PRE-SAXON CIVILIZATION IN DORSET. 221 



curve or bend of the shore. At Portsmouth a similar part 

 of the foreshore by the Hard opposite Gosport, is also called 

 " the Kamber " for the same reason. The river Cam, or 

 crooked river, derives its name from the same source. 

 Portland suggests Portus (British Forth), a harbour. The 

 stone slingers must have been formidable foes, and excellent 

 guardians against hostile visitors, with their strong views on 

 the intrusion of Kimberlins or strangers. 



The river Wey, as well as the river Wye, is from the Welsh 

 Gwy, a river, and especially a slow river. It bubbles forth 

 at the Wishing Well at Upwey, widens out at Broad wey, 

 forms the tide pool at Radipole (rcdeg-pool), and finds the 

 sea at Weymouth. There seems no explanation as to the 

 meaning of the river Cerne which points to the supposition 

 that it may be pre -Celtic. 



Poole and Bradpole take their names from pwl, the marsh 

 or pool. The Rev. W. Barnes thought that Wareham, or 

 Durngueis, as it was called by the Durotriges, is derived 

 from Dwrin diminutive of dwr, water meaning a little sea 

 or a little water. 



Owermoigne is either from g'ower, a small enclosure, or 

 g'over, a small spring or stream. 



One of the most poetical and homelike Dorset words is 

 Combe. The Welshman wanted to give a pleasant place a 

 pleasant name, and so he called a valley a cum. Dorset 

 abounds in combes, and they are aptly described by their 

 prefixes. 



Thus Encombe is the great valley, Corscombe, the bog- 

 valley ; Compton, a town situated in a valley ; Lyscombe 

 (lhv$), a secluded valley ; Kimmeridge (Cymmre), the place 

 of hills and hollows ; Nettlecombe ( Nettel), a valley where 

 the toll was taken ; Melcombe (Moel), a conical or round 

 hill above a valley ; Plush (plis), a comb or dell ; Batcombe, 

 the pasture valley. 



When we reach the uplands we find that Tout or Towte 

 was a watcher's hill, so Nettlecombe Tout was an observation 

 station of much importance where tolls were gathered. 



