24 PROCEEDINGS OF THE COTTESWOLD CLUB 



trees were. Brocklehurst a wood where there were 

 badgers. Local example — Sandhurst. 



Shaw was a shelter for game. The surname Bagshaw 

 means Badger's Shaw. 



Holt was a small thicket ; which word mav be found 

 in Aldershot : that is, Alder's-Holt. 



Slad is said to be derived from the Saxon word slidan 

 to slide, and so is applied to a landslip. Several places in 

 Gloucestershire on the slopes of hills are thus named, for 

 instance, Slad, between Painswick and Stroud. Some- 

 times Slad is applied to a small green plain within a 

 Wood-land. 



A Knoivle was a gently rising slope. Examples — 

 Tuffley Knowle, Knibley Knowle — The surname Knowles. 



Borough, Barrow, and Bury or Piiry. Some draw a 

 distinction between " Beorh " whence Bury a hill, and 

 '' Burh' whence " Borough'' \\. Xown. It seems probable 

 that when the names were separated. Bury signified an 

 earthwork or camp, while Boi ough meant a more regularly 

 fortified town. But it is wonderful how the strict mean- 

 ing of shelter is preserved in all the terms founded upon 

 the root of Beorgan to hide. Is it a repository to guard 

 the ashes of the dead ? It is a Barrow, the act of sepul- 

 ture itself being the bu,rial. Is it a refuge for the conies ? 

 It is a burrow or beare as in Conebeare. Is it a raised 

 mound for the security of man ? It is a Bury, Borough, 

 Brough, or Burgh. Examples — Hartpury, Rodborough. 



Pilh. All along the Severn Estuarv are a number of 

 Pills, that is to say little creeks or outlets of water. The 

 word Pill is British, and is much the same as the Welsh 

 Pivll whence Pwllheli. From this word Pwll w'e get our 

 word Pool. In Gloucestershire we find Garden Pill, Bullo 

 Pill, etc. 



Coonibe is a ridgy hollow on a hill-side, and is allied to 

 the Welsh Ctvm. Coombe is verv common in Devon, 

 Sussex and Surrev. In Gloucestershire we have Coombe 

 Hill and Stinchcoombe. 



