

Briga. 

Hardang-er 

Kara  Hissar 

Hissar. 

Fiord 

Fiord. 

Karlso 

0 

Haresnape 

Harford 

Hartness 

fSnape. 

Karthaus 

Charterhouse 

Ford. 
Hartlepool. 

Kattegat 
Keban  Maden 

Scagerrack. 
Maden. 

Harto 

0. 

Kellnsey 

Spurnhead. 

Hassan  Kaleh 

Kaleh. 

Kelsey 

Kil. 

Haxey  Carr 

Carr. 

Kelvedon  Hatch  Hatch. 

Hazelhurst 

Hurst. 

Kerrek 

Caer. 

Helmsley 

Ley. 

Kettering 

Ing. 

Helsing'borg- 

Elsinore  &  Hels- 

Khuzistan 

Stan. 

ingfors. 

Kidderminster 

Minster. 

Helsingor 

Kidsnape 

Snape. 

Hetertot 

Tot. 

Kilfinan 

Kill. 

Hetloo 

Loo. 

Kilkenny 

Helvetia 

Switzerland. 

Kilkerran 

Hey  Booth 

Booth. 

Killaloe 

Highclere 

Clere. 

Killarney 

Hindlip 

Lip. 

Killgorick 

Kil. 

Hispalia 

Seville. 

Killigrew 

Hispania 

Spain. 

Killoch 

Hohen  Staufen 

Hoo. 

Killyoke 

Hohenlinden 

Killyverth 

Hohenwerfen 

Kilmadock 

Kill. 

Hohenzollern 

Kilmar 

Kil. 

Holdsworthy 

Worthy. 

Kilmarnock 

Kill. 

Holroyd 

Eoyd. 

Kilmarh 

Kil. 

Holzung 

Ing. 

Kilmarth 

Honiton  Chst 

Clist. 

Kilmore 

Kill. 

Horcop 

Cop. 

Kilnsea 

Spurnhead. 

Hornsea 

Horsey. 

Kilpatrick 

Kil. 

Horse  Pill 

Pill. 

Kilsey 

Hotot 

Tot. 

Kincarathie 

Tay. 

How  Hatch 

Hatch. 

Kingsclere 

Clere. 

Huntroyd 

Eoyd. 

Kirby 

Kendal. 

Hiitung 

Ing. 

Kirsop 

Sop. 

Hythe 

Hithe. 

Kis  Ber 

Nagj. 

Kis  Komarom 

Ikolmkill 

Colmkill. 

Kishenghur 

Gurh. 

Ilford 

Ford. 

Kistvaen 

Maen. 

Ilfracombe 

Comb. 

Kitzingen 

Ing. 

111 

Willy  &  Alsace. 

Kiz  Hissar 

Hissar. 

Injeh  Su 

Su.  ' 

Kizil  Irmak 

Irmak. 

Ingri 

Leshe. 

Koping 

Chipping. 

Isar 

Weser. 

Koyla  Hissar 

Hissar. 

Isis 

Thames. 

Kudsiya  Bagh 

Bagh. 

INDEX    OF    GROUPED    NAMES. 


321 


FOR 

Lac  Leman 

Lacobrig'a 

Lactodurum 

Laith 

Lambrig-g-an 

Langetot 

Langport 

Lang'with 

Laristan 

Lauiid  Booth 

Lay 

Lea 

Lee 

Leightoii 

Leithau 

Leppci 

Levant 

Libanus 

Lidkoping' 

Liffar 

Lilla  Edet 

Lillehammer 

Lillesand 

Lillo 

Linkuping' 

Litherland 

Liver 

Llechvaen 

Llugwy 

Loch-jSfaver 

Loire 

Longford 

Lotharingen 

Lulea 

Lulworth 

Lundigt 

Lutetia 

^laas 

Maea 

Mahanuddy 

Main 

Maine  et  Loire 

Malmkciping 

Mansergh 

Ma|)p]edurwell 

^^afjueda 

Market  Jhw 

^Taro 

lyfary  Tavy 

Mawddwy 

Mayence 


SEE 

Loch  Lomond. 

Briga. 

Dur. 

Leith,  p.  314. 

Vean. 

Tot. 

Port. 

AVith. 

Stan. 

Booth. 

Lev. 


Leith,  p.  314. 

0. 

Anatolia. 
Lebanon. 
Chipping. 
Liffey,  p.  314. 
Lilla. 


Loo. 

Chipping. 

Liverpool. 

Liffey,  p.  314. 

Lech. 

Gwy. 

Never?,  p.  314. 

Liguria. 

Ford. 

Ing. 

Pitea. 

Worth. 

Lund. 

Paris. 


Mag-debui 
Meuse. 

Maha. 
Maine. 


Chipping. 

Argh. 

Mapledurham. 

Toledo. 

Marazion. 

Rome. 

Tavi.Htock. 

(Jwy. 

Magdeburg. 


and 


FOR 

Mayenne 

Mayne 

Mean 

]\Iein 

Melcombe  Regis 

Meldreth 

Melun 

Memmingen 

Merdon 

Mereton 

Micklethwaite 

Mid  hurst 

Milford 

Minorca 

Mintern 

Mixberrie 

Mog'hulistan 

Moldcop 

Morinish 

Morton 

Morton  Carr 

Mosby 

Moston's  Leame 

Mount  Ottery 

IMurgatroyd 

Mulcapoor 

Mynevvy 

Nagpoor 

Nailsworth 

Nan-ling 

Nape 

Naucampateptl 

Naver 

Navern 

Nellore 

Nertobriga 

Neth 

Never 

Nevern 

New  Laund 

Booth 
New  Leame 
New 
Nid 
Nievre 
Nith 

Noa  Dihing 
Xorrkoping 
North  Cray 
North  Taw  ton 
Northall 
Norlhcote 


SEE 

Maine. 


Reds. 

Reth. 

Dun. 

Ing. 

Merton. 

Thwaite. 

Hurst. 

Ford. 

Balearic. 

Em. 

Beria. 

Stan. 

Cop. 

Innis. 

Merton. 

Carr. 

By. 

Leamington. 

Otterford. 

Royd. 

Poor. 

Gwy. 

Poor. 

Worth. 

Ling. 

Snape. 

Tepetl. 

Nevers,  p.  314. 

Ore. 
Briga. 
Neath. 
Nevers,  p.  314. 


Booth. 

Leamington. 

Biggin. 

Neath. 

Nevers,  p.  314. 

Neath. 

Buri. 

Chipping. 

Cray. 

Tavistock. 

Northaw. 

Cote. 


322 


INDEX    OF    GROUPED    NAMES. 


FOR 

SEE 

FOR 

SEE 

iVorthfleet 

Fleet. 

Pitcorthie 

Pit. 

Nortblecb 

Lechlade. 

Pitdinnie 



Northolt 

Northaw. 

Pitfirrane 

Norton 

Sutton. 

Pitliver 



Noves 

Toledo. 

Pitreavie 

_ 

Novgorod 

Gorod. 

Pitsligo 

Noyon 

Dun. 

Pittencrief 



Plumbelund 

Luiul. 

Ocellum 

Spurnhead. 

Plymstock 

Plympton. 

Odiham 

Ham. 

Poitou 

Poitiers. 

Odstock 

Stoke. 

Poldew 

Pol. 

Okenhead  Booth  Booth. 

Polglase 

Oldbury  Pill 

Pill. 

Polgrean 

Oporto 

Portugal. 

Polgueul 

■ 

Orebro 

Bro. 

Polwhele 

Oresund 

Elsinore. 

Pondicherry 

Cherry. 

Orfordness 

Ness. 

Porchester 

Port. 

Ormerod 

Royd. 

Portbury 

Ormeroyd 

Portdown 

Osterdal 

Daleearlia. 

Portishead 

Osterode 

Rode. 

Portland 

Ostra  Aros 

Westeras. 

Postiip 

Lip. 

Oswaldtwistle 

Twistle. 

Pottern 

Ern. 

Ottery  St.  Mary 

Otterford. 

Pouhon 

Spa. 

Pretot 

Tot. 

Paraicherry 

Cherry. 

Prudhoe 

Hoo. 

Parthia 

Persia. 

Punderpore 

Poor. 

Pendennis 

Pen. 

Punjcora 

Punjaub. 

Peng-laze 

Punj  sheer 

Penhale 



Piittenheim 

Putney. 

Penkevel 

Penmorfa 

Queenhithe 

Hithe. 

Penmynydd 

Pennance 

Radipole 

Pool. 

Penpol 

Rainham 

Ham. 

Penrice 

Rajgurh 

Gurh. 

Penrose 

Ram 

Ramsgate. 

Pentraeth 

Ram-asa 

Pentre  Hobyn 

Pentref. 

Ramgurgh 

Gurh. 

Pentre  Ryd 

Ramhead 

Ramsgate. 

Fendigaid 

Ramoth 

Rome. 

Pentre  Voelas 

Ramsaig 

Ramsgate. 

Peter  Tavy 

Tavistock. 

Ramsbottom 

Botham. 

Peterloo 

Loo. 

Ramsyde 

Ramsgate. 

Pih-ling 

Line:. 

Rannock 

Breadalbane 

Piht-an-diabhol  Pit." 

Ratisbon 

Regensburg. 

Pile  of  Foudray  Peel. 

Ratnapura 

Ava. 

Pilgrim  Heath 

Hatch. 

Rawstonstall 

Pill 

Peel. 

Booth 

Booth. 

Pirn  pern 

Ern. 

Rayrigg 

Rig,  p.  315. 

Pistyll  Rhaidr 

Rhaidr. 

Red  ford 

Ford. 

Pitatherie 

Pit. 

Redut  Kaleh 

Kaleh. 

Pitcouochie 

Reedypool 

Pool. 

INDEX    OF    GROUPED    NAMES. 


323 


FOB 

SEE 

Khiwfelen 

Ruabon. 

Hhiwlas 

Ri-by 

Rig,  p.  315. 

Rig-maiden 

Rimmon 

Rome. 

Rissb}" 

By. 

Riving'ton  Pike 

Pike. 

Rohilcund 

Kund. 

Rollesby 

Runham. 

Roscreeoe 

Rose. 

Rosevullan 

P{oso-i]ly 

Ros'killy 

Kil. 

Rosmean 

Rose. 

Rosvean 

Rotebro 

Bro. 

Rotherbridg-e 

Rother. 

Rotherfield 

Rotherwas 

Ruerlo 

Loo, 

Rumah 

Rome. 

Rundo 

d. 

Runhall 

Runham. 

Run  ton 

Rydboholm 

Hohn. 

St.  Mary-]e-Bow  Arches  Court 

St.  Mary's  Cray 

Cray. 

St.  Paul's  Cray 

Saleh  Serai 

Sarai. 

Sambre 

Somme  and 

Thames. 

Sando 

0. 

Sand hoe 

lioo. 

Sandhurst 

Hurst. 

Sardsir 

Persia. 

Sarp-foss 

Fos. 

Sawbridgeuorth  Worth. 

Scarthvvaite 

Scar  &  Thvva 

Schiedam 

Rotterdam. 

Schijnbrunn 

Sheen. 

Scodra 

Scutari. 

Segobriga 

Briga. 

Segontiuni 

(!aernarvon. 

Segorbe 

Briira. 

Serampore 

Poor. 

Serviodurum 

Dur. 

Shaftoe 

I  loo. 

Shaf'toii 

Shastori 

Shaftesbury. 

SheerneHs 

IV  ess. 

Shepreth 

Reth. 

FOR 

SEE 

Shihvardine 

Wardine. 

Shira 

Inverary. 

Sholajioor 

Poor. 

Shrawardine 

Wardine. 

Sinde 

Scinde. 

Sirinagur 

JVagore. 

Sizergh 

Argh. 

Slaan 

Slaney. 

Sciderby 

By. 

Soderkoping 

Chipping. 

Sogne  Fiord 

Fiord. 

South  Tawton 

Tavistock. 

Southcote 

Cote. 

Southfleet 

Fleet. 

Speshart 

Harz. 

Stallung 

Ing. 

Stan- Ray  se 

Rayse,  p.  315. 

Stank 

Stang. 

Starr  Carr 

Carr. 

Stock 

Stoke. 

Stockton 

Stockwood 

Stone  Crouch 

Crutched  Friars 

Storhammer 

Stor. 

Storo 

0. 

Strahendry 

Leslie. 

Strasergh 

Argh. 

Strath-Naver 

jN"evers,  p.  314. 

Strath  earn 

Strath. 

Strath  more 

Stromness 

Innis. 

Strood 

Stroud,  p.  315. 

Suddhapura 

Sounda. 

Suifolk 

-\ortolk. 

Sukhum  Kaleh 

Kaleh. 

Sultan  Hissar 

Hissar. 

Sultan  poor 

Poor. 

S  welly 

Swale. 

Swilly 



Swineham 

Ham. 

'rabcrness 

Innis. 

'J'adnior 

Palmyra. 

Tal-y-llychau 

Llwcii. 

Talabrig-a 

'Jala  vera. 

Tame 

Thames. 

Taraerton 

Tanjore 

Ore. 

Tajilow 

Low. 

'J'arsus 

Tarshish. 

Tartes.suH 

Tuve 

Tivy. 

324 


INDEX    OF    GROUPED     NAMES. 


FOR 

SEE 

Tavy 

Tivy. 

Taw 

Tay. 

Tawstock 

Tavistock. 

Tema 

Thames. 

Teme 

Temes 

Tenterden 

Den. 

Teyn 

Tyne. 

Tessenderlo 

Loo. 

Theve 

Tivy. 

Thorp-en-le- 

Soken 

Soken. 

Thrig-by 

Runham. 

Thiiringen 

Ing. 

Tian 

Tyne.  • 

Tibet 

Thibet. 

Tiifauges 

Westphalia. 

Tilburg- 

Tilbury. 

Tiviot 

Tivy. 

Tokhmah  Su 

Su. 

Tornea 

Pitea. 

Tournetot 

Tot. 

Toxanderlo 

Loo. 

Tre-Newvdd 

Tre. 

Tre~Taliesiu 

Tref  Asser 

Tref. 

Tref  Garn 

Trefecca 

Treg'onick 

Tregonhay. 

Tregonin 

Tregony 

Tregiinhay 

Trelawny 

Trelawu. 

Tremaine 

Tremayne. 

Trenance 

Nance. 

Trevethen 

'J'revethan. 

Tripetty 

Tri. 

Trivatoor 

Trollop 

Sop. 

Truyn 

TurnberryHead. 

Trwyn 

Tudhoe 

Hoo. 

Twiston 

Twistle. 

Tyburn 

Born  and  Mary- 

lebone. 

Tyneham 

Ham. 

Tynet 

Tyne. 

Tyningham 

Ucheltref 

Tref. 

Uchiltree 

Ochiltre. 

Uchiltref 

Tref. 

Udine 

AViddin. 

FOR 

SEK 

Ullesvang 

Wong. 

Umea 

Pitea". 

Valletot 

Tot. 

Van  Dieman's 

Land 

Tasmania. 

Vellore 

Ore. 

Venachar 

Ach. 

Veriobriga 

Briga. 

Vesci 

Basque. 

Vescia 

Vescovato 

Vesterdal 

Dalecarlia. 

Veveyse 

Vevey. 

Viadrus 

Oder,  p.  315. 

Viadus 

Vibiscus 

Vevey. 

Vigeroe 

(i. 

Vclring-fos 

Fos. 

Waldung 

Ing. 

Wales 

Gaul. 

Wallop 

Sop. 

Walsingham 

Buckingham- 

shire. 

Wang 

Wong. 

Wantip 

Lip. 

Warcop 

Cop. 

Warminster 

Minster. 

Waterloo 

Loo. 

Wateraey  Leame  Leamington. 

Welschland 

Gaul. 

Wendover 

Dover  and  Dei 

went. 

Wernigerode 

Rode. 

West  Hatch 

Hatch. 

Westcote 

Cote. 

Weston 

Tun. 

Westlow 

Low. 

Wey 

Wye. 

Wheally  Carr 

Booth 

Booth. 

White  Colne 

Colnes. 

White  Cross 

Swang 

Wong. 

Whitrigg 

Rig,  p.  31.3. 

Wicanbottle 

Bolton. 

Windthurn 

Winterthur. 

Wint 

Wynd. 

Wisby 

By- 

Wisk 

Isca. 

Witherslack 

Slack. 

INDEX    OF    GROUPED    NAMES. 


325 


FOR 

SEE 

FOR 

SEE 

Wolfenbuttel 

Bolton. 

Ysselmond 

Yssel. 

Woodbatch 

Batch. 

Ysselsten 

\\'ordsworth 

Worth. 

Ystrad  Yw 

Ystrad. 

Worksop 

Sop. 

Ystrad  Twvr 

Worms 

Bormio. 

Yvetot 

Tot. 

Worth  Mnltra- 

vers 

Worth. 

Zaandam 

Saardam  and 

Wrekin 

Brecknockshire. 

Rotterdam. 

Zell 

Zeal. 

Xeres 

Jerez. 

Zacynthus 

Zante. 

Zancle 

Syracuse. 

Y 

Wye. 

Zangbnr 

Zang'uebar. 

Yair 

Yarrow. 

Zanzibar 

Yarro 

Zetland 

Shetland. 

Yelling- 

Ing. 

Ziller 

Zeal. 

Yetminster 

Minster. 

Zindarood 

Rud. 

THE    END. 


Sumfletd  &  Jones,  Printerg,  West  Harding  Street,  Fetter  Lane. 


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