By J. Picton, Esq., F.S.A. 



25 



torrents by the winter rains. Swill-Brook, the main source of the 

 Thames, takes its name from the abundance of its waters. 



Don, which forms the termination of a few place-names, means an 

 undulating surface, in modern English, Doivns. The suffix cot, in 

 such names as Hilcot, Wilcot, Westcott, &c„ scarcely needs any 

 explanation. 



There are a few names terminating in Low, such as Winterslow, 

 Cliedglow. This termination is very common in the Northern 

 Mercian counties, and signifies a tumulus or Saxon barrow, usually 

 thrown up on a low hill, but seeing that these lows are given in 

 Domesday as lei or ley, it does not appear that the word was ever 

 so applied in Wiltshire. 



Lade, an artificial watercourse, is found in Cricklade and Lechladej 

 the latter on the edge of Gloucestershire. 



Worth, in Anglo-Saxon has several meanings, but is generally 

 applied to a farm or land fronting a public way. The number of 

 these in Wiltshire is small, Winkworth, Chelworth, Brinkworth, 

 and one or two others. 



Wick, as a village, is common in some counties, but is very sparse 

 in Wiltshire. Barwick, Wadswick, and Berwick are almost the 

 only instances. 



There are many other Saxon terms used which are still quite 

 familiar, such as Field, Mere, Hill, Head, Cliff, Ridge, Wood, Bridge, 

 Brook, Edge, Well ; and others, equally good English, but now 

 somewhat obsolete, as Stead, still preserved in home-stead; Holt, a 

 wood; Shaw, a grove; Stock, a wooden structure ; Hurst, another 

 term for a wood ; Cock, a diminutive — little. 



There a few place-names which are somewhat Danish in their 

 aspect, such as Nesiori, Costoe, Keynes, but these are not in Domes- 

 day, and are of comparatively modern introduction. Near Cricklade 

 there is a stream called Dance or Danes Brookj and a locality near 

 is called Godby Stalls. These may possibly have some traditional 

 connection with the irruptions of the Danes. 



The termination ey is attached to many names. It might have 

 been the Danish ey, for island, or the Saxon ea, water, but scarcely 

 any of them are found in Domesday, and are not of very ancient date. 



