PLACE AND FIELD NAMES OF DERBYSHIRE. 73 
fledged: they are still eaten in Italy. Cuckotp Haven 
(Eckington) speaks of the habits of this bird. The word cuckold 
was one of the earliest bones of contention among our early 
etymologists. It is, however, now well established that the word 
is derived from the bird cuckoo, and that the Romans used it as a 
term of reproach in a similar sense is equally clear from the line 
in Plautus’ Asinaria, Act v. sc. 2 :— 
“ Ac etiam cubat cuculus, surge, Amator, idoneum.” * 
An old mill in Derby, at the bottom of St. Mary’s Gate, was 
- formerly called Cuck-Stoot Mitt. The cucking stool was used 
for the purpose of ducking in the water women of improper 
character or notorious scolds. It is a practice of considerable 
antiquity, being mentioned in the Domesday Survey. Minshzeus 
says that the word is a corruption of Ducking Stool. Skinner 
imagines it to be a corrupted form of Choaking Stool, whilst 
Brand, though diffuse upon the subject, makes no further 
_ Suggestion. As, however, it was originally used for those who 
made cuckolds of their husbands, we have not much hesitation in 
connecting it primarily with the cuckoo. 
WRENHAY, WOODPECKER HILL, and OuZzELDEN tell of the birds 
of smaller flight. Lenta (T.C., North Wingfield), a corruption of 
- Lenthill, may be derived from Zi, the flax finch or linnet. 
* * * * * * * 
REPTILES.—Wormsey and WorMHILL are from worm, a word 
which is cognate with the Norse orvmr,a serpent. It seems to 
have meant almost any kind of reptile, and may in these instances 
in all probability to legendary fable. jf with Wormhill 
S WIBBENHILL (T.C., Tissington), from wibse, wibban, a worm. 
__* The curious reader may consult on this point the glossaries of Du Cange, 
pelman, and Skinner, together with the very lengthy notes in Brand's Popular 
Antiquities, Chaucer gives a very amusing but bantering etymology in the 
Remedye of Tove. . 
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