May Williamson: The Non-Celtic Place-Names of the Scottish Border ...

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Solway: the first element is perhaps ON hvammr, “marshy hollow”, in which case the
rock must have taken its name from a place on the shore. There are several “lost”
names in -scar denoting rocks in the Solway. “A low-lying rock cluster which rises
and no more than rises above the level of the sands is always called a scar” (Neilson –
Annals, 266). Compare Clutesker, c 1304 HMC (Drml); Brewin Skar, 1516 HMC
(Drml); Halskar, 1565 ib.
(e)
(f)
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(g)
(h)
ON gnípa, “hill, peak”, must occur in High Knypes (Kel).
ON skarð, “notch, cleft, mountain pass”, seems to be the second element of Hartsgarth
(Cst), Rxb: Harskarth, 1583 CBP; Harth scarth, 1590 RPC. The first element may be
ON hjörtr, “stag”, MSc harte. Rokkelskarth, 1516-17 RMS, and Rowlskarth, Blaeu,
seem to mark a small stream-valley at Rock Hall (Msw): cf No XXIII.
ON vrá, “nook, corner”, is used of a remote or secluded spot. Breconrae (Msw) is
Brakanwra, 1309 RC; Bracanewra, 1532 RMS; Brakinwra, c 1560 RMS;
Brecken-wrae, Blaeu, from ME braken wrā, “bracken-grown spot”. The a of braken is
fronted to e in several names in this area, cf Breckenrig (Lmb), Breckenshank (Ew),
Breckenny Knowe (Lang), Breckonside (Glc). Wrae (Ew), is Wra, 1532 RMS, “nook,
secluded place”. There is also Greenwrae (Hfm).
ON leikr, originally “sport, play”, came to mean “a place for sport”. Cocklicks (Rth):
Coklakis, 1507-8 RMS; 1509 APS; Cocklaikes, 1637 LCh, may be a place where
cock-fighting was carried on, or simply a place where wild fowl disported themselves.
Compare Cockplay (Rbt), and C~ Hill (Cst), (Ew), which may have the same
meaning.
/319/ XCIV
Miscellaneous terms denoting streams, springs, etc.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
ON á, “river, stream”, is no doubt the base of the Water of Ae, although there are no
early forms to prove it.
The Scar Water (Pnp and Tyn), is Scharre, 1374 HMC (Drml); Scair, 1554 ib; Water
of Skar, 1581 ib, which is perhaps ON sker, “rock”. The river may have been named
from some outstanding rock in its course.
ON kelda, “spring”, is the terminal in Springkell Kell (KF): Springkayl(l), 1485 HMC
(Jhn). For a similar construction compare Blaeu’s Springkells for Springfield (Grt).
ON eyrr, “sandbank”, seems to be the second part of Woodcock Air, a hill on the
banks of the Annan near Hoddom Castle: Wodecok Heyr, 1333-4 RS; Wodecokheir,
1360 CDS; Wodcokkar(e), 1504 RSS; 1508-9 ib. The first element is English. There
are, however, no sandbanks in the river at this point.
/320/ XCV