Page 20 - W M Donald Newsletter - Edition Eleven

...testing your knowledge...
What’s in a name?
Listed below are ten more common elements of Scottish place-names. If you think a ‘Souter’ is a ‘Fox’ then place ‘H’ in the box alongside option ‘10’ below. The answers are provided at the bottom of the page.
W M Donald is currently working at Maidencraig and Westercraigs. This begs the question: what does ‘craig’ mean when it forms part of a place-name? According to Dr Alison Grant of the Scottish Place-Name Society, ‘craig’ is a cliff on the sea or mountainside, or a projecting spur of rock. When used in the plural it can simply mean rocky ground.
D
E
G
H
J
Place name element
Inch
Souter
4
5
7
8
9
Definitions
A shoemaker or cobbler
Answer
A
B
Ness
Raw
1
2
A castrated male sheep
An island; a piece of ground rising in the middle of a plain
C
Tod
3
A hollow with sloping sides, often with a burn
Linn
A stretch of low-lying land beside a river (liable to flooding); a water meadow
F
Grain
6
A promontory or headland
Wedder
The branch or fork of a stream or river; a branch of a valley
A row of houses of a uniform design; cottages for miners or farmworkers
Den
A waterfall; a pool below a waterfall
K
Holm
10
A fox
Thinking that spring is late in arriving?
Things could be worse. As recently as the 15th February, heavy snowfalls made roads almost impassable.
NEXT EDITION...
If you have any ideas for content you would like to see featured in the next edition of the newsletter then please get in touch with us with your ideas, we are always looking for budding contributors! Email your ideas to Karen: karen@wmdonald.co.uk
QUIZ ANSWERS:
W M Donald Limited
Tel: +44 (0)1569 730590 • Email: info@wmdonald.co.uk www.wmdonald.co.uk 20
Marrlaine, Craigwell, Netherley, Stonehaven AB39 3QN
1=G, 2=E, 3=J, 4=H, 5=K, 6=A, 7=F, 8=B, 9=D, 10=C