LL-L: "Place names" LOWLANDS-L, 06.FEB.2000 (02) [E]

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From: john feather [johnfeather at sceptic1.freeserve.co.uk]
Subject: Place names

John Lindley wrote:

> there may be an interesting question to raise concerning the British place
name suffix -ley/-leigh/-lea (originally -leah) which means a 'clearing' and
possibly a cognate of -loh in Germany and -loo in the Netherlands and
Belgium.<

And Ron replied:

>Doesn't _-loh_ and _-loo_ usually refer to wooded areas rather than to
clearings? And what about English _-low_, as e.g. in Winslow, Marlow,
Bigelow?<

Chambers Dictionary says "low" in place names means "hill; tumulus".

Van Dale says "loo" in place names means "bos; open plek", so both
suggestions are right.

John Feather johnfeather at sceptic1.freeserve.co.uk

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