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

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Witheleia, 1189 LSMM; Quhitlie, 1568 RMS. “White glade”, probably from the nature of the
ground which may have been flinty, daisy-covered, etc.
WOLFELEE (Sdn): (86, 2 C):
Wlleys, 1300-1 CDS; Wolle, 1436 HMC (Home); Wolfle, 1528 RMS; Wowley, 1590 CBP. OE
wulf-lēah, “wolf wood”. For loss of medial -f-, compare Wooley Hill, Nb (PN NbDu, 220)
and Woolley, YWR (DEPN, 507).
BERWICKSHIRE
CHOICELEE (Lgt): (75, 7 L):
Chow(i)slie, 1518 HMC (Var Coll v); 1590 RPC; Schos-, 1537-8 Cdstr; Schows- (P), 1572
HMC (Var Coll v); Chaussley, Blaeu; Chouslie, 1664 Com Rec Laud. The first recorded
spelling is so late that considerable corruption, or, at least, simplification, may already have
taken place. The compound might represent OE Cēolwulfes lēah: cf Chollerton, Nb, /76/ from
OE Cēolferðes-tūn (PN NbDu, 46). OE Cēolwulf would become ME Chelf, with a variant
Cholf (caused by the influence of the w), MSc Chowf. The final -f would disappear before the
following -l: cf spellings for Wolfelee (infra).
CRUNKLAW (Edr): (75, 8 L):
Croncle, 1535 RMS; Cruinkle, 1539 ib. OE (ge)crunc, “twisted”, the past participle of
crincan, “to turn, bend”, is the first element.
HORSELEY (Cld): (75, 9 G):
Horseleye, 1296 CDS. “Horse pasture”: cf Horsleyhill (supra).
LEES (Cdstr): (81, 10 B):
Leyis, 1576 RMS; Lies, Blaeu. “Pastures” or “grasslands”.
OATLEYCLEUCH (Duns): (75, 7 H):
Outlawcleuch, Blaeu. “Outlaw” or “oat lee” is equally possible.
WEDDERLEE (Wst): (75, 4 K):
Wederleie, c 1250 (c 1320) Kelso; -ley 13 th Reg Dnf; Wedderlee, 1494 HMC (Var Coll v). OE
weðer-lēah “ram pasture”.
DUMFRIESSHIRE
BRANDLEYS (Sqr): (84, 5 B):
Brandley, 1583 CBP. OE, ME brant, “steep”, may be the first element: /77/ the place is on a
fairly steep hillside.
HOLLEE (KF): (89, 5 F):
Holly, Blaeu. OE hol-lēah “clearing in a hollow”.
SELKIRKSHIRE
BROADLEE HILL (Ask):
Braidly, Blaeu. Self-explanatory: cf Broadlee (Cst).