The following are the more important significant syllables or words that enter into the composition of the names of rivers, mountains, towns, &c. See C. Blackie'sDictionary of Place-Names, Dr Joyce'sIrish Names of Places, Isaac Taylor'sWords and Places, and the Rev. James B. Johnston'sPlace-Names of Scotland(1892).
The following are the more important significant syllables or words that enter into the composition of the names of rivers, mountains, towns, &c. See C. Blackie'sDictionary of Place-Names, Dr Joyce'sIrish Names of Places, Isaac Taylor'sWords and Places, and the Rev. James B. Johnston'sPlace-Names of Scotland(1892).
A(A.S.eá, Ice. -aa), 'a stream;' as Greta, Rotha, Thurso('Thor's stream'), Laxay('salmon stream').
Abad(Pers. and Sans.), 'a dwelling;' as Hyderabad, Allahabad.
Aber(Celt.), 'a confluence,' 'an embouchure;' asAberfeldy,Aberdeen,Aberystwith,Barmouth,Aberbrothwick orArbroath, Fochabers, Lochaber,Applecross for Aber-Crossan. [Synonymous withInver.]
Ain(Heb.), 'a fountain;' asEngedi.
Ak(Turk.), 'white;' asAk-serai, 'white palace.'
All(Gael.), 'white;'Al-ian, 'white water,' so the riversAllen,Ellen,Aln,Lune,Allwen,Elwin.
Alt(Gael.), 'a stream;' asAltrive,Altnaharra, Garvald.
Ar,Ara, found in many river-names; asAire,Ayr,Aar,Aray,Irvine,Arno,Arve. [Perh. conn. with Sans.ara, 'swift,' 'flowing.']
Ard(Celt.), 'high;' asArdoch,Airdrie,Ardrossan,Ardglass,Arden,Ardennes.
Ath(Ir. and Gael.), 'a ford;' asAthlone,Athtruim (now Trim),Athole. The Gael.abh, 'water,' appears inAboyne,Awe.
Auch(Gael.),Agh(Ir.), 'a field;' asAuchinleck,Aghinver,Aghadoe.
Auchter(Gael.), 'summit;' asAuchterarder,Auchtermuchty.
Avon(Celt.), 'a river;' asAvon,Aven,Aisne,Inn,Ain,Vienne; also inDevon,Evan, Guadiana, Punjaub.
Ay. See Ea.
Bab(Ar.), 'a gate;' asBab-el-mandeb,Bab-el.
Bad(Teut.), 'a bath;' asBath,Baden, Karlsbad.
Bahr(Ar.), 'a sea,' 'lake,' 'river;' as inBahrein,Bahar-el-azrak.
Bala(Turk.), 'high;' asBalla-hissar,Balkan.
Balloch(Gael.), 'a pass;' asBallochmyle,Ballaghmore.
Bally(Ir. and Gael.), 'a village' or 'town;' asBallymore,Balbriggan,Balmoral,Ballantrae,Balquhidder.
Ban(Celt.), 'white;' asBanna,Banon,Banchory; the riversBen,Bann,Bandon,Banney, &c.
Beck(Scand.),Bach(Ger.), 'a brook;' as Holbeck, Lauterbach. [SeeBeckin Dict.]
Bedd(W.), 'a grave;' asBeddgelert.
Beer(Heb.), 'a well;' asBeersheba,Beirout.
Beg,Bihan(Celt.), 'little;' as Ballybeg, Morbihan.
Ben(Gael. and Ir.), 'mountain,'Pen(W.), 'headland,' 'hilltop;' asBenNevis,BenLomond, The TwelvePins,Bangor;Pen,Pennigant,Penzance,Pennine Alps,Apennines,Pindus.
Berg,Borough(A.S. beorh), 'a hill;' as Ingleborough, FlamboroughHead, BrowbergHill, Königsberg,Bergen. [From the same root asBurgh(below).]
Beth(Heb.), 'a house;' asBethel (house of God).
Bettws(W.), 'a dwelling;' asBettws-y-coed.
Blair(Gael.), 'a plain,' 'a battlefield;' asBlair-Athole,Blairgowrie.
Boca(Sp.), 'a mouth;' asBoca-grande.
Bor(Slav.), 'wood;' asBorovsk, Ratibor.
BottleorBattle,Büttel(Teut.), 'a dwelling;' as Newbattle,Buittle, Morebattle, Wolfenbüttel.
Broad(Eng.), asBraddon,Bradshaw,Bradford.
Brunn(Ger.), 'a spring;' as Salzbrunn, Paderborn.
Bryn(W.), 'a hill-ridge;' asBrown-Willy.
Buen(Sp.), 'good;' asBuenos-Ayres('good breezes').
Burgh,Borough,Bury(Teut.), 'a fortified place,' 'a town;' as Edinburgh, Peterborough, Shrewsbury, Hamburg, Cherbourg, Carisbrook,Burgos. [A.S.burg,burh(seeBoroughin Dict.), Ger.burg.]
Burn(Northern Eng. and Scotch, A.S.burna), 'a brook.;' asBurnfoot, Blackburn, Tyburn, Eastbourne.
By(Scand.), 'a dwelling,' 'a town;' as Derby, Rugby, Whitby, Elbœuf. [Cf.Bylawin Dict.]
Caer,Cader(W.),Caher(Ir.), 'fortified enclosure;' asCaerleon,Caernarvon,Cardigan,Carlisle,Cader-Idris,Sanquhar,Carlingford.
Cam(Celt.), 'crooked;' asCam,Cambeck,Cambuskenneth, MorecambeBay,Cambrai.
Carrick(Gael. and Ir.carraig),Carreg(W.), 'a sea-cliff,' 'rock;' asCarrickfergus,Carrick-on-Suir,Carrigafoyle,Cerrig-y-Druidion.
Caster,Chester,Cester(—L.castra), 'a camp,' as Doncaster,Chester, Winchester, Leicester.
Ceann(Gael.), 'a head,' 'promontory;' asKintyre,Kinghorn,Kenmore.
Cefn(Celt.), 'a ridge;' asCefncoed,Chevin,Keynton,Chevington,Cheviot,Cevennes.
CheapandChipping(A.S.ceap), 'price,' 'a market;' asChipping-Norton,Chepstow,Cheapside,Copenhagen (Dan.Kjöben-havn, 'merchants' haven'). [SeeCheapin Dict.]
Civita(It.),Ciudad(Sp.), 'a city;' asCivitaVecchia ('old city');CiudadRodrigo ('city of Roderick'). [From L.civitas.]
Clach,Cloch,Clough(Gael.), 'a stone;' asClackmannan,Clogher, Auchnacloy,Clonakilty.
Clachan(Gael.), 'a village,' often also 'church.' There are perhaps twenty clachans in Scotland.
Cluan,Cloon(Gael.), 'a meadow;' asClunie,Clonmel,Clontarf,Clynder.
Clyd(Celt.), 'warm,'Clyth(Celt.), 'strong;' asClwyd—most prob. notClyde.
Cnoc(Gael.), 'a knoll,' 'hill,' asKnockmeledown. Sir Herbert Maxwell (Studies in the Topography of Galloway, 1885) gives 220Knocksin Galloway alone.
Coed(Celt.), 'a wood;'Cotswold Hills,Chatmoss.
Coln(from L.colonia), 'a colony;' as Lincoln,Colne,Cologne(Köln). [SeeColonyin Dict.]
Combe(A.S.),CwmorCum(Celt.), 'a hollow between hills;' as Wycombe,Compton, TheCoombs,Como.
Craig,Crag(Celt.), 'a rock;' asCraigie,Crathie,Carrick,Crick,Cricklade,Croagh-Patrick.SeeCarrick(above).
Croft(A.S.), 'an enclosed field;' asCrofton, Thornycroft.
Dagh(Turk.), 'mountain;' as Karadagh.
Dal(Scand.),Thal(Ger.),DailandDol(Celt.), 'a dale,' 'a field;' as Liddesdale, Rydal, Kendal, Arundel, Rheinthal; (in Celtic names prefixed)Dalry,Dalkeith,Dolgelly. [SeeDalein Dict.]
Dar(Ar.), 'a dwelling,' 'district;' asDarfur,Diarbekr.
DenorDean(Teut.), 'a deep wooded valley;' as Tenterden, Southdean, Hazeldean,Denholm.
Dorf. SeeThorpe.
Dour(Celt.), 'water;' as theDour,Adour,Douro,Dore,Thur,Doro,Adder,Derwent,Darwin,Darent,Dart,Dorchester,Dordogne.
Drum and Drom(Celt.), 'a backbone,' 'a ridge;' asDromore,Drummond, Aughrim, Leitrim.
Du(Celt.), 'black;' asDouglas; the riversDulas,Doulas;Dublin ('dark pool').
Dum, Dun(Gael.),Dinas, Din(W.), 'a hill-fortress;' asDunmore,Dunblane,Dunkeld,Dumbarton,Dumfries,Dunstable,Dunmow,Downpatrick,Donegal, Maldon, Verdun, Leyden,Dinas-fawr,Dinan,Denbigh. [SeeDown, a hill, in Dict.]
Dysart(Celt.—L.desertum), 'a hermitage;' asDysart,Dysertmore.
Ea, Ey(A.S.íg, Ice.ey, Norw. and Dan.ö), 'an island;' as Swansea,Eton, Jersey, Romney, Sheppey, Rothesay, Staffa, Faroe. [SeeIslandin Dict.]
Eccles, Egles(like Fr.église, through L., from Gr.ekklēsia), 'a church;' asEccleston,Ecclefechan,Ecclesmachan,Ecclesiamagirdle,Eaglesham, Terregles.
Elf, Elv(Goth.), 'a river;' asElbe.
Ermak(Turk.), 'a river;' as Kizil-ermak.
Esk(Gael. and Ir.easg[obs.] oruisge, W.wysg), 'water;' as theEsk,Usk,Ise,Oise,Easeburn,Ashbourne,Iz,Isis,Exe,Ux,Ouse,Wisbeach,Wis,Ischia,Isère,Aisne,Ausonne.
Eski(Turk.), 'old,' asEski-djuma ('old ditch').
Fahr, Fuhr(Teut.), 'way,' 'passage;' asFahrenbach, Campvere, Queensferry, Connel-Ferry.
Feld, orVeld(Teut.), 'plain,' 'field;' as Huddersfield, Lichfield, Spitalfields.
Fell(Old Norsefjall,fell), 'a mountain;' as Carterfell, Goatfell, Snaefell.
Fin,Finn(Gael.), 'fair,' 'white;' asFindon,Fintry,Fincastle, Knockfin.
Fiord,Fjord(Scand.), 'a creek,' 'inlet of the sea;' as Laxfiord, Waterford, Wexford.
Fleet(Scand.fljót, a stream), 'a small river' or 'channel;' as Purfleet; found in Normandy asfleur, as Harfleur, Barfleur.
Folk(A.S.), 'people;' as Norfolk('north people'), Suffolk('south people').
Ford(A.S.), 'a shallow passage over a river,' as Chelmsford, Hereford, Stamford.
Fors, Foss(Scand.), 'a waterfall;' as HighForce, Wilberforce,Foston.
Garth(Scand.), 'yard;'Gorod, Grod, Grade, Grätz(Slav.), 'enclosure,' 'town;' as Stuttgart, Novgorod(=Newton),Grodno, Belgrade(=Whitton), Königgrätz(=Kingston).
Garw(Celt.), 'rough;' henceGaronne,Garioch,Yarrow,Yair, possiblyGarry.
Gate(Teut.), 'a passage' or 'road;' as Canongate, Harrowgate, Reigate(=Ridgegate), Cattegat.
Gebel, Jebel(Ar.), 'a mountain;' asGibraltar,Jebel-Mukattam.
Gill(Scand.), 'a ravine;' as Buttergill, Ormsgill.
Glen(Gael.),Glyn(W.), 'a narrow valley;' asGlencoe,Glengarry,Glynneath,Glamorgan.
Gorm(Gael.), 'green' or 'blue;' as Cairngorm.
Guada, the name given to the rivers in Spain by the Moors, from the Ar.wadī, 'a ravine;' as inGuadalquivir (Wadī-'l-kebīr, 'the great river'),Guadiana.
Gwen(Celt.), 'white;' as Derwent,Ventnor, Corwen;Gwent(Celt.), 'a plain;' Latinised intoventa, asVentaBelgarum (nowWinchester), formerly Caergwent.
Gwy. SeeWy.
Hall(Teut.), 'a stone house;' as Eccleshall, Walsall; (in Germany) asalt-work,asHalle,Hallstadt. [SeeHallin Dict.]
Ham(A.S., Ger.heim), 'a home;' as Buckingham, Clapham, Hexham, Trondhjem, Hildesheim, Hochheim, Ednam, Edrom, Hounam.
Har,Haer(Teut.), 'the army;' asHarwich,Herstall,Harbottle.
Haugh,Heugh, a particular Scotch form and use ofHaw(A.S.haga), perhaps due to the Ice. formhagi, a pasture. The meaning is generally a low-lying meadow between hills or on the banks of a stream, and it is noticeable that in Scotch useHowandHopehave frequently the same sense. AHope, however, is properly a hollow, esp. the upper end of a narrow mountain valley, while aHowis a low hill (Ice.haugr, 'a mound'). Cf.Hobkirk,Howwood,Hutton, FoxHow.
Hay,Haigh(Teut.), a place surrounded by a 'hedge;' as RothwellHaigh,Hague.
Hissar(Turk.), 'a castle;' as Kara-hissar.
Hithe(A.S.), 'haven;' asHythe, Lambeth=Loamhithe(the 'clayey haven').
Ho(Chin.), 'river;' as Peiho.
Hoang,Whang(Chin.), 'yellow;' asHoang-ho,Whang-Hai.
Holm(Scand., &c.), 'an island in a lake or river,' 'a plain near a river;' as Stockholm, Flatholm, Langholm.
Holt(Teut.), 'a wood;' as Bagshot, Aldershot,Holstein. [SeeHoltin Dict.]
Horn(Teut.), 'a peak;' as Schreckhorn, Matterhorn.
Hurst(A.S.hyrst), 'a wood;' as Lyndhurst.
Ing(A.S.), a suffix denotingson, in pl. 'a family' or 'tribe;' as Warrington ('the town of the Warrings'), Haddington. [See-ingin list of suffixes.]
InnisorEnnis(Celt.),Inchin Scotland, an island; asInchcolm ('the island of St Columba');Enniskillen,Ennismore,Innisfallen, in Ireland.
Inver(Gael.), 'the mouth of a river;' asInverness,Inveraray,Innerleithen. This is supposed to be the Gaelic form (inbhir) corresponding to the Brythonicaber-; and it is at any rate certain that in Wales there are scores ofabers-, but ofinvers-not a solitary one; while on the west coast of Scotland and north of Invernessaber-barely exists.
Kalat,Kalah(Ar.), 'a castle;' asKhelat,Calahorrah.
Kara(Turk.), 'black;' asKarakum ('black sand'),KaraHissar ('black castle').
Kenn(Gael.),Kin(Ir.), 'a head;' asKenmore,Cantire,Kinnaird,Kinross,Kinsale,Kent.KinorCin, oldercind, is really a survival of the old dative or locative of Gael.ceann(W.penn), 'head,' 'promontory,' as inKinaldie,Kinbuck,Kinglassie,Kinloch,Kingussie,Kinnoul. See Ceann.
Kil(Gael.cill, really a survival of the old dative ofceall, a hermit's cell—L.cella, then a church, esp. a parish church—the proper form is seen in Lochnan-ceal, 'loch of the churches,' in Mull); asKilbride,Kilchattan,Kildonan,Kilmarnock; Icolmkill, 'the island (I) of Columba of the church.'
Kil(Gael.coil), 'a wood,' 'a corner;' as inKildrummy,Kilham.
Kirjath(Heb.),Gadr(Phœnician), 'an enclosure,' 'a fortified place;' asKirjath-Arba,Carthage,Cades orCadiz.
Kirk(North Eng. and Scand.),Kirche(Ger.); as Selkirk,Kirkwall,Kirkcudbright,Kirchheim, Fünfkirchen. [SeeChurchin Dict.]
Kizil(Turk.), 'red.'
Knock. See Cnoc.
Lax(Scand.; Ger.lachs), 'a salmon'; as LochLaxford in Sutherland; theLaxay in the Hebrides and in Man;Laxweir on the Shannon.
Leamhan(Ir. and Gael.; pron.lavawn), 'the elm-tree;' as inLeven,Lennox,Laune.
Lea,Lee,Ley(A.S.leáh), 'a meadow;' Hadleigh, Waterloo.
Linn(Celt.), 'a waterfall;' asLynnRegis in Norfolk; Roslin, 'the promontory (ross) at the fall;'Linlithgow,Linton.
Lis(Celt.), 'an enclosure,' 'a fort,' 'a garden;' asLismore ('the great enclosure' or 'garden').
Llan(W.), 'an enclosure,' 'a church;' asLlandaff ('the church on the Taff').
Llano(Sp.), 'a plain.'
Loch,Lough(Gael.), 'a lake.'
LowandLaw(A.S.hláw,hlæw),'a rising ground;' as Hounslow, Ludlow, and numerouslawsin Scotland. [Cog. with Goth.hlaiw, a mound, and perh. allied to L.clivus, a slope.]
Magh(Celt.), 'a plain;' as Armagh,Maynooth.
Mark(Teut.), 'a boundary;' Denmark,Mercia,Murcia.
Markt(Ger.), 'a market;' as Bibertmarkt.
Medina(Ar.), 'city;' asMedina,Medina-Sidonia.
Mere,Moor(A.S.), 'a lake' or 'marsh;' asMersey, Blackmore.
Minster(A.S.),Münster(Ger.), 'a monastic foundation;' as Westminster, Neumünster.
Mor(Celt.), 'great;' Benmore('great mountain').
Mor(Celt.), 'the sea;' asMoray, Armorica,Morlaix, Glamorgan,Morbihan.
Mull(Gael.), 'a headland;' asMullof Galloway.
Nagy(Hungarian), 'great;' asNagy-Koros,Nagy-Karoly.
Nant(Celt.), 'a brook,' 'valley;' asNantwich,Nantglyn.
NessorNaze(Scand.; see Dict.), 'a nose' or 'promontory;' as Caithness, Sheerness, Cape Grisnez; theNaze.
Ochter. See Auchter.
Oë. See Ea.
Old,Eld,Alt(Teut.), 'old;' asAlthorp,Elton,Eltham,Aldbury,Abury. [SeeOldin Dict.]
Patam(Sans.), 'a city;' Seringapatam,Patna.
Peak,Pike(Celt., conn. with Ger.spitz, Fr.picandpuy) 'point;' as thePeak, thePikesin Cumberland,Spitzbergen,Picdu Midi,Puyde Dôme.
Peel(Celt.), 'a stronghold;' asPeelin Man, and numerouspeelson the Border of Scotland.
Pen. See Ben.
Polis(Gr.), 'a city;' as Grenoble, Nablous, Naples, Sebastopol.
Pont(L.), 'a bridge;' asPontefract, Negropont.
Poor,Pore,Pur(Sans.pura), 'a town;' as Nagpur, Cawnpore, Singapore.
Port(L.portus), 'a harbour;' asPortpatrick, Southport.
Ras(Ar.), 'a cape;' asRas-al-had.
Rath(Ir.), 'a round earthen fort;' asRathmore,Rathbeg,Ratho,Rattray.
Rhe,Rea,Ri, a root found in many languages, as L.rivus, a stream, Sans.rīna, flowing, A.S.ríth, a stream, Sp. and Port.rio, a river, meaning 'to flow;' asRhine,Rhone,Rha,Reno,Rye,Ray,Rhee,Wrey,Roe,Rae;Riode Janeiro,Rio-Negro.
Ridge, in ScotlandRigg(A.S.hrycg, Ger.rücken), 'a back;' asReigate,Rugeley, Longridge.
Rin(Celt.), 'a point of land;'Rhinnsof Galloway; Penrhynin Wales,Ringsend near Dublin.
Ros,Ross(Celt.), 'a promontory;' Kinross,Rosneath,Rosehearty,Rossdhu,Roslin; in S. Ireland, a wood, asRoscommon,Rosskeen. The-rosin Melrose is more probably the equivalent of Cornishros, a moor; thus Melrose=the Celt.maol-ros, 'bare moor.'
Salz(Ger.), 'salt;' asSalzburg.
Scale(Scand.), 'a hut' (Scot.shieling; Ice.skali); Portinscale, and possiblyShields, Galashiels,Selkirk.
Scar(Scand.), 'a cliff;'Scarborough, theSkerries.
Schloss(Ger.), 'a castle;' as Marienschloss.
Serai(Turk.), 'a palace;' as Bosna-seraiorSeraiëvo.
Set(A.S.), 'a seat,' 'a settlement;' Dorset, Somerset, Ambleside,Seidlitz.
Sex, 'Saxons;' as Essex('East Saxons'), Sussex('South Saxons').
Sierra(Sp.—L.serra), 'a saw;' or from Ar.sehrah, 'an uncultivated tract.'
Slievh(Ir.; allied to L.clivus, a slope), 'a mountain;' asSlievhBeg.
South, found inSuffolk,Sussex,Southampton,Sutherland,Sutton,Sudbury,Sudley.
Stadt. See Stead.
Stan(Per.), 'a land;' Hindustan. Afghanistan.
Staple(A.S.), 'a store;' Dunstable, Barnstaple.
Stead(A.S.),Stadt(Ger.), 'a town;' as Hampstead, Neustadt, Nysted.
Ster(Scand.stadhr), 'a place;' as Ulster.
Stoc,Stoke, andStow(A.S.), 'a stockaded place;' as Bristowor Bristol, Tavistock,Stockholm,Stow.
Stone(A.S.),Stein(Ger.), 'a stone,' 'a rock;' asStanton,Staines, Eddystone,Stennis, Frankenstein.
Strath(Gael.), 'a broad valley;' asStrathmore,Strathblane,Strathearn.
Street(L.stratum), 'a Roman road;' asStratford,Stratton,Streatham. [SeeStreetin Dict.]
Su(Turk.), 'water;' as Karasu.
Tain(Gael.), 'a river;' as theTyne, prob. a form ofDon.
Tam(Celt.), 'still,' 'smooth;' as theThamesis ('smooth Isis'), theTema,Tame,Tamar,Tay.
Thing(Scand.), 'a legislative assembly,' also 'the place where it is held;' as inDingwall,Tinwald,Tynwald Hill,Tain.
Thorpe(Norse),Dorf(Ger.),Dorp(Dut.), 'a village;' as Burnham-Thorpe, Heythorpe, Düsseldorf, Middledorp.
Thwaite(Scand.), 'a clearing;' as Crossthwaite.
Tobar(Gael.), 'a fountain;' asTobermory.
Toft(Dan.), 'an enclosure;' as Lowestoft, Ivetot.
Ton(A.S.), 'enclosure,' 'town;' the most common of English local suffixes.
Tor(Celt.), 'a tower-like rock;' asTorbay,Torphichen,Turriff,Torbolton, Kintore,Torridon. [From L.turris, 'a tower,' and its derivatives areTorres-NovasandTorres-Vedrasin Portugal,Truxillo in Spain,Tourcoing in France.]
Tre(W.), 'a dwelling;' asTretown, Coventry('convent dwelling'), Oswestry, Uchiltre.
Uchel(W.), 'high;'Uachter(Gael.), 'a height;' as theOchilHills,Ochiltree,Auchterarder.
Var,Varad(Hungarian), 'a fortress;' as Nagyvarad.
Varos(Hungarian), 'a town;' as Ujvaros.
Ville(Fr.,—L.villa),Villa(It., Sp., Port.),Well(Eng.), 'an abode;' as Tankerville, Yeovil, Pottsville, Kettlewell, Bradwell, Maxwelltown.
Wady(Ar.), 'a river-course,' 'a river.' See Guad.
Wall, found in many names of places on the Roman wall from Newcastle to Carlisle; asWallsend,Wallhead.
Weald,Wold(Ger. wald), 'a wood;'Waltham,Walden, the Cotswolds; Schwarzwald('Black Forest').
Whang. See Hoang.
Wick,Wich(A.S.wíc), 'a village;' as in Berwick, Warwick, Greenwich, Sandwich.
Wick(Scand., Ice.vík, 'a creek'); asWickin Caithness.
Worth(A.S.), 'a farm' or 'estate;' as Tamworth, Kenilworth, Bosworth,Worthing, Polwarth, Jedburgh=Jedward.
WyorGwy(W.), 'water;' as theWye; used as affix to many streams, as Conway, Medway.
A.Amateur; Academician.
a.Accepted; acre; active; afternoon;annus, year;ante, before.
āorāā, in prescriptions, of each a like quantity.
a.orans.Answer.
A1.First-class (of ships).
A.A.C.,anno ante Christum=In the year before Christ.
A.A.Q.M.G.Acting Assistant Quartermaster-general.
A.A.S.,Americanæ Antiquarianæ Societatis Socius, Fellow of the American Academy.
A.B.Able-bodied seaman.
A.B.,Artium Baccalaureus=Bachelor of Arts.
Abb.Abbess; Abbot; Abbey.
abbr.orabbrev.Abbreviated, or Abbreviation.
Abd.Abdicated.
A.B.F.M.American Board of Foreign Missions.
ab init.,ab initio=From the beginning.
abl.Ablative.
Abp.Archbishop.
abr.Abridged; Abridgment.
A.B.S.American Bible Society.
abs.,absol.Absolutely.
abs.,abstr.Abstract.
abs re.,absente reo, the defendant being absent.
A.C.,ante Christum=Before Christ.
acc.Accusative.
Acc.,Acct.Account (alsoa/c); Accountant.
A.C.P.Associate of the College of Preceptors.
A.D.,anno Domini=In the year of our Lord.
a.d.After date;ante diem, before the day.
ad.Advertisement.
A.D.C.Aide-de-camp.
ad fin.,ad finem=At or to the end.
ad h.l.,ad hunc locum=At this place.
ad inf.,ad infinitum=To infinity.
ad init.,ad initium=At or to the beginning.
ad int.,ad interim=In the meantime.
adj.Adjective.
Adjt.Adjutant;—Adjt.-gen., Adjutant-general.
ad lib.,ad libitum=At pleasure.
ad loc.,ad locum=At the place.
Adm.Admiral.
Adolph.Adolphus.
Adv.Advent; Advocate.
adv.Adverb;adversus=Against.
ad val.,ad valorem=According to value.
advt.Advertisement.
æ.,æt.,ætatis=Aged (so many years).
A.F.A.Associate of the Faculty of Actuaries.
A.F.B.S.American and Foreign Bible Society.
Aff.Affectionate; Affirmative.
A.G.Adjutant-general.
Ag.,argentum=Silver.
agr.,agric.Agriculture.
Agt.Agent.
A.H.,anno Hegiræ=In the year of Hegira—i.e. from the flight of Mohammed (622A.D., 13th Sept.).
A.h.l.,ad hunc locum=At this place.
a.h.v.,ad hunc vocem=At this word.
A.H.S.,Anno humanæ salutis=In the year of human salvation.
A.I.A.Associate of the Institute of Actuaries.
A.I.C.E.Associate of the Institute of Civil Engineers.
A.K.C.Associate of King's College, London.
Al.,Ala.Alabama.
Alban.Of St Albans.
Ald.Alderman.
Alex.Alexander.
Alf.Alfred.
alg.Algebra.
Algy.Algernon.
alt.Alternate; Altitude; Alto.
A.M.,Artium Magister=Master of Arts;Ante meridiem=Before noon;Anno mundi=In the year of the world;Annus mirabilis=The wonderful year (1666);Ave Maria=Hail Mary.
Am., Amer.America or American.
A.M.A.American Missionary Association.
amt.Amount.
an.,anno=In the year; anonymous; answer;ante=before.
anal.Analysis; Analogy.
anat.Anatomy or Anatomical.
anc.Ancient, Anciently.
And.Andrew.
Ang.,Anglicé=In English.
Ang.-Sax.Anglo-Saxon.
Anon.Anonymous.
ans.Answer.
ant.,antiq.Antiquities.
A.O.F.Ancient Order of Foresters.
aor.Aorist.
Ap.,Apl.,Apr.April.
A.P.D.Army Pay Department.
Apo.Apogee.
Apoc.Apocalypse; Apocrypha, Apocryphal.
app.Appendix; Apprentice.
A.P.R.C.,Anno post Romam conditam=In the year after the building of Rome (753B.C.).
aq.,aqua=Water.
A.R.,anno regni=In the year of the reign.
Ar.,Arab.Arabic.
ar.,arr.Arrive or Arrives, Arrival.
A.R.A.Associate of the Royal Academy.
arbor.Arboriculture.
Arch.Archibald.
arch.Archaic.
archæol.Archæology.
arch.,archit.Architecture.
Archd.Archdeacon; Archibald.
arg.,argentum=Silver.
A.R.H.A.Associate of the Royal Hibernian Academy.
arith.Arithmetic or Arithmetical.
Ark.Arkansas.
Arm.Armenian; Armoric.
A.R.R.,anno regni regisorreginæ= In the year of the king's or queen's reign.
A.R.S.A.Associate of the Royal Scottish Academy; Associate of the Royal Society of Arts.
A.R.S.L.Associate of the Royal Society of Literature.
A.R.S.M.Associate of the Royal School of Mines.
A.R.S.S.,Antiquariorum Regiæ Societatis Socius=Fellow of the Royal Society of Antiquaries.
art.Article; Artillery.
A.S.Anglo-Saxon;Anno salutis=In the year of salvation; Assistant Secretary.
Asaph.Of St Asaph.
A.S.E.Amalgamated Society of Engineers.
Ass.,Assoc.Association.
Asst.Assistant.
astr.,astron.Astronomer; Astronomy.
astrol.Astrology.
ats.At suit of.
Att.,Atty.Attorney.
Att.-gen.Attorney-general.
at. wt.Atomic weight.
Au(L.aurum), gold.
A.U.C.,anno urbis conditæ, orab urbe conditâ=In the year from the building of the city—Rome (753B.C.).
Aug.August.
aug.Augmentative.
Auth. Ver.Authorised Version.
A.V.Authorised Version; Artillery Volunteers;Annos vixit=Lived [so many] years.
Av.Avenue; Average.
Ave.Avenue.
Avoir.,Avdp.Avoirdupois.
Ax.Axiom.
b.born.
b.,bk.Book.
B.,Brit.British.
B.A.,Baccalaureus Artium=Bachelor of Arts; British America; British Association.
bach.Bachelor.
B. & F.B.S.British and Foreign Bible Society.
bal.Balance.
Bap.,Bapt.Baptist.
bap.,bapt.Baptised.
bar.Barometer; Barrel.
Bar.Barrister.
Bart.,Bt.Baronet.
bat.,batt.Battalion; Battery.
B.B.C.Baseball Club.
bbl.Barrel.
B.C.Before Christ; Board of Control; British Columbia.
B.C.L.Bachelor of Civil Law.
B.D.Bachelor of Divinity.
bd.Bound.
bds.Boards.
b.e.Bill of exchange.
Beds.Bedfordshire.
bef.Before.
Belg.Belgian, Belgic.
Ben.,Benj.Benjamin.
Berks.Berkshire.
B. ès L.,Bachelier ès Lettres(Fr.)=Bachelor of Letters.
bet.Between.
Bib.Bible.
bibl.Bibliotheca.
bibliog.Bibliographer, Bibliography.
biog.Biographer, Biography.
biol.Biology, Biological.
bis.Bissextile.
bk.Book; Bank; Bark.
bkg.Banking.
bkt.Basket.
B.L.Bachelor of Laws.
bl.Barrel; Bale.
b.l.Bill of lading.
bldg.Building.
B.M.Bachelor of Medicine;Beatæ Memoriæ=Of blessed memory; British Museum.
B.Mus.Bachelor of Music.
Bn.Baron.
bn.Battalion.
b.o.Branch Office; Buyer's Option.
B.O.A.British Optical Association.
B.O.A.F.G.British Order of Ancient Free Gardeners.
Boh.Bohemia, Bohemian.
Bol.Bolivia.
Bomb.C.S.Bombay Civil Service.
Bomb.S.C.Bombay Staff Corps.
bor.Borough.
bot.Botany, Botanical.
Boul.Boulevard.
Bp.Bishop.
b.p.Bill of parcels; Bills payable; Birthplace (alsobpl.);Bonum publicum=The public good.
B.P.British Pharmacopœa.
B.Q.,Bene quiescat—May he (or she) rest well.
bque.Barque.
Br.orBro.Brother.
br.Brig.
Br. Am.British America.
Braz.Brazil; Brazilian.
b.rec.Bills receivable.
Bret.Breton.
brev.Brevet, Brevetted.
Brig.Brigade, Brigadier;—Brig.-gen., Brigadier-general.
Brit.Britain; Britannia; British; Briton.
Bro.Brother;—Bros., Brothers.
b.s.Bill of sale.
B.S.C.Bengal Staff Corps.
B.Sc.SeeSc.B.
B.S.L.Botanical Society of London.
Bt.Baronet.
Bu.,Bus.Bushel, Bushels.
Bucks.Buckinghamshire.
Bulg.Bulgaria; Bulgarian.
burl.Burlesque.
bush.Bushel.
B.V.,Beata Virgo=Blessed Virgin; alsoBene vale=Farewell.
B.V.M.The Blessed Virgin Mary.
B.W.T.A.British Women's Temperance Association.
b. & s.Brandy and soda-water.
C.Centigrade; Catholic; Consul; Court; Congress; Church; Chancellor; Conservative.
c.,cap.,caput=Chapter.
c.Centime.
c.,ct.,cent.,centum=A hundred.
C.A.Chartered Accountant; Chief Accountant; Commercial Agent; Confederate Army.
Ca.Calcium.
ca.Cases; Centare;circa=About.
Ca.,Cal.California.
Cam.,Camb.Cambridge.
Can.Canon; Canto.
Cant.Canterbury; Canticles.
Cantab.,Cantabrigiensis=Of Cambridge.
Cantuar.,Cantuaria=Canterbury;Cantuariensis=Of Canterbury.
cap.,caput=Capital; Chapter;—Capitulum=Head;Capiat=Let him (or her) take.
Cap.,Capt.Captain.
caps.Capitals.
car.Carat.
Car.,Carolus=Charles.
Card.Cardinal.
carp.Carpentry.
Cash.Cashier.
cat.Catechism; Catalogue.
Cath.Catherine; Catholic.
Cav.Cavalry.
C.B.Companion of the [Most Honourable Order of the] Bath; Confined to barracks.
C.B.S.Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament.
C.C.Caius College; Circuit Court; County Council; County Clerk; Cricket Club; Catholic Clergyman.
cc.Chapters.
C.C.C.Corpus Christi College; Christ's College, Cambridge.
C.C.C.S.Colonial and Continental Church Society.
C.D. Acts.The Contagious Diseases Acts.
C.D.S.O.Companion of the Distinguished Service Order.
c.d.v.Carte-de-visite.
C.E.Civil Engineer; Canada East.
Cel.Celsius (scale of—i.e. Centigrade).
cel.Celebrated.
Celt.Celtic.
cen.Central; Century.
cent.,centum=A hundred.
Centig.Centigrade.
cert.,certif.Certificate; Certify.
Cestr.,Cestrensis=Of Chester.
cet. par.,ceteris paribus=Other things being equal.
cf.,confer=Compare; Calf.
c. f. & i.Cost, freight, and insurance.
cg.Centigram.
C.G.Captain-general; Captain of the Guard; Coast-guard; Commissary-general; Consul-general.
C.G.H.Cape of Good Hope.
C.G.S.Centimetre, Gramme, Second—the units of length, mass, and time.
C.H.Custom-house; Court-house.
Ch.Charles; Chief; China; Church.
ch.Chaldron; Chapter; Child.
Chal.Chaldron.
Chal.,Chald.Chaldee, Chaldaic.
Chamb.Chamberlain.
Chanc.Chancellor.
Chap.Chaplain; Chapter.
Chas.Charles.
Ch.C.,Ch.Ch.Christ Church.
Ch. Clk.Chief Clerk.
Chem.Chemistry; Chemical.
Ch. Hist.Church History.
Chin.China, Chinese.
Ch.J.Chief-justice.
Chr.Christ; Christian; Christopher.
Chron.Chronicles; Chronology.
C.I.[Imperial Order of the] Crown of India (for ladies).
Cic.Cicero.
Cicestr.,Cicestrensis=Of Chichester.
C.I.E.Companion of the [Most Eminent Order of the] Indian Empire.
cir.,circ.,circa,circiter,circum=About.
cit.Citation; Citizen.
Civ.Civil; Civilian.
C.J.Chief-justice.
Cl.Clergyman; Chlorine; Claudius.
class.Classical; Classification.
clk.Clerk.
C.L.S.C.Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle.
C.M.Certificated Master; Corresponding Member; Common Metre;Chirurgiæ Magister=Master in Surgery.
cm.Centimetres.
c.m.,causa mortis=By reason of death.
C.M.G.Companion of the [Most Distinguished] Order of St Michael and St George.
C.M.S.Church Missionary Society.
C.O.Colonial Office; Commanding Officer; Crown Office; Criminal Office.
Co.Cobalt; Company; County.
C/o.Care of.
Coad.Coadjutor.
coch.,cochl.,cochlear=a spoon, spoonful;—coch. amp.,cochlear amplum=a tablespoonful;—coch. mag.,cochlear magnum=a large spoonful;—coch. med.,cochlear medium=a dessert-spoonful;—coch. parv.,cochlear parvum=a teaspoonful.
Cod.Codex.
c.o.d.Cash (or collect) on delivery.
cog.Cognate.
Col.Colonel; Column; Colossians.
coll.College; Colleague; Collector; Colloquial.
collat.Collateral.
collect.Collective.
colloq.Colloquially.
Com.Commander; Commodore; Committee; Commissioner; Commonwealth.
com.Common; Comedy; Commerce; Commune.
comm.Commentary; Commander.
Commissr.Commissioner;—Commy., Commissary.
commn.Commission.
comp.Comparative; Compositor; Compare; Compound or Compounded.
compar.Comparative; Comparison.
Com. Ver.Common Version.
Con.Consul.
Con.,contra=Against;conjux=Consort: Conclusion; Conversation.
Cong.Congress; Congregation.
conj.Conjunction.
Conn.orCt.Connecticut.
cons.Consonant.
con. sec.Conic Sections.
Consols.Consolidated Funds.
contr.Contracted; Contraction.
contr. bon. mor.,contra bonos mores=Contrary to good manners.
Cop.,Copt.Coptic.
Cor.Corinthians; Coroner.
Cor. Mem.Corresponding Member.
Corn.Cornish; Cornwall.
corr.Corrupted; Corruption.
Cor. Sec.Corresponding Secretary.
C.O.S.Charity Organisation Society.
cos.Cosine.
cosmog.Cosmography.
Coss.,consules=Consuls.
Cot.Cotangent.
cp.Compare.
C.P.Clerk of the Peace; Common Pleas: Carriage Paid.
C.P.C.Clerk of the Privy Council.
C.P.S.,Custos Privati Sigilli=Keeper of the Privy Seal.
C.R.,Carolus rex=King Charles;Civis Romanus=a Roman citizen;Custos Rotulorum=Keeper of the Rolls.
Cr.Credit; Creditor; Crown.
craniol.Craniology.
cres.Crescendo.
crim. con.Criminal conversation, or adultery.
C.S.Court of Session; Clerk to the Signet; Civil Service; Chemical Society.
C.S.A.Confederate States of America.
C.S.I.Companion of the [Most Exalted Order of the] Star of India.
C.T.Certificated Teacher; Commercial Traveller.
ct.Cent.
C.T.C.Cyclists' Touring Club.
Cu.,cuprum=Copper.
cu.,cub.Cubic.
cur.,curt.Current—this month.
C.V.Common Version.
C.V.O.Commander of the Royal Victorian Order.
C.W.Canada West.
c.w.o.Cash with order.
cwt.A hundredweight—c forcentum, a hundred, andwtfor weight.
Cyc.,Cyclo.Cyclopædia.
Cym.Cymric.
d.,dele=Delete; Dead or Died; Deserted; Degree;Denariusordenarii=A penny or pence; Duke.
Dan.Daniel; Danish.
dat.Dative.
dau.Daughter.
Dav.David.
D.C.,Da Capo(It.)=Repeat from the beginning; District of Columbia.
D.C.L.Doctor of Civil Law.
D.C.S.Deputy Clerk of Session.
D.D.,Divinitatis Doctor=Doctor of Divinity.
D.d.,Deodedit=Gave to God.
D.D.D.,dat, dicat, dedicat=He gives, devotes, and dedicates;Dono dedit dedicavit=He gave and dedicated as a gift.
Dea.Deacon.
Dec.December.
dec.Declaration; Declension.
decid.Deciduous.
decl.Declension.
def.Defendant; Definition.
deft.Defendant.
deg.Degree, Degrees.
Del.Delaware; Delegate.
del.,delt.,delineavit='He drew it,' put after the draftsman's name on an engraving.
demon.Demonstrative.
Dent.Dental, Dentist, Dentistry.
Dep.Department (alsoDept.); Deputy.
dep.Deposed.
der.Derivation.
Deut.Deuteronomy.
D.F.Defender of the Faith; Dean of the Faculty.
dft.Defendant; Draft.
D.G.,Dei gratiâ=By the grace of God.
d.h.,das heisst(Ger.). That is.
dial.Dialect.
diam.Diameter.
Dict.Dictator; Dictionary.
Dir.Director.
disc.Discount; Discoverer.
diss.Dissertation.
dist.Distance; Distinguish.
div.Divide; Divine.
D.L.Deputy Lieutenant.
D.Lit.orLitt.Doctor of Literature.
D.L.O.Dead-letter Office.
do.,ditto=The same.
dols.Dollars.
D.O.M.,Deo optimo maximo=To God, best and greatest.
Dom.Dominion.
dom.Domestic.
Dor.Doric.
doz.Dozen.
D.P.H.Department of Public Health.
D.P.O.Distributing Post-office.
Dpt.Department.
Dr.Debtor; Doctor.
dr.Dram; Drawer.
D.Sc.SeeSc.D.
D.S.O.Distinguished Service Order; District Staff Officer.
d.s.p.,decessit sine prole=Died without issue.
D.T.Doctor of Theology.
d.t.Delirium tremens.
Dunelm.,Dunelmensis=Of Durham.
D.V.,Deo volente=God willing, If God will.
d.v.p.,decessit vita patris=Died in his father's life-time.
dwt.Pennyweight—dfordenarius, penny, andwtfor weight.
E.East; English.
ea.Each.
Eben.Ebenezer.
Ebor.,Eboracum=York;Eboracensis=Of York.
E.C.Eastern Central; Established Church.
Eccl.,Eccles.Ecclesiastes, Ecclesiastical;—Ecclesiol., Ecclesiology.
E.C.U.English Church Union.
Ed.Editor.
ed., edit. Edited; Edition.
Ed., Edw. Edward.
Edenburgen.,Edenburgensis=Of Edinburgh.
Ed.,Edin.Edinburgh.
E.D.S.English Dialect Society.
E.E.Errors excepted.
E.E.T.S.Early English Text Society.
e.g., ex. gr.,exempli gratiâ=For example.
E.I.East Indies;—E.I.C.S., East India Company's Service.
ejusd.,ejusdem=Of the same.
Elis., Eliz.Elizabeth.
Elz.Elzevir.
Emp.Emperor; Empress.
Ency.,Encyc.Encyclopædia.
E.N.E.East-north-east.
eng.Engineer; Engraver; Engraving.
Ens.Ensign.
ent.,entom.Entomology.
Ent. Sta. HallEntered at Stationers' Hall.
Env. Ext.Envoy Extraordinary.
e.o.d.Every other day.
Ep.Epistle.
Eph.Ephesians.
Epiph.Epiphany.
Epis.,Episc.Episcopal.
epit.Epitaph; Epitome.
eq.Equal; Equivalent.
E.S.E.East-south-east.
esp.,espec.Especially.
Esq.,Esqr.Esquire.
Est.Established.
et al.,et alibi=And elsewhere; oret aliioralia=And others.
etc.,&c.,et ceteriorcetera=And others, and so forth.
et seq.,sq., orsqq.,et sequentesorsequentia=And the following.
ety., etym.Etymology.
E.U.Evangelical Union.
Euph.Euphemia.
Eur.Europe; European.
ex.Examined; Example; Exception; Excursus; Executive; Export.
Ex.,Exod.Exodus.
Exc.Excellency.
exc.Except; Exception.
ex div.,extra dividendum=Without dividend.
ex. g.,ex. gr.exempli gratiâ=For the sake of example.
Exon.,Exonia=Exeter;Exoniensis=Of Exeter.
exp.Export.
exr.Executor.
Ez.Ezra.
Ezek.Ezekiel.
E. & O.E.Errors and Omissions Excepted.
f.Following; Farthing; Feminine; Fathom; Foot; Forte.
F.,Fahr.Fahrenheit.
fam.Familiar; Family.
F.A.M.Free and Accepted Masons.
F.A.S.Fellow of the Society of Arts; Fellow of the Antiquarian Society.
F.B.Fenian Brotherhood.
F.B.S.Fellow of the Botanical Society;—F.B.S.E., Fellow of the Botanical Society of Edinburgh.
F.C.I.S.Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Secretaries.
F.C.P.Fellow of the College of Preceptors.
fcp.,fcap.Foolscap.
F.C.S.Fellow of the Chemical Society.
F.D.,Fidei Defensor=Defender of the Faith.
Feb.February.
fec.,fecit=He did it.
F.E.I.S.Fellow of the Educational Institute of Scotland.
fem.Feminine.
F.E.S.Fellow of the Ethnological or of the Entomological Society.
feud.Feudal.
Ff.The Pandects, prob. by corr. of GreekΠ.
ff.,fecerunt=They did it or made it; Folios.
F.F.A.Fellow of the Faculty of Actuaries.
F.F.P.S.Fellow of the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons (Glasgow).
F.G.S.Fellow of the Geological Society.
F.I.A.Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries.
fict.Fiction.
Fi. fa.,fieri facias=That you cause to be made (a writ of execution).
fig.Figure, Figuratively.
fin.,ad finem=At the end.
F.K.Q.C.P.I.Fellow of the King's and Queen's College of Physicians in Ireland.