72 PLACE AND FIELD NAMES OF DERBYSHIRE. 
found in connection with Cymric terminations. Other authorities 
suggest that fez is a contracted form of ean, high ; whilst cock 
signifies little. This latter interpretation is probably true of 
Cocxsuut (Dronfield), which would thus mean the little shoot, 
or spur from a hill. When, however, it is known that the ‘‘cock” 
and “hen” of our farm yards are the selfsame words that were 
used by our Anglo-Saxon forefathers, a people who were peculiarly 
given to the breeding of poultry, it does seem strange that so 
many etymologists are not contented with this simple derivation, 
especially as this interpretation is the one sanctioned by the 
learned Dr. Heinrich.* This bird was the first to be reclaimed ” 
from its native wildness in all countries where it abounds. Czesar 
says that it was held sacred by the Britons, and only used for 
purposes of sacrifice and divination.t ‘The religion of the Druids 
was truly one of abstinence, for they scrupulously avoided many 
of the most obvious forms of food which nature put in their way, 
such as the hare, poultry of several sorts, and every description of 
fish. The comparatively modern name of Cockpit HILL, in 
Derby, tells of the days when that barbarous sport of cock- 
fighting was in vogue. This custom is of great antiquity, and is 
said to have been originated by Themistocles ; certain it is 
that cock-fighting is pourtrayed on several of the Greek coins. Nor 
is the use of the artificial spur an invention of recent date, for 
cock-spurs made of brass are mentioned in an Anglo-Saxon 
Synod.t 
Cuckoo Stone (Matlock) must be a comparatively modern 
name. In Anglo-Saxon this bird was called geac. Cuckoo in 
English is clearly a mere imitation of the cry, and the same reason 
for giving it this name occurred to several other nations. Thus in 
Sanskrit we have oki/a, in Greek kokkyx, in Latin cuculus. Words 
that are truly onomatopéetic are very rare.§ The cuckoo was 
esteemed a great delicacy by the Britons, especially before it was 
*See the Local Etymologies of Edmunds, Isaac Taylor, and Charnock ; 
also Bosworth, Azglo-Saxon Dictionary. 
+ Ceesar, de Bal. Gal. lib. v. cap. 12. 
t{ Fosbrook, Axfrguities, vol. ii. p. 573. 
§ Max Miller, Sccence of Language, First Series, p. 364. 
