78 
The Names of Places in Wiltshire. 
is now the largest pasture-ground in Quarendon, in the 
county of Bucks, known by the name of Bery-field. And 
those meads (called Berie-meadows) have been interpreted 
demesne or manor meadows, yet were they truly any flat or 
open meadow, that lay adjoiming to any vill or farm.” See 
also Kennett’s Paroch, Antigq. Gloss., sub voce BERIA. 
42, Stée, Stow. These two words, though distinct, are placed 
Leth. 
together because they have much the same meaning, viz., 
“place” or “habitation.” Of the latter Florence of Worcester 
explains the signification in the words: “ Sancte Mariz 
Stou Anglice, Latine Sanctee Marie /ocus appellatur.” Mon. 
H. B., 609. The former is the very frequent termination 
stoke or stock, as in Laver-stock, formerly Laver-stoke. Itis 
frequently also found as asimple name. One of the tithings 
of Bradford-on-Avon is called Stoxz. In the Shaston 
Chartulary Stoke, and in Domesday Stoche, are the names 
respectively for Beeching-stoke and Braden-stoke. From 
the way in which it is often used it would seem sometimes to 
denote a small out-lying portion of some larger estate. 
This assumes the form of Jey or legh. It is defined 
in a charter (Cod. Dipl., 190) as equivalent to campus 
(= field) : thus we have “ campus armentorum, id est hrida 
leah.” Kemble thinks that Witena-leah (Cod. Dipl., 588), 
which was by Maddingley, near Cambridge, may be so called 
from a meeting of the “ Witan,” having been held there. 
He further gives it as his opinion that the root of this word, 
still common in English poetry, is icgan, (= to lie), and - 
that in all .probability it originally denoted meadows lying 
fallow after a crop. It has also been suggested that from 
the way in which this word is used in the Saxon Chronicle 
it may have been the old Gothic word used for the waste or 
march which, according to Cesar, always surrounded the 
territory ofa German tribe, De Bell. Gall., iv.,3. Wehave 
the word Lzien in its simple form frequently in Wilts as the 
name—of a tithing of Bradford-on-Avon—of a portion of the 
parish of Westbury—and of a place close by Malmesbury. 

