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

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CADDONLEE (Cad):
Cadanly, Blaeu. The first element is Caddon, a Celtic river-name (CPNS, 431).
CROSSLEE (Ettr):
Corslie, 1766 C-B. An ancient cross has been found in the vicinity, from which the place no
doubt took its name.
FAIRNILEE (Cad): (80, 11 D):
Farnyle(y), 1405 Rot Scac; 1455 ib; Fairnilee, 1599 L Ch. OE færnige-lēah, “ferny glade”.
For the modern spelling of the first element, compare Fairnington (MSc ai = [E]).
INNER and OUTER HUNTLY (Krk): (80, 10 G):
Hunteleghe, 1296 CDS; Huntlie, 1494 C-B. “Wood for hunting”: cf Huntley, Glo (DEPN,
246).
SINGLIE (Krk): (80, 8 H): /78/
Senglee, 1368 LSMM; Seyngillie, 1494 C-B; Synglie, 1511 RMS; Singill E, Blaeu. Compare
Singdean (Cst): Singdenn, Blaeu. The first element may be ModSc sing, a form of “singe”
(Jam, s.v.).
“Lost” names are:
Arkilly, c 1200 (16 th ) Dryb, described as “longas fossas”, near Fans (Earl), which contains ME
Arkil, from ODan Arnkell.
Blyndle, 1455 Rot Scac; Blindley, 1543 RSS, in Gala, denotes a clearing in a concealed
position.
Eadwardsle, 1165-1214 NMS; Edwordisley, 1147-52 (Morton) ESC, is OE Ēadwærdes lēah.
This may have been the spot where Edward, son of William Rufus, died in 1093 on a Scottish
campaign. A field-name, Long Edwardley, SE of Jedburgh preserves this form (Watson, Jed,
47).
Flaxillis, c 1220 Dryb; Flexwelleys, c 1350 ib, in Berwickshire, is “flax-well-lees”.
Schotynle, 1423 RMS; Schutynle, ib; Schuittingleyes, 1573 C-B, near Glengaber (Yar),
denotes a place where shooting contests were held.
There are forty other names ending in -lee.
/79/ XIX OE feld,
“open country, land free from wood, unenclosed land”, is particularly common in old forest
districts in England. It probably denoted an open space of larger extent than a lēah (DEPN,
169).
In our area feld does not appear to be one of the earliest endings; indeed none of the names
seems to be earlier than ME. In Nb, however, several may belong to the OE period.